Pasabahce Bacchus

You choose the size by the number of people at the table. The quarter litre is the little carafe for a single glass of wine or a serving of water beside the plate, and is supplied in twelves. The half litre is the usual size for two people, because that is roughly two thirds of a wine bottle. The litre carafe takes a whole bottle comfortably and stands in the middle of the table. When choosing, also look at the neck: these models have a wide opening, so filling and rinsing out are easy, but they cannot be closed. Have a look at the wider range of carafes for models with a stopper.

For house wine and water you simply fill it up and put the carafe in the middle of the table. If you want to give young red wine some air, pour it in as a stream rather than carefully: the contact with oxygen does the work. A carafe is also the simplest way to mix ahead. An aperol spritz or a negroni can be made in the litre carafe for the whole table, after which you only have to pour it out over ice.

Pasabahce makes Bacchus from tempered soda-lime glass, so the carafes can go in the dishwasher. The wide neck is an advantage here, because the spray arm reaches everywhere. With hard water, limescale settles on the bottom, exactly where you cannot reach with a cloth. A glass brush with a curved handle solves that. Always let the carafe drain upside down and at an angle, otherwise a stale smell will linger inside.

If you are looking for a carafe you can close, or one meant to let older wine breathe, have a look at the decanters. For water on the table, the water jugs with a handle are usually easier to pass around. And if you want to find the matching glasses within Pasabahce, the complete brand overview is ready there, from tumblers to stemmed glasses.