NEW Riedel Decanters - have just arrived in New Zealand!

The Black Tie Decanter is 'free blown', meaning the glass blower forms it by hand without the aid of a mold. A rod of black crystal (coloured by manganese oxide) is introduced while the glass is molten. The length of the hollow glass piece is determined by the arm span of the glass blower.

Only an extremely talented glassblower can successfully sculpt these creations, and each decanter is slightly different - one of a kind. Classic, curved, and arguably crucial to wine enjoyment, Riedel's Black Tie decanter makes decanting a joy from poured in to pour out.

The EVE Decanter, designed by Maximilian Riedel in 2008, is a tribute to the family's matriarch, Eva Riedel. Each EVE decanter is 'free blown' by a master glass blower in Austria and is a unique and functional work of art. Beautifully packaged in Riedel's signature black and red box, the EVE decanter comes with an instructional DVD narrated by Maximilian Riedel, which explains the pouring technique and cleaning instructions.

I encourage you to decant your wine, both young and old. It is a sign of respect for old wines and a sign of confidence in young wines.

Decanting old wines, just a few moments before they are served, helps to ensure that the wines' clarity and brilliance are not obscured by any deposit that may have developed over time.

Decanting young wines before they are served gives the wine a chance to open and attain a stage of development that normally requires much more time in the bottle.