Royal Leerdam Bouquet

Start with what goes in the glass. The 45 cl model is the roomiest bowl in the series and gives red wine enough surface to open up. The 35 cl and 29 cl sizes suit white wine better, which you serve cooler and in smaller measures. The 23 cl is the classic Dutch house wine glass, handy if you put out a lot of glasses at once and would rather not have the cupboard bursting. To complete the table, combine a wine size with the 17 cl flute and the 14 cl port glass for after the meal.

Fill a wine glass to about a third, so roughly 15 cl in the 45 cl bowl. That leaves room above the wine where the aroma collects and keeps the glass comfortable to handle. Hold it by the stem rather than the bowl, otherwise your hand warms the wine. The flute is meant for sparkling wine and for a Kir Royal, where the narrow bowl holds the bubbles for a long time. The port glass is for port, sherry or sweet dessert wine.

Bouquet is machine-blown soda-lime glass, the same material most hospitality glassware is made of, and it takes the dishwasher without losing its shine. Stand the glasses upright and keep them from touching each other, because the stem is the vulnerable point. If a grey haze does appear on the glass, that is limescale from the tap water and not wear.

If you want more from this brand, the full range sits under Royal Leerdam. If you would rather choose by type of glass than by series, have a look at the red wine glasses, the champagne flutes or the port glasses. For a jug of wine with fruit, the proportions are on the page about sangria, and an opened bottle keeps a day or so longer with a wine stopper on the neck.