Zwiesel Glas Duo

Here the size decides the wine. The Bordeaux glass of 72.9 cl is the largest bowl, made for full-bodied red wine with tannin: its height gives the wine room to breathe, while you fill it no more than a third. The wine glass of 54.8 cl is the all-round size that works for both red and white. For chilled white wine the 38.1 cl bowl is handier, because a smaller pour stays cold longer. The 37.8 cl champagne glass is roomier than a classic flute.

Always hold a glass by the stem. That is not just etiquette: your hand is around thirty degrees and noticeably warms the wine the moment you grip the bowl. Pour sparkling wine at an angle against the side, just as you would beer, and more carbon dioxide stays in the wine. The effervescence point in the base of the 54.8 cl wine glass keeps the bubbles visible longer in a champagne cocktail. For a French 75 the same glass is roomy enough to combine gin, lemon and champagne without it overflowing.

The bowls are made of Tritan crystal glass, the lead-free glass Zwiesel Glas uses for its ranges. The stem is fused to the bowl rather than attached to it, which makes the weakest point of a wine glass considerably stronger. They are dishwasher safe, as long as they stand upright and the rims stay clear. Do not leave them to cool in the rack among damp plates, as that leaves a dull haze.

If you want to see what else the brand makes, take a look at the range from Zwiesel Glas, from tumblers to carafes. If you are after a narrow flute rather than a wide champagne glass, you will find one among the champagne flutes. If you are giving the set as a present and want to complete it, a wine cooler or champagne bucket is the piece that is usually missing.