Riedel Vitis Riesling/Sauvignon Blanc Glass, Set of 2
Vitis stands tall in the Riedel stable, literally. These glasses are the tallest made by the renowned and continually innovative glassware company. Introduced in spring 2007, Vitis (which means "vine" in Latin) is a bold, oversized extension of Riedel's Vinum Extreme collection, designed with a modern diamond-shape bowl. Both are machine-made of full-lead crystal, but Vitis stems go a step further-they are pulled from a single piece of glass, resulting in a spectacular fluidity. The bowl actually extends down into the tapered stem in a tear-drop fashion, which means the wine itself creates the lower point of the diamond.Taller than the Vitis Montrachet glass and with a narrower bowl, this one is designed to bring out the delightful aspects of lighter, drier white wines, such as Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. The 10-1/4-inch height adds to the sophisticated feel of the two brilliant and beautifully balanced glasses in this set. Vitis crystal comes in a handsome Riedel box and makes a superb gift for the wine connoisseur. To preserve the clarity of the crystal and avoid stem breakage, the glasses are best washed by hand.--Ann Bieri