J-Line Walker

Here the shape determines how the wine behaves. In the 20 cl flute the bubbles last longer because the surface is small; you pour it two thirds full and drink it before it turns lukewarm. The 47.5 cl coupe has a large surface, so the bubbles disappear faster but the scent is released straight away. Never fill it to the rim, then, but to a third, around fifteen centilitres, or it will slosh at every movement. For a toast at a long table the flute is more practical; for a cocktail with a garnish in it, the coupe. Two glasses per guest is a safe calculation.

Hold both glasses by the stem rather than the bowl, because the warmth of your hand costs bubbles. Chill the bottle to about six degrees before you pour, and fill in two goes so the foam can settle in between. The coupe is the classic choice for a Champagne Cocktail with a sugar cube and bitters, while the flute works well for a Sgroppino with lemon sorbet and prosecco, which you whisk up just before serving.

Walker is soda-lime glass rather than crystal, so there is no lead in it that could be attacked. The glasses can go in the dishwasher provided you place them apart in the rack: a coupe with a wide bowl tips easily and a flute leaning against its neighbour snaps at the stem. Drying with a linen cloth removes the water marks that stand out all the more on a broad bowl.

To see the wider range from this brand, take a look at the J-Line collection. If you would rather compare within one shape, the alternatives are with the champagne coupe glasses and with the champagne flute glasses. An overview of both shapes side by side is with the champagne glasses. If a bottle is left over, a champagne cooler keeps it at temperature.