The Auswine Forum

I've been thinking of buying some Riedel glasses. But are they worth the dollars? Can they make my wine taste better? On their website they Quote Robert Plonker jr as saying:
"The finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are those made by Riedel. The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound. I cannot emphasize enough what a difference they make."
What do you think?

The answer is B. But personally I think Reidel are a waste of money (for me). You can get really nice glasses that will make a difference in your enjoyment for a fraction of the cost of riedels, and unlike riedels they may not break the moment you pick them up.

I've done the Riedel masterclass a number of times. They DEFINITELY make a difference to the taste of wine. They won't make a cleanskin taste like a 100 pointer though.

The reason I say they definitely make a difference is because in the masterclass they pour the same wine into two diffeent glasses. Something easily tested at home. Especially for the chardonay, it made a huge difference. It makes quite a difference for reds too. There's probably not such a profound difference between using the cab glass and the shiraz glass but with either of these and an ISO glass, you'll notice it.

If you can afford it, I'd recommend them but they do need care. One of the reasons I've done the masterclass a number of times is that you get four glasses at the tasting along with a tutored class. They usually cost around $110 or $120 and if you and your partner go, bang, you've got 8 glasses straight off. If you're smart, you can swap with other people there so you end up with four of two types instead of four of two types. I also got quite a few for free using VC cellar shares. Also, buying 8-packs from Peters of kensington makes them a bit cheaper too. I've also asked friends to buy single glasses for me for birthdays and christmas. Only a bit more than a cd or book so you can build a collection quickly that way.

If you do dinner parties a lot, they really set the table and bring a certain elegance as well as showing the wines to their best. If you want them for everyday drinking, a cheaper option might be better but the O series aren't bad and are much less likely to break and can be stuck in the dishwasher without any problems.

If you're serious about wine I think at the very least getting six of the chardonnay and six of either the shiraz or cab sav is worth it. If you're a complete wine tragic, well, the sky's the limit.

I love riedlel, but I've got cow hoofs for hands, so ergo they only come out when something good from the cellar comes out

Otherwise I've got some perfectly good imitations that work for everyday stuff although if I had the money, and a good vacuum, I'd use Riedels every time.

I'd say shape is somewhat important, but as to how important... tough call.

Go for the bulbous shape (tighter in up top at the lip, wider down the bottom where the wine is - fairly large diameter). I picked up some Rona's for $20/set of 6 that have a similar shape to one of the Reidels (4444/0) and they do a good enough job.

Of of my mates who work for a McLaren Vale wineriey has no complaints about these ones, and he has Riedels as is not afraid to make his thoughts known about sub standard glassware.

Shape is somewhat important, but to me so is price there are decently shaped glasses out there for budget prices. I also recommend cut lips or what ever it is called it feels nicer and hits a better point in the mouth.

I voted for B, the Riedels, but there are other excellent glasses like Schott Zwiesel and Rosenthall. The expensive Riedels are generally very fragile so I suggest their sturdier line of stemware. The reason why these crystal glasses are so good is their larger size and thin glass. The size and shape do wonders for the bouquet.

Cheers.............Mahmoud

I like Riedel, but then i like using Schott Zwiesel too. In fact any of a number of well made, fine lipped glasses can make the experience of drinking wine more enjoyable. I pick "B" as best given option .

Took Riedels camping on the Murray on the weeekend, enjoyed the wine immensely.

Cheers,

Mark

bacchaebabe wrote:If you're serious about wine I think at the very least getting six of the chardonnay and six of either the shiraz or cab sav is worth it. If you're a complete wine tragic, well, the sky's the limit.

Well Kris, I guess you have the full set of the sommelier series?

Myself, yeah, I reckon it makes a difference, but the vinum stuff is all i got. But I like.

Cheers,

Monghead.

I voted B, but the difference is not really that great. I have a Riedel or two lying around here but usually when I drink wine I drink it from the big glasses I got from David Jones. You can get about 6 of them for the price of a Riedel and they are very serviceable. Drinking out of ISOs would be out of the question though.

They make a huge difference (as do all good glasses) to the bouquet, but in my experience, they do not affect the taste, in comparison to other quality glasses that cost a quarter of the price.

Still, they look great and I do use them on special occasions, and the clones for everyday drinking.

special occassions only as they are a pain to clean and keep in one piece but definitely enhance the occassion (i have half a doz vinum syrah and a pair of prestige champagne)

For me, love Riedel, but others on the market seem good too (not all, and I don't like the lip too thick, although I will drink out of a mug if necessary ) Buy Riedel O series bowls as can't afford to replace breakage regularly, currently using Chef & Sommelier six set I won at a Wine and Cheese night for answering silly question on "What is main grape variety in Chianti Classico?"- mention question, so no-one thinks I'm trying to say I'm smart. Chef & Sommelier tick my glassware boxes and are stemmed but hardy.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts.

(Edit- I mis-spelt Chianti )

Bick wrote:The answer is B. But personally I think Reidel are a waste of money (for me). You can get really nice glasses that will make a difference in your enjoyment for a fraction of the cost of riedels, and unlike riedels they may not break the moment you pick them up.

100 % agreed.

The Riedel Magnum catering ranges glasses are pretty good too. They've become my bog-standard glassware and I think they're about $11 a glass. Trade purchase only though, I think.

TORB wrote:They make a huge difference (as do all good glasses) to the bouquet, but in my experience, they do not affect the taste, in comparison to other quality glasses that cost a quarter of the price.

Still, they look great and I do use them on special occasions, and the clones for everyday drinking.

I have pretty much identical thoughts, so I voted for B.

Ps. Your avatar seems to have gone AWOL Ric - actually, so has your whole website!

Cheers,
Ian

Big fan of the 'O' series.

Mostly because when I knock them over I can't break the stem, and you don't lose all the contents

ufo wrote:

Bick wrote:The answer is B. But personally I think Reidel are a waste of money (for me). You can get really nice glasses that will make a difference in your enjoyment for a fraction of the cost of riedels, and unlike riedels they may not break the moment you pick them up.

100 % agreed.

Dido

monghead wrote:

bacchaebabe wrote:If you're serious about wine I think at the very least getting six of the chardonnay and six of either the shiraz or cab sav is worth it. If you're a complete wine tragic, well, the sky's the limit.

Well Kris, I guess you have the full set of the sommelier series?

Myself, yeah, I reckon it makes a difference, but the vinum stuff is all i got. But I like.

Cheers,

Monghead.

Ha ha, no sommeliers I'm afraid. But yes, the full range of vinum and one noice decanter. Also 8 O series shiraz for every day use. Been buying them for about ten years and I'm lucky to have the space to store them all, which makes the real difference.

I have 5 (used to be 6) Riedel Chianti Classicos which are apparently the generic Riedels (however, also the same as Riesling). I also use Krosno red aned white glasses (in fact, only the whites for dinner parties, my everyday chardonnay looks fine in the red wine glasses and these are my 'daily' glasses). They are VERY similar in size, shape, thickness, contour, etc and I've stopped using the Riedels because there is so little difference between them and the big Krosnos.

BTW, are the Riedels dishwasher safe? I'd hate to put my $35 each glasses in the Fisher & Paykel just to hear them explode.