Stemware debacle

Hey folks,

Question here - I've been entrusted with a budget for a complete set of stemware, like 24 or so glasses, for a wedding gift. The recepients are the son of a multi-millionaire and his bride. They are not wine drinkers, but this is an obviously elegant gift choice. The budget is generous.

My question is, do you give exceptional crystal wine glasses as a gift that are non-dishwasherable, and perhaps more for occasional use and display, or do you opt for more day-to-day glasses that can be dishwashered?

My feeling is that you get them more elaborate stems, like Riedel Vinums as it is more of a statement, but I'd like to hear some opinions. Maybe I'm overthinking this.... Has anyone ever given stemware as a gift for such an occasion? What was the response? Anything you learned afterwards?

[David M. Bueker]

I've given both cut crystal and Riedel type stems for wedding gifts. I would never again do the cut crystal (e.g. Waterford) as nobody ever uses them for anything!

One idea is the newer titanium (instead of lead) crystal glasses. They are supposed to be dishwasher sturdy and as elegant as Riedel type stemware.

I find that with allot of crystals such as Waterford crystal other than expensive, I find then very heavy and awkward to use a bit impractical but lovely to look at, lately I've seen some lovely crystal from the Czech republic you could search some stuff out on the web if not you can get some traditionally hand made personalised glasses from Italy or where ever.

I would at least look at the new titanium glasses, as David suggested. I know Schott-Zwiesel (sp?) has a line. Dishwasherable, and supposedly more breakage-resistant to boot.

Nolan, that's one long-ass sentence!

David, I've seen those - Schott-Zweisel titaniums... I got this dramatic presentation of them from a retailer, where we kept tipping one over on the table and it wouldn't break. It was definitely an ooh-la-la moment, not unlike Ronco's food dehydrator. The punchline of that joke is, the glasses are stupidly tall (in my opinion) and they wouldn't fit in my dishwasher, regardless of how sturdy they are!

But gents, thanks for your input. I appreciate it.

I think that, being that these two are not wine drinkers, I would go with both something clean and contemporary looking, as well as brand-recognition. It would be in accordance with posterity that they get as much brand as they do quality, which is why I'm leaning towards Riedel.

[James Roscoe]

Craig,
For what it's worth, Crate and Barrell has some really nice dishwasher safe glasses that do a pretty good job. Most of your high-end epartment stores will carry something like that, but these Crate and Barrell glasses I saw were the best of that type. Heck, even Ikea does some pretty nice glasses if you want to buy bulk.

The Riedel 'O' series of stemless glasses are very groovy and work very well. I've just started using them and I like them a lot.

You'll be doing them a favor to get them glasses they can actually use for parties or regular dinners. For me, that means something they can replace as they break, so anything not available from a department store, Williams-Sonoma, or something like that is out. Feel free to source them from wherever you prefer, but it should be something they can buy more of. I think that rules out any of the specialty glasses available via geek catalogs, leaving Riedel and maybe Spiegelau (they're available on Amazon, so I consider them mainstream)

Then, if you've got the budget, I would get a set each of water, sparkling wine, white wine, and red wine. Looks impressive on the table. If you've still got the budget, throw in a decanter. It would be quite the present.

Walt