Gifts of Taste : Crystal Sources
The following mail-order companies sell glassware of various manufacturers. Most have catalogues and will take orders by phone. All charge for shipping; such charges vary.
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In Los Angeles, the Riedel line is available at many fine wine shops and better department stores.
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* Marjorie Lum Glassware, (415) 454-0660. Lum has been marketing glassware for decades, and her 13 1/2-ounce chimney, the so-called Monterey glass, sells for $48.25 for a set of six. Her price for the “restaurant-quality” Riedel Vinum Burgundy, glasses with very slight flaws, is $15.50 each.
* International Wine Accessories, (800) 527-4072. This well-regarded catalogue carries Riedel crystal including the new Gourmet glass, a smaller-stemmed, large-bowled (13-ounce) glass that is safer in a dishwasher than longer-stemmed models. They cost $64.95 for a set of 10. The Riedel Vinum Burgundy sells for $75 for a set of four, plus shipping.
* Wine Enthusiast, (800) 356-8466. This wine magazine sells a complete line of Riedel in addition to glassware it has made for its own catalogue. Riedel Vinum Burgundy sells for $71 for a set of four, plus shipping.
* Brown Derby, (417) 883-4066. This wine shop, located in Springfield, Mo., has a wide selection of glassware, including Riedel, at discount prices. Also, it has modest shipping charges. Riedel Vinum Burgundy sells for $69.99 for a set of four, plus shipping.
* Wine Appreciation Guild, (800) 231-9463. This San Francisco firm markets a line of British-made glasses under the name John Jenkins, about $20 each. A best buy is the INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origine) tasting glass. This is an attractive nine-ounce, 24% lead crystal glass that many winery tasting rooms use. The guild’s price is $49.95 per dozen plus $4 shipping.