Schott Zwiesel Sensus

There are three items, and which one you need depends on the size of your party. The 30 cl tasting glass is coloured black right through and comes in sixes, enough for a table or for a single taster comparing six wines side by side. The large spittoon sits in the middle and catches what a whole group spits out. The small spittoon is meant for one or two people. For clear tasting work, also have a look at the row of tasting glasses and the wider selection of wine glasses.

Pour no more than a shallow layer of about five centilitres into a tasting glass, so you can swirl without spilling and the aromas gather in the empty space above. Smell first without swirling and then again afterwards: the difference between the two often says more than the taste itself. Work from light to heavy and rinse the glass in between with a splash of the next wine rather than with water. Keep the spittoon within reach, because a tasting where everyone swallows ends early.

Schott Zwiesel makes its glassware from Tritan crystal glass, in which titanium and zirconium make the glass harder. The black colour runs right through the material rather than sitting in a coating, so a run through the dishwasher leaves it untouched. With a black glass, do pay extra attention to residue: you simply cannot see lipstick, limescale or a leftover drop. Run a finger along the rim or hold the glass up to the light before you pour again.

The brand's full range sits under Schott Zwiesel, which despite the name is a different brand from Zwiesel Glas. If bottles are left over after a tasting, wine stoppers keep them in good shape a day longer, and one of the decanters helps a young wine open up faster. For everything behind the bar, the page with bar tools is the place to start, and anyone rounding things off with something mixed will find ideas among the cocktails.