La Rochere Amboise

With decorated glass, the main question is whether it suits your tableware. Amboise has a pronounced character, so it works best on a plain table with simple earthenware and rather less well beside floral china. Look at the size as well: 26 cl is small for a wine glass, which means it is a glass to top up more often rather than one for letting red wine breathe. The 23 cl water glass follows the same logic. If you want larger bowls, take a look at the white wine glasses; for smooth table glasses, the water glasses are the place to look.

Place the water glass above and to the right of the plate and the wine glass to the right of that, so the pattern on both glasses stays visible from above. Fill the wine glass to just under halfway. The water glass is small enough to double as an aperitif glass, which is handy if you receive guests at the table and would rather not start with a separate drinks glass. For a kir royal the bowl is on the small side but usable, and a jug of sangria full of fruit pours into it nicely, because the pattern visually hides the fruit.

Pressed glass from a factory that has been running since 1475 is thick-walled and sturdy, and Amboise takes the dishwasher without any trouble. The relief is where limescale and sugar residue collect, though; you notice it in the grooves sooner than on a smooth glass. Rinse briefly after sweet drinks before loading, and with hard water dry with a cloth afterwards.

The rest of this French factory is on the La Rochère page. If you want to compare low glasses in other series, the tumbler glasses are the next stop, and for a fully laid table have a look at the glassware sets. Looking for something to pour into them? The mocktails page has alcohol-free recipes that suit this size.