Stölzle Lausitz Q1

The difference lies in the shape of the bowl. The 65 cl bowl is narrower and taller and sends the aromas upwards in a tight column; that shape suits wines with firm tannin, such as a cabernet sauvignon or a mature bordeaux. The 87 cl bowl is rounder and wider and offers a large contact surface with air, which is what lighter, aromatic reds such as pinot noir or nebbiolo need. In both cases you pour about 15 cl, up to the widest point of the bowl. Fill it further and the shape works against you. For white wine these sizes are too generous.

Always hold the glass by the stem. That isn’t etiquette but temperature: a hand around the bowl measurably warms red wine within a few minutes, and with 87 cl, you have a lot of surface area. Swirl in small circles with the base on the table; it’s steadier than swirling freely in the air. Serve red wine between sixteen and eighteen degrees, even in summer; room temperature is warmer nowadays than when that rule was devised. If you want something fresher from the same glass, a sangria or an aperol spritz works perfectly well in the larger bowl.

Q1 is made of lead-free crystal glass, with a stem pulled from one piece together with the bowl. That is the weak spot in cheaper glassware: an attached stem comes loose. Not here. The glasses are dishwasher safe; place them upright and do not let the bowls touch each other. Never lift a wet glass by the bowl, and store them upright rather than on the rim.

If you are looking for sturdier glassware or a smaller size, there are several options. The full range from this brand is available at Stölzle Lausitz. You can find all the shapes side by side among the wine glasses; if you want to choose more specifically, there are the red wine glasses and the narrower white wine glasses. To let a bottle breathe or keep it at the right temperature, the decanters and wine coolers are ready.