Chef & Sommelier Open Up

The range now has a model for almost every role. The Universal at 40 cl is the all-rounder most people start with. For firm reds with plenty of tannin, reach for the Tannic at 55 cl, which gives the wine room without you having to overfill the glass. White and aromatic wines show better in the Round at 37 cl or the Sweet at 27 cl. For tastings there is the Pro Tasting at 32 cl, small enough to line up ten wines side by side. Compare more widely with the red wine glasses and the white wine glasses.

Pour up to the widest point of the bowl and no higher, and you keep room to swirl. Give a young red a minute in the glass before you start; with this model the difference between the first and the second sip is easy to follow. The Ardent at 39 cl is meant for cognac and aged rum. The tumbler at 38 cl serves for an old fashioned over a large block of ice, and the flute at 20 cl keeps the bubbles tight in a kir royal.

Open Up is made of Krysta, the house's lead-free crystal glass. It is clear and thin at the rim, yet built for the pace of hospitality: bowl and stem are drawn from a single piece, so the weak seam between the two is absent. Everything is dishwasher safe. Place the glasses apart from each other in the basket, because most breakage does not happen at the table but in the basket and in the cupboard.

If you want the same effect in a round rather than an angular bowl, look at the other ranges from Chef & Sommelier. If you would rather let a young wine breathe outside the glass, the decanters are the obvious route. And if you are setting up a bar where the glassware is in place but the tools are still missing, the bar spoons hold the stirring gear that goes with it.