Extreme Cabernet Glasses, Set of Four

Why it works as a gift

Good wine glasses are a gift many hosts never get around to buying for themselves. They pour a good bottle into whatever is in the cabinet. Riedel has built its name on matching the shape of the bowl to the wine, and the Extreme Cabernet is made for full-bodied reds: an angular, diamond-shaped bowl with a large surface that lets Cabernet Sauvignon, red Bordeaux, Malbec and Merlot open up, per Riedel and the listing. It is machine-made from crystal in Bavaria, Germany.

Practical details make it a gift that gets used rather than saved for best. Riedel says the glasses are dishwasher safe, which matters after a dinner party. A set of four means a couple can pour for guests, and Riedel sells this set as a value pack, four glasses for the price of three. Each glass holds about 28 ounces and stands about 9.7 inches tall, so they make a statement on a table.

Against a generic set of all-purpose glasses at the same budget, this is the more knowing choice for someone whose wine rack leans red. Against Riedel's handmade lines, it is machine-made, which Riedel says brings consistent quality and durability. The angular shape is distinctive; anyone who prefers a traditional rounded bowl may want a different Riedel shape.

Who it’s for

• Parents-in-law or parents who host family dinners with a bottle of red
• A friend who has started collecting Cabernet or Bordeaux and still drinks it from tumblers
• A couple setting up a first home together, as a housewarming or wedding gift for the dinner table
• A host who had you for a holiday dinner, as a thank-you paired with a bottle you know they like

Skip it if

• They drink mostly white or sparkling wine, or don't drink at all; these are shaped for big reds
• Their cabinets are already full of good stemware, or shelves are under 10 inches high; each glass stands about 9.7 inches
• They prefer a traditional round bowl; the Extreme line's angular, diamond shape is a matter of taste

Giving it

• Pair the set with a bottle of Cabernet or Bordeaux you know they enjoy, so the glasses get used the same week
• Ship it rather than carry it if you're flying; stemware travels better in its original packaging
• For a white-wine drinker in the same household, Riedel's Vinum Oaked Chardonnay pair makes a matching second gift
• Check the retailer's return policy for breakage in transit before the gift goes out

The facts

Set

Four glasses, sold by Riedel as a value pack (four for the price of three); article number 4411/0

Material and making

Machine-made crystal glass, made in Bavaria, Germany

Shape

Angular, diamond-shaped bowl with a large surface, for full-bodied reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, red Bordeaux and Malbec

Capacity

About 28.2 oz

Size

About 9.72 in tall; 4.09 in across

Care

Dishwasher safe; Riedel advises placing glasses so they don't touch other items

Consider instead

• Riedel Vinum Oaked Chardonnay Glasses, Pair — The same maker's glass for someone who drinks white wine
• Wedgwood x Vera Wang Duchesse Toasting Flutes, Pair — For a couple celebrating a wedding or anniversary with sparkling wine
• Le Creuset Signature Deep Round Oven, 6.5 qt — A larger hosting gift for someone who cooks the dinner the wine goes with