Zwiesel Glas Aura

Aura is available in black, blue, green, red, and aubergine, and the color is in the glass itself, not in a coating on the outside. If you choose the separate 75 cl carafe, you can combine it with glasses you already have, which works well if the rest of your table setting is neutral. The set with two tumblers is the logical choice for a gift or a bedside table, where the carafe and glass can sit together on a tray. Darker shades such as black and aubergine look more subdued on a set table than red, which works particularly well in summer. Find more shapes among the carafes.

The carafe is intended for water, lemonade, and iced tea, not for decanting wine: the neck is too narrow for that, and its color makes assessing the wine by color impossible. Fill it with water, some ice, and a few slices of lemon, and it will sit on the table all afternoon. The tumblers in the set work just as well for whisky or an Old Fashioned over a large ice cube. For decanting red wine, see the wine decanters.

Aura is made of Tritan crystal glass, the Zwiesel Glas material that has titanium and zirconium worked into it. That leaves the glass able to handle daily dishwasher cycles without the colour fading or the rim turning dull. Stand the carafe upright in the rack rather than upside down, because water will otherwise stay behind in the neck. If a white limescale haze does appear, a brush with a little vinegar removes it without affecting the colour.

Other series from the same brand can be found with the Zwiesel Glas glasses. If you would prefer a pitcher with a handle for the table, take a look at the water pitchers. Individual glasses in the same style can be found under tumbler glasses, and if you want to use the tumblers for a Negroni , you can read there how it is made. Complete combinations of carafe and glasses are collected under glass sets.