Product Description

The handmade decanter distinguishes by an elegant and complex design. Riedel whole-heartedly believes all wines - young and old, red, white or sparkling - can be enhanced by decanting. Riedel tip: Use bottle cleaners to remove stains inside the decanter.

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The fluid shape of the O decanter coordinates beautifully with the popular O tumblers from Riedel. Decanting--pouring the contents of a bottle of wine into a serving container--enhances the appreciation of the wine by increasing its contact with oxygen, basically the same process as swirling wine in a glass to release its bouquet. Decanting allows older as well as young wines to fully open up and "breathe." The deep upward facing well, known as a punt, in the bottom of the O decanter causes the wine to splay when poured in, increasing oxygenation. And, the punt provides a good thumb-hold, making the container easier to grasp, which is why the decanter is nicknamed by designer Maximilian Riedel as the "Thumbs Up."

Riedel's O tumblers neatly sidestep the annoying issue of stem breakage and fit handily into a dishwasher or picnic basket. Unlike the tumblers, which are machine made of lead-free glass, the decanter is hand-blown of leaded crystal. Making a delightful gift for the uninhibited wine drinker, the O decanter pours without dripping, thanks to its gracefully angled lip, and, like the tumblers, feels just plain satisfying to hold in the hand. The decanter stands 8-7/8 inches tall and holds 34-1/2 ounces. To keep it sparkling, wash by hand. --Ann Bieri