Luigi Bormioli Atelier

The two bowls do different jobs. The 61 cl is the table size for red wine and full-bodied whites: roomy enough to swirl, small enough to sit beside the plates. The 80 cl is a burgundy glass, meant for pinot noir and nebbiolo, where the wide base spreads the wine over a large surface. Pour no more than 12 cl in either. The 59 cl tumbler is strikingly large for whisky and works better as a water glass or for a long drink with plenty of ice; the 40 cl is the classic size for whisky with a single large cube.

Use the 1 litre carafe to let a young red breathe for half an hour before the meal: pour it over in one go and leave the carafe standing — no need to swirl. The small 0.25 litre carafes are the Italian table solution for house wine or water, one per person on the table. The 27 cl flute is roomier than usual, which makes it suitable for a Kir Royal, where a layer of syrup has to go in alongside the bubbles.

The glass is heat-treated during production, which makes the rim and the stem harder than on ordinary crystal glass. Luigi Bormioli therefore states that the series withstands hundreds of dishwasher cycles without going dull. Stand the bowls upright in the rack and keep them from touching, because a knock against another foot is still fatal. Rinse the carafe afterwards with warm water so no wine ring is left at the bottom.

The rest of the range is at Luigi Bormioli. To compare bowls by capacity, look at red wine glasses or at the large wine glasses from 60 cl upwards. Other models and formats are under carafes and, if you want to let wine breathe, among the decanters. If you want to use the 40 cl tumbler for an Old Fashioned, you will find the proportions and the build there.