A water glass, a wine glass and a longdrink glass cover almost every occasion - allow two of each per person if you regularly have guests. Everything beyond that is preference rather than need, and most cupboards are full of the glasses nobody reaches for.
The working set
| Glass | Volume | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Water / tumbler | 250-350 ml | Water, juice, everyday |
| Wine | 350-450 ml | Red and white both |
| Longdrink | 300-400 ml | Mixed drinks, iced tea |
| Optional: small tumbler | 150-200 ml | Spirits, dessert wine |
One wine glass shape for both red and white is a defensible simplification. A bowl of around 400 ml handles both, and it halves what you store.
Hand-blown glass is not uniform
In hand-blown glass the wall thickness varies slightly from piece to piece, and no two are identical in height by a millimetre or two. That is the signature of the technique, not a fault. It is also why a shelf of hand-blown glasses catches light the way machine-made ones do not.
Dishwasher or not
Smooth, undecorated glass generally survives a short programme at moderate temperature. Hand-blown glass with a gold rim or applied decoration should be washed by hand - the rim wears off in the dishwasher, and once it starts there is no repair. Thin stems break from knocking against other items rather than from heat.
Getting rid of limescale streaks
Dry with a tea towel straight after rinsing. Streaks form when water is left to dry on the glass, so the fix is drying rather than better detergent. For glasses that are already dull, soak briefly in warm water with vinegar, then rinse and dry immediately.
Complete the table with jugs and carafes and coasters that keep rings off the wood.
By Meike van Dongen · Veem, Amsterdam · 24 August 2026