Every wine shop, supermarket and department store offers a range of glasses of varying shapes and sizes. The Austrian glass firm Riedel has made a fortune selling a specific glass for every wine or spirit. The argument is that an aromatic wine such as pinot noir smells and tastes a lot better in one glass, whereas a cabernet sauvignon is best drunk from another.

This may be true but there are times when life is too short, and for most of us storage space is at a premium. I have been the recipient of large, expensive glasses over the years. I use them very occasionally as they are very fragile and don’t fit in a dishwasher. Because I am clumsy, accidents are frequent. Instead I have two glass options that I have used for years. I use the fairly robust Riedel Vinum Riesling Zinfandel (about €20 per stem) for posh events or when I am serving very good wines. Otherwise (and this will probably upset the glass anoraks) for everyday use I use Riedel O Series Riesling/Sauvignon glasses (about €12 each). These are stemless, so I am less likely to break them, and they fit neatly into the dishwasher.

It is traditional to have smaller glasses for white wines and larger for red but there is no real reason for this, other than aesthetics. If you cannot rise to the Riedel glasses, Schott Zweisel are a good, less expensive option. Both of these two brands are available from good wine shops. Alternatively, Dunnes Stores, Ikea, Marks & Spencer and many others have very good, inexpensive glasses. What you need is a reasonably sized tulip-shaped glass – one that tapers towards the rim. This releases the aromas and funnels them towards your nose. A long stem looks elegant and may stop your hand warming the wine. This glass will do for all wines, including sparkling wines, which these days are served in normal wine glasses.