RCR Universum

A universal bowl is a compromise, and it is useful to know where that compromise lies. Fifty-five centiliters is generous for white wine, but as long as you do not pour more than a third full, the wine stays cold enough. For full-bodied red wine, the bowl is on the small side compared with a true Burgundy shape, but large enough to swirl. If you still want to choose by wine variety, take a look at the wine glasses, where the bowl shapes vary by grape. For those filling an entire cabinet at once, the glass sets are more convenient.

Pour only to the widest part of the bowl, not higher, because that is where the surface area is greatest and the aroma is released best. Hold the glass by the stem so your hand heat does not warm the wine. For young red wine with firm tannins, it helps to decant the bottle first. Also, a Sangria gains flavor when it sits for half an hour, and an Aperol Spritz fits in this bowl provided you use enough ice.

Luxion is the lead-free crystal glass from RCR and is noticeably harder than ordinary glass, so the rim stays crisp and clear for longer instead of going cloudy. The glasses are dishwasher safe, provided they stand upright and the bowls never touch each other. Stem and bowl are drawn here from a single piece, which removes the familiar weak point of a glued stem altogether.

If, in addition to the universal glass, you still prefer separate glasses for each type of wine, the full range of RCR is a good place to start, with glasses ranging from Burgundy-style goblets to narrow white wine glasses. For serving at the table, you also need decanters in which young red wine loses its harshness. And for water alongside the wine on the table, water glasses are a logical addition to the collection.