T
he ‘Riedel Glass Empire’ was laid down by Johann Leopold Riedel during the Seven Year War between Austria and Prussia from 1756 to 1753. Initially started as glasswork brand for hollow glass products, it defined itself through colored glasses, chandelier parts, perfume bottles and glass jewelry until Claus J. Riedel took the charge of the business. With a vision in his mind, he changed the appearance of a tradition stemware into a plain, unadorned and long-stemmed vessel which we all today call a wineglass. His first wine character inspired stemware line ‘Sommeliers’ was introduced in the year 1973 in Orvieto as a masterpiece. The philosophy of ‘glass makes a difference in wine tasting’ is now guided by the 10th and 11th generation of the Riedel family, George J. Riedel, and Maximilian J. Riedel respectively
While having a drink, the head is tilted at a different angle based on the shape of the glass one holds. This difference in positions changes the flow from which the drink hits the tongue. Thus a glass is a tool for balancing the flavors of a drink and are based on the parameters of -shape, size and opening. But what makes a fine wine glass? Definitely not the curve in the sides but the edges. A good wine glass has edges which come towards one another at the top and perfectly focuses on the aromatic potentials. A small edged glass will hide all the beautiful aroma and crispiness but a wide-edged one will sing the message.
Riedel's glass design ideas are not born inside an Ac room on a whiteboard but take a shape through constant experiments and error backed by the support of the world’s best palates. The glassmaking name believes that a perfect wine experience is based on four elements – color, bouquet, taste, and glass. From past so many years, they have acquired engaging scientific explanations to justify the influence the shape of a vessel has in conveying the message of a splendid wine. Riedel being a 300-year-old name in the glass world is prestigiously known as the inventors of the varietal type stemware. Being the only company in the history to highlight the significance of a glass in the tasting of a beverage, it has emerged as a brand of class and choice for wine connoisseurs, conviviality professionals and elite consumers round the globe.
