Riedel Vinum Extreme Cabernet Sauvignon/Bordeaux/Merlot Wine Glass, Set of 4

Made in Austria by the world's most renowned wine-glass maker Riedel Crystal, founded in 1756, the four large glasses in this set are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and full-bodied red Bordeaux wines like Cabernet Franc. The glasses are from Riedel's Vinum Extreme series, which are distinguished by their bowls' dramatically flared diamond shape. The glasses provide an exceptionally wide evaporation surface, thereby intensifying wines' bouquet and silky texture. The glasses are machine-blown of 24 percent lead crystal and conform to Riedel's exacting standards: colorless, transparent, and thin-walled, with lips cut and polished so wine flows smoothly onto the tongue. These glasses are 9-3/4 inches high and hold 30-3/8 ounces.

Spiegelau by WMF 6-Ounce Port/Aperitif Glasses, Set of 6

Several years ago, an article in Wine Spectator magazine noted the importance of a high-quality glass for improving a wine's looks and enhancing its bouquet. However, the magazine lamented, many of the attributes that increase the beauty and value of the glass actually obscure the wine. Spiegelau's Vino Grande series is part of a connoisseur line designed specifically for wine lovers. The thin rim means less distraction from the taste and texture of the wine. Tap the glass gently with your fingernail and you'll hear the distinctive ping of fine crystal.

This clear vintage port glass measures 7-1/4 inches high. The glass is evenly proportioned, with stem and bowl approximately the same height. These glasses are billed as being dishwasher-safe and are sturdy enough for everyday use, as proven by their popular use in restaurants. Still, we'd recommend hand washing.

Riedel Vinum Bordeaux Wine Glasses, Set of 6

You splurge on a set of expensive all-purpose crystal wine glasses, which for years you keep filled with Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, or any French combo of the above. Then one day you taste these same wines in the Riedel Vinum series Bordeaux glass and you're calling Goodwill to arrange pickup for a service for eight. Credit--or blame--Riedel's theory that stemware can be designed to direct wines to specific areas of the tongue to enhance the wine's fruitiness, acidity, and tannic heft. And with this glass, model 416/0 to Riedel loyalists, the theory is as plausible as it is pleasurable. A five-year-old Cabernet Franc from Washington State, tasted in both the Vinum Bordeaux and another brand's crystal, was a revelation. With its high, concave, large-capacity bowl, the Riedel glass exhibited the wine's nose of cherry as well as its bright acidity--impressions absent from the contents of "Brand X."

Riedel Vinum Chablis/Chardonnay Wine Glasses, Set of 6

When you first hear of the philosophy behind Austrian glassmaker Riedel and its Vinum line of machine-made full-crystal stemware, you can be forgiven for raising your eyebrows higher than prices of white Burgundy. The tongue is divided into four zones, each recognizing either sweetness, bitterness, saltiness, or acidity and that by matching the size and shape of the glass to specific wines, their sensory attributes can be enhanced? Fortunately, with the Riedel Vinum series Chardonnay glass, the company has put its Montrachet where its mouth is and come up with a design to please not only Chardophiles, but also fans of Chenin, Viognier, the Pinot brothers--Gris and Blanc--even noble rotters from Sauternes. A Pacific Northwest Chard tasted in both the Riedel and what was previously thought to be "the good crystal" revealed a balanced acidic brightness in the former and a sort of boozy flabbiness in the latter. With its medium-height bowl and tapered opening, the Vinum Chardonnay glass almost forces you to purse your lips, directing the wine to the mid-tongue's acid receptors and thereby balancing the wine's fruit and oak.

Spiegelau Vino Grande Chardonnay Glasses, Set of 6

These are the wine glasses you'll pull out every night for dinner, as well as on those special occasions. Their shape enhances the aromas and flavors of any wine. They are durable, dishwasher-safe, and retain their clarity well. And they're color-stable for guaranteed brilliance. The only thing missing with these glasses is the wine itself.

Riedel Vinum Port Glasses, Set of 6

If, when asked to enumerate your favorite after-dinner beverages, you find yourself listing port, then you will cherish Riedel's Vinum series port glass. Austrian glassmaker Riedel has built a reputation based on the premise that the tongue is divided into four zones, each recognizing either sweetness, bitterness, saltiness, or acidity, and that by changing a glass's size and shape, it can be perfectly attuned to a particular wine's stylistic nuances. With this glass, Riedel has set its sights on the rich high-alcohol classics from Portugal. With its elegant, barely fluted teardrop design, the Vinum port glass serves to enhance the wine's floral, raisiny aromatics while mitigating any alcohol burn to the nose. In doing so, the Vinum port glass is sure to become indispensable after all fine meals.

Spiegelau by WMF 22-Ounce Bordeaux Magnum Glasses, Set of 6

Several years ago, an article in Wine Spectator magazine noted the importance of a high-quality glass for improving a wine's looks and enhancing its bouquet. However, the magazine lamented, many of the attributes that increase the beauty and value of the glass actually obscure the wine. Spiegelau's Vino Grande series is part of a connoisseur line designed specifically for wine lovers. The thin rim means less distraction from the taste and texture of the wine. Tap the glass gently with your fingernail and you'll hear the distinctive ping of fine crystal.

This generously sized wine glass measures 9 inches high and is designed to showcase the Bordeaux region's Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots. The glasses are billed as dishwasher-safe and are sturdy enough for everyday use, as proven by their use in restaurants. Still, we'd recommend hand washing.

Charisma 14-oz. Wine (Set of 4)

The name is true. This stylish glassware by Furio has a charismatic design. Its clean curves and clarity make it classic. Sold in sets of 4, these glasses add an air of class to both formal and casual dinners. Crystal clear glass, straight stem and round base. Dishwasher safe. Made in USA.

Riedel Vinum Extreme 4-Piece Wine Tasting Set

Made in Austria by the world's most renowned wineglass maker, Riedel Crystal, founded in 1756, the four large glasses in this wine-tasting set from Riedel's Vinum Extreme series established a new standard when they were introduced. Distinguished by their bowls' dramatically flared diamond shape, the glasses provide an exceptionally wide evaporation surface, thereby intensifying a wine's bouquet and silky texture. The glasses are machine-blown of 24 percent lead crystal and conform to Riedel's exacting standards: they're colorless, transparent, and thin-walled, and their lips are cut and polished so wine flows smoothly onto the tongue.

Riedel Vinum Champagne/Prestige Cuvee Glasses, Set of 6

Looking like an especially well-regulated art nouveau lava lamp, the Riedel Vinum Series Cuvee/Prestige glass was designed to add to your enjoyment of your favorite sparkling wines. The obvious and prime attraction to any bubbly is the bubbles. This glass is known as 416/48 to Riedel loyalists; at the interior bottom of its weighty, languidly curved bowl lies a small crystal pinhole. This etched "fizz mark" provides a rough surface on which the beads form, rising to the surface in a steady stream through the center of the liquid. It may sound scientifically dry, but it's just Riedel's way of putting the "fizz" in "physics."

Riedel Vinum Burgundy/Pinot Noir Wine Glasses, Set of 4

This glass, model 416/7 to enthusiasts, is made for fans of New World Pinot Noir and the red wines of Burgundy and Italy. With it, Riedel brings its theory--that the tongue is divided into four zones, each recognizing either sweetness, bitterness, saltiness, or acidity, and that by changing the size and shape of the glass it can accentuate wine positives while mitigating negatives--to bear on the wines made from Pinot, Gamay, Barbera, and Nebbiolo grapes. And tasting a slightly faded Gamay-based Brouilly cru Beaujolais in both Riedel and another brand of crystal stemware puts theory to practice. With its large-capacity, squat, and concave bowl, the Riedel softened the wine's tart nose and directed the wine to the tip of the tongue, highlighting the remaining fruit-things "X" was unable to do. It's an odd feeling to come to the conclusion that your "good" wineglasses aren't.

Leaf-Etched Champagne Flutes (Set of 4)

These exquisite etched glasses by Home delightfully complement your fine china or everyday dinnerware. Made of handcrafted blown glass, each piece features an elegant leaf pattern etched on the side. The 12-oz. wine glasses and 16-oz. tumblers are ideal for dinner parties, while the 5-oz. champagne flutes and 12-oz. double old-fashioned glasses are perfect for after-dinner drinks. Dishwasher safe. Imported. Flute: 9-1/2Hx2-1/2" diameter. Wine glass: 8-1/2Hx3" diameter. Double old-fashioned: 4Hx3" diameter. Tumbler: 6Hx3" diameter.

Libbey 16 Piece All-Purpose Stemware Set

The 16 glasses in this stemware set equip a dining room for serving a variety of beverages in elegant style. The set consists of eight 12-ounce goblets (perfect for red wine as well as ice water) and eight 8-1/2-ounce goblets (perfect for white wine). Stems rise to solid-glass stem caps just below the glasses' bowls. The stem caps give the glasses high-quality heft, and they also reflect light and the color of the liquid inside the bowls. Though stemware should be handled carefully, these glasses are perfectly safe in a dishwasher's top shelf. You can remove spots with a clean cloth.

Spiegelau by WMF 15-Ounce Red Wine Glasses, Set of 6

This set of simple but elegant crystal wine glasses would grace the simplest outdoor picnic as well as a multicourse formal meal in the dining room. The glasses are 9 inches tall, 2-1/2 inches across the top, and 3 inches across the wider portion of the tulip shape. They have very thin stems and wide, stable bottoms that won't tip easily--a design bonus, since no one likes trying to clean red wine out of a tablecloth. A set of these glasses would make a lovely housewarming or wedding gift, along with a select bottle from your favorite winery.

Riedel Vinum Syrah/Rhone Wine Glasses, Set of 6

To quote the old song, "You say poe-tay-toe, I say poe-tah-toe." In the world of wine, where Australians say "Shiraz" and everyone else says "Syrah," Riedel has orchestrated another success: the huge-capacity elliptical bowl of its Vinum Series Shiraz/Syrah glass perfectly harmonizes the dusky, earthy fruit and tannic grip of not only this French/Oz workhorse grape, but several other vinous verses as well. Spain says "Garnacha," France says "Grenache"; you say "Mataro," I say "Mourvedre"--they all shine solo or blended in this glass, known as 416/30 to Riedel loyalists. Try it too with an Italian sun-dried, raisiny Amarone, as well as an inky Washington State Lemberger (Austrians say "Blaufrankisch"). It--and not Riedel's Bordeaux glass 416/0--is even the recommended glass for wines made from one multisynonymied grape traditionally used in Bordeaux blends. (You say "Auxerrois" and I say "Malbec"--let's call the whole thing "Cot.")

Riedel Vinum Chianti Classico/Zinfandel Wine Glasses, Set of 6

One of the more versatile stems among the 19 myriad shapes in Riedel's Vinum line, this glass, model 416/15 to loyalists, hits almost all the food groups. It's called the Chianti Classico glass, referring to the Italian region producing red wines from the Sangiovese grape, but the glass is designed to enhance the nuance and flavor of wines made of Dolcetto or Montepulciano, too. And Zinfandel drinkers--we're talking red Zin here--will find that this glass focuses lots of bright fruit to the nose, rounding off some of the rougher edges of a young red. A 1997 Napa Valley Zinfandel, tasted in both Riedel and "Brand X," bears this out. And lovers of the Riesling grape, take note: this exact same glass is also marketed as the Riedel Vinum series Riesling Grand Cru glass, perfect for both the dry versions as well as the sweeter late harvest renditions of this tasty white. Why, it's a veritable vinous United Nations--Italians, Germans, and North Americans of all colors using an Austrian forum to show off.