Bohemia

The difference between the two ranges lies in the silhouette. Colibri is the more slender bowl with a pronounced curve, available in 45 and 65 cl. That 65 cl is a proper red wine glass: roomy enough to give a full-bodied wine air without filling it too high. Columba is cleaner and straighter in line and runs from 40 to 50 cl, which makes it the better choice as a glass you use for both white and red.

Choose the size that matches what you usually drink. If you mostly pour white wine and lighter reds, 40 to 45 cl works perfectly and keeps the wine cool for longer. Drink full-bodied red more often and 50 to 65 cl is the better call. With champagne, the flute shapes the bubble: 22 cl keeps the carbonation tight, 26 cl gives the aroma a little more room. The 38 cl tumbler is meant for water and soft drinks at the same table, so the setting stays consistent.

Crystal comes into its own at the table when the light is low. Place the glasses so that candlelight or a lamp catches them at an angle; that is when the cut or ribbed section does its work and visibly breaks the light. Pour wine up to the widest point of the bowl, which on a 65 cl glass is less than a third, so there is room above the wine.

With sparkling wine, temperature counts for more than the glass. Chill the bottle to around six degrees and pour in two goes, so the foam can settle in between. A kir royal starts with a dash of crème de cassis in the bottom of the flute, after which you slowly pour the bubbles on top. After dinner the tumbler doubles as a spirits glass: for an old fashioned, 38 cl leaves plenty of room for one large ice cube.

With crystal, the temperature of the water matters more than the detergent. Wash by hand in lukewarm water, never boiling, because it is the difference in temperature that makes crystal crack. Hold the glass by the bowl while you wash it and never twist the bowl while gripping the foot; that is the movement that snaps most stems.

If you do want to use the dishwasher, pick a short programme at a low temperature and place the glasses upright in the rack without letting them touch. Let them drain upside down and polish them with a linen cloth afterwards, because crystal shows water marks more clearly than ordinary glass. Store the glasses upright in the cupboard rather than on their rim, which is where they are thinnest.

If you are looking for a wider choice by wine style, all the stemware is gathered under wine glasses and specifically under the red wine glasses. For more flutes and coupes, head to the champagne flutes. And if you are after cut German crystal with a comparable character, you will find it at Nachtmann, where the cutting is more pronounced. If what you mainly want is a heavy glass for spirits, the matching models are with the tumblers.