The holidays are coming and most people will be entertaining more. It’s also time to break out the good stemware if you’ve been saving it for special occasions (and if you have, you really should use it more often). Fine crystal not only looks beautiful on the table, it can enhance the taste of the wine.

But you do have to take care of fancy wine glasses. Most crystal manufacturers do not recommend cleaning wine glasses in a dishwasher. The high heat and certain detergents can etch crystal and cause it to become cloudy.

Even when hand-washing wine glasses, you have to take care. Dale Ott, owner/founder of Nossa Imports, which specializes in Mexican and Portuguese wines, has some tips on cleaning stemware at home.

• Prepare the soapy water: Fill one side of a two-sided sink (or a tub) with an inch or two of warm water and add unscented dish soap.
• Gently wash: Place the glasses in the other side of the sink. Create a lather and wash the glasses inside and out with a soft sponge. Rinse the glasses with warm water.
• Drip dry: Leave the glasses on a towel on the counter to drip dry for about 10 minutes. Then use a microfiber cloth to dry the glasses.
• Store safely: Place the glasses in a cabinet, rather than on open racks, to avoid dust.