Gift guide · Home and table
Among gifts for the home, the ones that don’t end up in a cupboard are those used at the table: a decanter for someone who opens special bottles, two good wine glasses for someone who drinks wine every night, a heavy whisky glass for someone who keeps a bottle on the bar cabinet. Start by thinking about what the recipient drinks, not what you like. And compared with a sweater, there’s one advantage: no size to guess.
Our glasses and stemware are by NUDE, made from lead-free crystal. Below: how to choose each piece, what to give whom, and how to wash it without damaging it.
1. The decanter: what is it really for?
A decanter serves two different purposes, and it’s worth knowing which one you need before giving it as a gift.
The first is to separate the wine from the sediment. Aged reds and vintage Port develop a sediment at the bottom that tastes bitter and grainy. Stand the bottle upright for a day so the sediment settles, then decant slowly in front of a light and stop when the sediment reaches the neck. Old wine is fragile: decant it shortly before serving, not hours in advance.
The second is to let the wine breathe. Young, tannic reds that seem closed just after opening will open up when exposed to oxygen. Shape matters here: a wide base exposes more surface area to the air. This generally isn’t necessary for whites, with the exception of some full-bodied whites; not for sparkling wines, because air makes the bubbles disappear.
Among the decanters and carafes we carry, the Jazz also comes with a marble base, which helps keep the wine cooler. The Cantina is a magnum size, designed for double-sized bottles. The Vintage has the most classic shape in the range and also works well for water and spirits: it’s the one to give to someone who doesn’t have one yet.
2. The right glass for every wine
The shape of the glass determines where the wine reaches in the mouth and how much aroma the nose picks up. You don’t need a set for every grape variety: four types are enough.
Full-bodied reds
The Bordeaux glass has a tall, generous bowl. The Stem Zero Powerful works by creating a “chimney effect”: heavier aromatic molecules rise and are released, and the wine reaches the back of the palate, the area most sensitive to tannins. It’s ideal for reds that improve with aeration.
Delicate reds
The Burgundy glass has a wide bowl that narrows towards the rim to retain the aromas. It’s the shape for aromatic, low-tannin wines, for which a Bordeaux glass would be too much. In the collection, it’s the Refine Burgundy set.
Whites
Here’s the most common mistake: using just one glass for all white wines. A delicate white needs a small bowl and a narrow rim to bring its delicate notes together. A full-bodied white, like an oaked Chardonnay, calls for a wide, oval bowl like that of the Stem Zero for full-bodied whites.
Sparkling wines
A flute shows off the bubbles, while a tulip-shaped glass gives the aromas more room. Either makes a good gift, as long as you know what will be opened: an aged traditional-method sparkling wine is at its best in a wider glass. Find them among the sparkling wine glasses.
If the recipient doesn’t want four sets in the cupboard, there’s the Masterglass: a single glass designed to handle everything, from delicate whites to powerful reds and champagne. It belongs to the Stem Zero collection, where NUDE uses Ion Shielding technology to make crystal this thin more durable. Find all the styles among the wine glasses.
3. Whisky glasses: tumbler or tasting glass
Before buying, you need to know how the recipient drinks whisky, because there are two different types of glass.
A tumbler is a low glass with a heavy base. In product specifications, DOF stands for the wide format, designed to hold ice; SOF is the narrower, taller format. Joe Doucet's Alba glasses are DOF, with a hand-engraved, deconstructed tartan pattern and a tapered rim that gathers the aromas. Finesse is the more understated line, pared back to the essentials, available in both formats.
The tasting glass has a bowl that narrows at the top, directing aromas towards the nose. It's for those who drink whisky neat and nose it before tasting: the Islands are designed for this, and their shape also suits aged rum.
Ice dilutes, and some people prefer to avoid it. The Chill tumbler sits on a marble base designed to keep the spirit at the right temperature without adding water to the glass. Explore the full selection of whisky glasses; for mixed drinks, discover highballs and coupes in our cocktail glasses.
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Decanters, wine glasses and whisky glasses
4. How to give a gift: for the recipient, not the giver
For someone who takes their red wine seriously. A decanter and two glasses in one box. The Balance & Terroir set features a decanter that rests at an angle and gently rocks when moved, and comes gift-boxed, ready to give.
For someone who opens a good bottle but doesn't finish it. The Vintage & Terroir set has a round cork stopper that seals the wine left in the decanter without having to pour it back into the bottle.
For someone setting up a home. The Cheers set: three different glasses, one for red wine, one for white and one for sparkling wine. It helps you figure out what you drink most often before buying a full set.
For someone who keeps their whisky on the bar cabinet. Mikko Laakkonen’s Malt set brings together a decanter, two glasses and an ice bowl, the piece that’s usually missing. The Square & Rocks V pairs the Square bottle with two heavy-bottomed glasses.
For someone who doesn’t drink alcohol. A water carafe, which stays on the table every day, or a candle holder: among the candle holders and candlesticks are pieces that don’t require you to know anyone’s tastes.
The sets in this section, from Balance & Terroir to Malt, are also featured among the gift boxes and sets, alongside hat and scarf kits.
The boutique’s advice. If you don’t know what they drink, don’t give them a decanter: it might stay in the box. Give them two glasses, or a Masterglass, which works with any wine. And two good glasses are better than six ordinary ones: most of ours come in pairs, just right for dinner for two.
5. Dishwasher or not?
Our product pages don’t specify this for each piece, so we’re sharing NUDE’s guidelines. NUDE recommends hand-washing decanters with a soft sponge, avoiding the abrasive side, which scratches the surface. Then dry and polish with a soft cloth, preferably microfiber.
Stem Zero glasses are rated as dishwasher-safe for up to 2,000 cycles. However, NUDE still recommends hand-washing, because the results in a machine depend on the detergent dose, water hardness and how the glasses are arranged. If you put them in the dishwasher, don’t load them alongside wood, aluminum, copper or silver.
Two rules apply to all crystal: no bleach and no acidic liquids. In our experience, a glass almost always breaks when it’s dried by holding the bowl in one hand and the foot in the other: the stem twists and snaps. Hold it by the bowl, and use the cloth only there. Pieces with a marble base should be washed separately, and the marble by hand.
If you’re still unsure about a home gift, we’ve gathered more ideas for her and him, our selection of luxury gifts, and our page of Christmas gifts.
Frequently asked questions
What should you give someone for their home when they already have everything?
An object that replaces something ordinary with something special: two crystal glasses instead of everyday ones, a decanter for someone who opens special bottles, a heavy tumbler for a whisky drinker. Choose based on what the recipient drinks, and if you’re not sure, a universal wine glass is the safest choice.
What is a wine decanter for?
Two things: separating wine from sediment, in aged reds and vintage Port, and aerating young, tannic reds that are closed when first opened. Older wines should be decanted shortly before serving, as they’re delicate; this is generally unnecessary for whites and not recommended for sparkling wines.
How long should wine stay in a decanter?
It depends on the wine; there’s no single amount of time that works for all wines. A young, tannic red benefits from a few dozen minutes, sometimes longer: the most reliable approach is to taste it from time to time. A very old red is decanted to remove the sediment and should be served straight away.
What’s the difference between a red wine glass and a white wine glass?
The bowl. A red wine glass is wider, giving the wine room to open up; a glass for delicate white wines is smaller, with a narrow rim that brings out the lighter notes. Full-bodied whites, such as oak-aged Chardonnay, call for a wider, oval bowl, closer to that of a red wine glass.
Which glass should you use for whisky?
The tumbler, short with a heavy base, is for those who drink whisky with ice or neat, without too much ceremony: the DOF style is wider, while the SOF is narrower and taller. For those who drink it neat and want to appreciate its aromas, there’s the tasting glass, with a bowl that narrows towards the top.
Can crystal glasses be washed in the dishwasher?
It depends on the range. NUDE states that Stem Zero glasses are dishwasher-safe for up to 2,000 cycles, but still recommends handwashing; for decanters, it recommends handwashing only. In any case, avoid bleach, acidic liquids, and abrasive sponges.
Editorial team at Vittorio Citro Boutique, Roccapiemonte. A family in fashion since 1917.
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