picnic

Add Some Glamor to Summer Picnics with RIEDEL

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Elevate your summer picnics with our top glassware picks for this summer’s outdoor dining.

Warmer days mean more sociable picnics with friends, partners, and family outside in the summer sun. Like any other form of dining, you can elevate your picnic experience by preparing delicious food and drink and serving it all up in vessels that are both functional and easy on the eye. Needless to say, when it comes to glassware for your picnic, we've got you covered with options to accommodate any taste.

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For the wine aficionado

A common concern around using glassware for picnics is that it may shatter, but outdoor dining doesn't mean you have to stick to plastic cups. Fine crystal glassware can go a long way toward making a picnic feel all the more enjoyable. Whether your go-to tipple to enjoy with your picnic is Champagne, a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc, or a bright Pinot Noir, the right RIEDEL Grape Varietal Specific glass will deliver your wine's qualities in the most optimal way. And just think how much better your overall wine experience will be as you sit out on your lawn sipping from a specialist wine glass that dazzles in the light.

What about if you're traveling to your picnic destination? In this scenario, you may have understandable concerns about how you can transport your stemmed glassware to your picnic destination. Fortunately, there are two ways to address this concern:

  1. For stemmed RIEDEL glassware, you can take comfort in knowing that all RIEDEL products are delivered in secure packaging to ensure your glasses don't rattle around so you can safely transport them from point A to point B without concern.
  2. If this doesn't alleviate your concerns, our stemless RIEDEL wine glasses might be perfect for you. These elegant crystal glasses offer all the class of traditional wine glasses; and at the same time, their compact size makes them convenient to carry and extra easy to pack for your picnic adventure. Their design also eliminates the risk of stem breakage, giving extra peace of mind to those needing it.
RIEDEL stemless glassware provides a multitude of picnic-friendly options for you to consider, including our newer RIEDEL SL Stemless Wings collection that combines the convenience of stemless glassware with the expert design precision of Grape Varietal Specific glassware. We also have our classic RIEDEL O to Go glasses, which come in a compact cylindrical package that adds extra ease to transporting your glassware.
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For the cocktail lover

We couldn't write a picnic glassware blog without including recommendations for cocktail enthusiasts. For many people, picnics present the perfect opportunity to indulge in summer favorites like Sangria or Pimm's that perfectly match the vibes of the occasion.

If you're after glassware that really delivers for a cocktail-centric picnic, a highball glass might just be your best friend. Highball glasses are tall and narrow, making them perfect for serving refreshing cocktails like Mojitos, as well as soft drink alternatives such as iced tea or lemonade - so they cater to lovers of all kinds of drinks!

The ideal RIEDEL products for these drinks come from our cocktail-centered RIEDEL Drinks Specific Glassware series, which features a specialized Highball Glass alongside several other specially engineered cocktail glasses. For shorter cocktails, we recommend trying out the RIEDEL Rocks Glass, which is perfectly sized to accommodate a Negroni, a Dark 'n' Stormy, or a Whiskey Sour. In each instance, these glasses' sleek design and precision clarity adds a touch of luxury and glamor that can take even the most straightforward drinks up a notch, turning them into irresistible treats for your taste buds and your eyes.

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Glassware for a versatile picnic

What about if you're having a picnic where you want glassware that accommodates a diverse range of tastes? Mum wants some Sauvignon Blanc, but Grandma wants a Pinot Grigio and lemonade. You want an IPA, but Dad is driving, so he is sticking to a single shandy. To maximize efficiency for such situations, you can opt for versatile glassware that doesn't lessen high-quality outdoor dining with your loved ones. Unsurprisingly, we have a few glassware suggestions for you to consider:

  1. If you require high-quality, versatile wine glasses, you can't go wrong with our supremely convenient our blog detailing each wine glass style.
  2. Beer enthusiasts should consider our beer glasses available from our RIEDEL Veritas and RIEDEL Bar ranges, which allow you to stylishly serve a range of beer types, from lager to IPA, and even Dad's shandy.
  3. If you wish to combine versatility, sturdiness, and portability, our tumblers are adaptable and practical drinking glasses that are ideal for summer picnics. Their sturdy base makes them well-suited for uneven surfaces often experienced at picnics, while their wide opening makes them suitable for various beverages.
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Glassware for sharing

Picnics often involve providing food and drink for multiple people, so it's helpful to have glassware available that can cope with the demands this brings. For drinks, whether you're serving up soft drinks, wine, or cocktails, you can make life a whole lot easier by packing a decanter or pitcher, helping you to serve your group with minimal difficulty.

The decanters, pitchers, and carafes section of the RIEDEL online webshop features dozens of glassware options that will make serving drinks at your summer picnic much more manageable without sacrificing style or quality. These glassware options can also act as a centerpiece that can be the cherry on top of your carefully curated picnic cake!

You see, picnics don't have to mean that your usual glassware standards go out the window. Whether you opt for tumblers, stemless wine glasses, champagne flutes, or highball glasses, appropriate, integrating elegant crystal glassware into your summer picnics can help to create a memorable dining experience for everyone involved.

 

Piadina (for 2 people):

For the dough:

  • 250g flour
  • 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 125 ml water
  • 70g lard

For the tomato jam:

  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 onion
  • 2 sprigs of rosemary
  • 300g cherries
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 30 ml balsamic vinegar, dark
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • Salt and pepper

For the filling:

  • 2 handfuls of arugula
  • 10 slices of salami
  • 50g Parmesan
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Preparation:

  1. For the dough, combine flour, baking powder, and salt, and knead with water and lard to make an elastic dough. Let the dough rest covered for about 30 minutes.
  2. For the tomato jam, peel and finely chop the garlic and onions. Wash the rosemary, shake it dry, pluck off the needles and chop them finely. Wash the cherry tomatoes, pat them dry and halve them.
  3. Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté the onions, garlic, and rosemary until translucent. Add the tomatoes and vinegar and let it simmer for about 15 minutes. Season with sugar, salt, and pepper.
  4. For the Piadina, halve the dough and roll out on a floured work surface to a flatbread about 3 mm thick. Heat a pan without fat and brown the Piadina on both sides until golden.
  5. Wash the arugula, shake it dry, and marinate it with vinegar and olive oil. To serve, spread the Piadina with tomato jam and top with arugula, salami, and grated Parmesan.
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Picnic Cocktail Rhubarb Spritz:

Preparation:
Cut both ends off the rhubarb, chop the stalks into pieces. Peel and roughly cut the ginger. With rhubarb, sugar, and 500 ml of water, slowly bring to a boil over low heat, then cook for 10 minutes until the rhubarb has fallen apart. Let it steep for 30 minutes. Put the rhubarb in a fine sieve and press well (yields about 1l of juice). Top up the juice with mineral water and serve ice-cold with lime slices. If you like, add a shot of Aperol and champagne.
  • 2 kg rhubarb
  • 40 g ginger (fresh)
  • 100 g sugar
  • 1l mineral water
  • 2 limes

Italian Pasta Salad (6 servings):

  • 350 g pasta
  • 150 g crushed tomatoes
  • 4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Salt & pepper
  • 100 g sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
  • 2 large handfuls of arugula
  • 250 g cherry tomatoes
  • 1 mozzarella

Preperation:

  1. Cook pasta al dente according to package instructions.
  2. In the meantime, in a large bowl, mix crushed tomatoes, vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, and pepper to make the dressing. Season to taste.
  3. Cut sun-dried tomatoes into strips, cut arugula as needed, and halve tomatoes.
  4. Rinse pasta under cold water, then mix with the sauce. Add remaining ingredients and lastly tear mozzarella into the bowl.
  5. Mix everything well, taste again as needed, and enjoy.