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RIEDEL

Shape in Service of Wine

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Since 1756, RIEDEL has upheld a family tradition of glassmaking spanning more than 270 years and 11 generations. Now an internationally recognized name in premium glassware, RIEDEL combines craftsmanship, innovation, and sensory research to create glasses and decanters designed to reveal the full richness of wines and spirits.

Pioneering Grape-Variety-Specific Glassware

RIEDEL has fundamentally transformed the way wine glasses are designed by placing shape at the service of the tasting experience.

In the 1950s, Claus J. Riedel, the ninth generation of the family, developed glasses with shapes designed around the characteristics of the wine. His son, Georg J. Riedel, further developed this approach by introducing the concept of a glass specifically designed for each grape variety. This philosophy remains at the heart of RIEDEL's identity today.

Why Does the Shape of a Glass Make a Difference?

For RIEDEL, a glass is more than an aesthetic object. Its shape, size, and opening are carefully designed to complement the characteristics of the wine.

The diameter of the rim, the depth of the bowl, and its width all influence how the wine is presented to the nose and on the palate. The glass therefore becomes a true tasting tool, designed to enhance the expression of aromas, the perception of texture, and the balance of the wine.

This approach explains why RIEDEL offers different shapes for numerous grape varieties and wine styles: each wine has its own aromatic profile and structure.

The Architecture of a RIEDEL Glass

At RIEDEL, the balance of a glass is based on the harmony between the bowl, stem, and foot.

Each element serves a specific purpose. The shape of the bowl is adapted to the style of wine, the fine rim enhances serving and tasting, while the stem and foot contribute to balance, stability, and ease of handling.

This pursuit of harmony between function, proportion, and aesthetics is an integral part of RIEDEL's design language.

The Art of Handcrafted Glassmaking

RIEDEL also continues the tradition of mouth-blown and hand-finished glassware at its manufacturing facility in Kufstein, Austria.

Each piece is individually shaped by master glassmakers. Slight variations in size, weight, or texture that may occur in an artisan-made piece are not considered defects, but rather natural characteristics of a handcrafted object.

The Precision of Machine Manufacturing

Innovation has always played an equally important role in RIEDEL's history. Machine manufacturing makes it possible to reproduce complex shapes with a high degree of precision while ensuring remarkable consistency from one piece to another.

Collections such as RIEDEL Vinum, RIEDEL Veloce, and RIEDEL Superleggero demonstrate this ability to combine technology, finesse, and precision. Launched in 2022, RIEDEL Veloce takes this approach particularly far, using technology developed at the company's facility in Weiden, Germany.

A Philosophy Built Around the Tasting Experience

The RIEDEL philosophy is based on a simple idea: a great wine deserves a glass that does it justice.

That is why the company develops its shapes in collaboration with wine professionals and through sensory workshops, evaluating how the glass influences the perception of wine.

The result is a collection of glasses designed not simply to enhance the table, but to create a more precise and complete tasting experience.

FAQ – About RIEDEL

When was RIEDEL founded?

RIEDEL was founded in 1756. Today, the family business represents more than 270 years of glassmaking expertise passed down through 11 generations.

Why does RIEDEL offer different glasses for different grape varieties?

RIEDEL considers that the shape of a glass influences how a wine expresses its aromas, texture, and balance. Grape-variety-specific glasses are therefore designed with shapes adapted to the characteristics of different wines.

Which RIEDEL Glass Should You Choose?

• By grape variety → Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Nebbiolo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Syrah/Shiraz, and more

• Red wines → Shapes designed for different styles of red wine, from elegant to full-bodied and structured

• White wines → Glasses suited to aromatic, fresh, rich, or structured white wines

• Rosé → Shapes designed to highlight the freshness and aromas of rosé wines

• Champagne & sparkling wines → Glasses designed to preserve and reveal the characteristics of sparkling wines

• Universal glasses → Versatile models suitable for a wide variety of wines

• Decanting & serving → Decanters designed to aerate and serve wine

• Spirits → Glasses developed for the tasting of whisky and other spirits

• By collection → Veloce, Performance, Veritas, Vinum, Ouverture, Extreme, Fatto A Mano, and other RIEDEL collections

• By occasion → Tasting, dining, entertaining, everyday use, or gifting

Does RIEDEL Make Its Glasses by Hand?

Yes. RIEDEL continues to produce some of its mouth-blown and hand-finished collections at its manufacturing facility in Kufstein, Austria. The company also offers collections manufactured mechanically with a high degree of precision.

What Is the Difference Between a Handcrafted RIEDEL Glass and a Machine-Made Glass?

Both approaches can produce high-quality glassware, but their manufacturing processes differ. Handcrafted glasses are individually shaped by master glassmakers, while machine-made glasses benefit from technology that provides a high degree of precision and remarkable consistency.

Why Is a RIEDEL Glass Considered a Tasting Tool?

Because its shape influences how wine is presented to the nose and on the palate. The bowl, rim diameter, and proportions of the glass are carefully designed to complement the characteristics of the wine and enhance the expression of its aromas and structure.

What Is a Grape-Variety-Specific Glass?

A grape-variety-specific glass is designed with a shape developed to complement the characteristics of a particular grape variety or wine style. This philosophy is one of RIEDEL's longstanding signatures.

What Are Some of the Best-Known RIEDEL Collections?

RIEDEL offers numerous collections designed for different uses and levels of wine appreciation. They include Sommeliers, Vinum, Extreme, Veloce, and Superleggero, among others, with each collection offering a different approach to design, manufacturing, and the tasting experience.

Why Choose a RIEDEL Glass?

Choosing RIEDEL means choosing a house whose work combines glassmaking tradition, sensory research, design, and innovation. From handcrafted glassware to precisely machine-made collections, every collection pursues the same goal: creating a shape that brings out the best in wine.

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