Schott Zwiesel Vina Touch

All four glasses hold 40 cl, so the only choice is colour and quantity. Green and blue stay closest to classic table colours and barely stand out next to white crockery. Amber and red do the opposite and work well on a wooden table or alongside warm tones. If you want a set for a whole gathering, take four packs of six and mix them up. If you would rather have calm on the table, stick to a single colour and order more of it.

Forty centilitres is generous for water, so you do not have to top up every round. That same volume makes the glass suitable for iced tea, lemonade and long, light drinks with plenty of ice. A hugo spritz with mint and lime looks good in the green or blue version. It is a godsend for guests who are not drinking, too: pour a mocktail and it looks just as festive as the rest. Put a filled carafe beside it and the table takes care of itself.

Because the colour sits in the glass itself, it cannot wear off or come away in the dishwasher. So the glasses can simply go in the machine. Use no more detergent than you need, because overdosing leaves a haze on coloured glass sooner than on clear glass. Stand the glasses upright with space between them, as a tumbler without a stem tips over easily in an overfilled rack. A dull film is almost always limescale and comes off again with a little vinegar and water.

To see what else this brand makes, have a look at the Schott Zwiesel glasses. If you are after more colour across brands, it is all gathered on the page with coloured glasses. For clear models in the same size, look at the water glasses, and if wine belongs with the meal, you will find the stemware among the wine glasses. A matching carafe keeps pouring at the table simple.