Best value substitutes

Waterford Marquis Vintage Tasting Collection (Brown Thomas, China Showrooms, McCabes Merrion, Arnotts, Clerys, Tierneys, Shaws…

Waterford Marquis Vintage Tasting Collection (Brown Thomas, China Showrooms, McCabes Merrion, Arnotts, Clerys, Tierneys, Shaws nationwide, Fallers Galway, Knox Waterford, Horgans Blarney, Stauntons Castlebar and other outlets, four glasses £25). This range, made in Austria for Waterford Crystal, captures style, quality and wine-friendly shapes at a very reasonable price. The red wine glasses are a touch ostentatious; the super-elegant champagne flutes faultless.

Prima Vera red wine glass (Stock, £7.75; boxed set of two £15.50). The glass could be thinner, but still this is a good-looking all rounder.

Leonardo Jazz range (Brown Thomas, £4 each). A new, fun find - inexpensive glasses with wiggly, drunken looking stems - but the bowls are shaped to do wine justice.

Habitat Natalia range (£3.25£3.95 each). Fine-rimmed, beautifully proportioned glasses for white, red and champagne. Perhaps a little fragile, but at least they won't break the bank.

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Dunnes Stores Chateau range (£2 each, boxed set of four, £8). The goblets are best: generous bowl, straight stem - not half bad, considering the price.