Do you ever wonder why we're supposed to drink wine from wine glasses, beer from beer glasses or brandy from brandy glasses? Well there's a reason and it's not as simple as you think. First, know this: It's not just meant to make you look fancy. These glasses are all specifically designed to maximize each drink's aroma and flavor in different ways. Even the pint glass you drink your beer out of is designed a certain way. And wine glasses, well, nowadays there's practically a glass for every variety, but you don't need more than a few to get by. Find out why each alcoholic beverage is meant to be drunk out of a specific glass in the slideshow below.

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Red Wine/White Wine
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The unique shape of wine glasses are for a reason -- it's there to help you notice aroma and flavor. The tulip shape of a wine glass is meant to direct aroma to your nose and the stem keeps you from altering the temperature of the wine in the glass. The shape also allows you to swirl the wine to release the aroma compounds that contribute to flavor. There are four main glass types to consider, two for each color.

Red wine glasses: Robust red wines, like Cabernet and Bordeaux, are best in an elongated tulip shape (left). Fruity red wines, like Pinot Noir, Beaujolais and Burgundy, are best in a bowl-shaped glass (third from left).

White wine glasses: Light-bodied white wines, like Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, are best in small, slender tulip glasses (second from left). More robust white wines, like Chardonnay, are best in small bowl-shaped glasses (right).