Giving gifts may come naturally to the bride-to-be however the engaged man may find the process a little more challenging.  When it comes to giving gifts to your groomsmen, Riedel has suggestions to make giving gifts crystal clear – literally.

For a sophisticated gift that your groomsmen will actually use, look no further than the Riedel Bar collection.  Martini glasses, such as Riedel’s Vinum XL Martini Glass, are a classic and virtually foolproof choice.  However for a more unique gift, consider Riedel’s spirit specific glasses.  Like wine, fine spirits are best enjoyed in glasses expertly crafted to enhance their enjoyment.  These glasses, such as the Ouverture Tequila Glass or the Vinum Single Malt Whiskey Glass, heightens the flavor profile of their namesake spirits.  They also minimize their alcoholic bite, to the point that spirits can be leisurely sipped.

Grooms-to-be, take note: steer away from those stereotypical chunky beer steins for your groomsmen and instead give them the gift of good spirits.  It truly is a gift that will keep on giving.

For the recently engaged couple starting the bridal registry process, stemware may be the word du jour but have you considered going stemless? Riedel’s revolutionary “O” collection of stemless wine glasses, designed by Maximilian Riedel (11th generation) debuted in 2004 and have since captivated the industry.  Since the series debut, the “O” Chardonnay glass has even been selected for permanent collection at the Corning Museum of Glass. The designs of the “O” stemless wine glasses are based on the benchmark shapes of the Riedel Vinum series, putting these acclaimed varietal specific shapes in a new, compact form.

For some new couples, the “O” line offers a number of advantages.  Most notably, for those with limited cabinet space, the stemless form is small and easy to stack so more glasses can be stored in a smaller space.  These dishwasher safe glasses are also very sturdy, making the glasses very spill and break-resistant.  Because of this they are also great for outdoor entertaining, more likely to stay put even on rickety picnic tables and other uneven surfaces.  For traditional indoor entertaining, the glasses offer a casual yet chic aesthetic that is preferred by many young couples.  “O” glasses are also incredibly versatile; they can be used for so many things in addition to serving wine: water, juice, cocktails, even serving food.

So as you scan the aisles, consider looking for something a little lower: “O” stemless glasses are the perfect solution to many a stemware choice.

For the recently released The Decanting Napa Valley Cookbook, Decanting Wine Country and Riedel Crystal partnered to create a must-have culinary keepsake that incorporates many of the wineries, restaurants and professional chefs that define Napa Valley. The book is a grand collaboration culminating in 180 pairing recipes for 100 wines including a recipe from chef/owner Ken Frank’s La Toque for warm Maine lobster and roasted sweet potato salad to pair with Domaine Carneros Le Reve Blanc de Blancs and Michael Mina, chef/owner of the eponymous group’s, recipe for Slow Roasted Kobe Beef Roulade to pair with Martin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon. For each wine, the ideal Riedel glass to enjoy it in is handily displayed.

It is a dream gift for the wine enthusiast: a no guesswork guide to pairing 100 wines with dishes and glassware. The Decanting Napa Valley Cookbook (SRP $45) can be purchased online at Riedelwebstore.com.