Riedel Ouverture Magnum Glass, Set of 2-6408/90

Several years ago my husband and I took "wine class;" that is, a community course about wines, food pairings, history, etc. The teacher had mentioned that larger, crystal glasses were perfect for red wines, but we dallied for a few years before finally getting a set. Frankly, I was surprised at how great these glasses were. They are a really nice size, only moderately larger than the usual wine glasses, but about twice as large as the less expensive kind you find at discount stores. The shape is elegant, perfect for casual as well as nice dinners.They really do improve the overall experience of red wines. The larger bowl means the wine gets exposed to more air and can breathe. My husband is convinced the very slight lip on the glasses helps as well. Also, your nose gets down into the glass when you drink, and since scent and taste are so closely linked it really improves the overall flavor. We've used these with grenache, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, zinfandel, and blends.My only complaint is that these are somewhat more delicate than I'm used to. It's not a complaint about the glasses themselves, but more of a warning to others. The stem on one broke the very first day we used it, after a relatively light tap against a casserole dish sitting next to it in the kitchen. I bought a second set and hand wash them, as I wouldn't personally put these through the dishwasher because they are somewhat thin. For the price, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys red wines.

Through attrition, and clumsiness, all the wine glasses I have left were 14 to 16 oz. Why do you need a 16 oz. glass, when the nominal serving of wine is 4 or 5 oz.? For high-end wines, it gives the wine plenty of room for the bouquet to develop.That is important. But what if you can't or won't buy much high-end wine? 95% of the wine I buy is $7 to $15.( There are amazingly good wines in that range if you look hard.) These glasses seem very well made, with cut and well polished rims,(not sharp, like some of the higher end glasses). They weigh 2 oz. less than my good 16 oz. glasses, and are 2" shorter. Much less cumbersome. If you want to smell the bouquet,, pour only an ounce or two, and swirl. The rim diameter is2 1/8". I have what I consider a "generous" nose, and with the rim at my lips, my nose does fit inside as far as I want. A 5 oz. serving comes up slightly above the halfway point in the glass, giving you a good feel for an appropriate serving. I will buy more of these.

This is our daily glass, fits well in our cupboard and not so expensive I worry about breaking them (but I don't let my teenage son wash them, he has a knack....). Crystal at a reasonable price, nice bowl shape, and not so big I over-pour - I love these. I hardly ever get out the larger glasses except for special bottles/occasions. Turns out many of the employees at my local marchand du vin also use these daily.Although I am told these are dishwasher safe I always hand wash. 90% of those I have broken were broken in the washing process - be careful to not stress the stem or try to cram a sponge or cloth into the bowl and you will be fine.For those expecting a larger bowl, can't believe you didn't look at the measurements in the listing and get a ruler out to see what it was. For my part, I am a repeat buyer so I knew what I was getting.

More like a water glass than a wine glass. Squatty. Durable glass.

This is my favorite wine glass and I have been using the red wine version for years. This glass is perfect for everyday wine drinking, red or white wines are fine. Ice cubes? Go for it. It's a perfect 'intermediate' size, much closer to a traditional white wine glass than a red. You can pour yourself a nice small half glass, something like 125 ml. This is a small glass but the rim opening is wide and the glass is thin, so drinking is perfect. I really don't need another wine glass. But wine snobs will cringe drinking a good red wine from this glass.I've ordered several sets of two over the years. Why? Although these glasses are fairly hardy for crystal, the bowl will break if you tip the glass over on granite or get a little too aggressive drying them. You can break the stem.

I was afraid they would be very fragile until I dropped one. They are a lot more durable than they look. These are very nice beer glasses and I use them all the time

I use these glasses as a generic tasting glass. Not only do they work well for white wine but for many other fortified wines and spirits as well.Granted it is ideal to use the specific glass for each wine or spirit you drink or taste. Cost of stocking such a selection of glassware to compliment my drinking taste prohibits my doing soShould you attend any commercial wine tasting you will find yourself presented with a commercial version of this glass at every table. You will need to adjust your tasting abilities to maximize the qualities this style of glass will offer.The point is that this glass will do most people great service with many drinking/tasting opportunities. Should you have a wine, spirit, or fortified wine worth hundreds of dollars then you might consider investing in a glass designed specifically for your beverage (i.e., a rare single malt, port, vintage wine, or sherry).I only wish Riedel would make a glass for Absinthe.