Renowned Austrian glassmaker Riedel designs the shape of each glass to most fully enhance the appreciation of the liquid within. These two glasses, with their elongated bowls and flared lips, are made especially for enjoying grappa, the sweet after-dinner drink the Italians call a "digestivo," which is much like brandy. Thin-stemmed and broad-based, providing just the right mixture of delicacy and stability, each grappa glass stands 8 inches tall and holds 3 ounces at full capacity. The set makes a superb wedding gift or adds to an existing collection for the serious wine and spirits drinker.
Comprised of more than 24 percent lead crystal for superb brilliance and clarity, Vinum stems and cocktail glasses are nevertheless affordable because they are machine-made rather than mouth-blown. Riedel introduced the popular Vinum line in 1986 and this particular glass in 1996. While all Vinum glassware is dishwasher-safe, Riedel recommends washing the crystal by hand to prevent detergent residue that can affect wine taste. --Ann Bieri