SPIEGELAU Definition

Start with the universal 55 cl bowl. It suits almost any red or white wine and is the logical first buy if you only want one set. If you often drink light white wine, the 43.5 cl is the nicer size because the wine stays cold in it for longer. For Bordeaux and other full-bodied reds there is the 75 cl bowl, and for Burgundy and pinot noir the rounded 96 cl, the widest in the series. Alongside these are tumblers of 43 and 49 cl, a 25 cl flute and a 13.6 cl liqueur glass. See also the large wine glasses.

Pour up to the widest point of the bowl. In the 96 cl Burgundy glass that leaves plenty of air above the wine, and that is exactly where the aroma gathers; filling a large bowl too far defeats its purpose. Hold the glass by the stem so you do not warm the wine, and swirl with the foot resting on the table. Fill the 25 cl flute by letting the wine run down the tilted wall. The 13.6 cl liqueur glass is meant for dessert wine, grappa and limoncello straight from the freezer.

Definition is machine-drawn from lead-free crystal glass. The rim is left uncut, which means there is no thickened ring on the edge and the wine flows over your lip without a threshold. The glasses may go in the dishwasher: loose in the rack, short programme, low temperature. Lift them out by the foot and polish them with a lint-free cloth, because limescale marks show up especially clearly on a thin rim.

Looking for something else? Every series from the brand is listed under Spiegelau, and the overview by shape starts with the wine glasses. For full-bodied red wine there are the red wine glasses, and for the 100 cl decanter the whisky decanters. If you want to fill the 25 cl flute, the Champagne Cocktail and the Kir Royal are explained step by step.