When I first came across Riedel glassware I thought nice glass but what is all the fuss about and why do they get so much attention? On the face of it they are simply elegant, extremely well made (whether that be the machine processed Vinum or the beautiful hand made mouth blown Sommelier) crystal glasses. The lead crystal versions bring a beautiful clarity to wines, but surely there must be more to it than this? What better way to fully understand the benefits than a tasting using a selection of their glasses?
I really wanted to understand the glasses relative to the type of everyday wines I drink at home, rather than any £20+ bottles of wines that may influence my thinking about the “experiment”, so chose the wines myself. So here’s what happened. I tried four wines across five different glasses (four Riedel Vinum lead crystal glasses and one basic pub-style glass – “the Joker”), the wines a French Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre approx £7.99), a new world Chardonnay (Chilean £7.99), a Pinot Noir (French approx £11.99) and an Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (£7.99). The results were staggering, The Sancerre went from an acidic, angry wine with no real bouquet to a floral, elegant experience in the Riedel Sauvignon Blanc styled glass. The Chardonnay glass tempered the overly oaked notes often found in this style of wine and even the slight “alcoholic burn” often experienced at the back of the mouth was eliminated. Turning to the reds, the Cabernet was improved dramatically, whilst the most amazing was the Pinot Noir experience. This grape is notoriously unforgiving, fundamentally I really enjoy Burgundies, but never feel I am drinking them at their best. This will be case no more! The Riedel Burgundy glass had such an effect I settled down with the glass and bottle of wine and relished the experience. The thin acrid wine became more rounded; the vivid taste of raspberries came to the fore along with other hidden treasures. It is true to say following the tasting I really can appreciate exactly why these glasses are held in such high esteem. The dazzling array of grape specific stemware can seem a little daunting, but you only need to choose the glass type that suits the style of wine and grape variety you enjoy.
With summer arriving this week, Easter this weekend, and many a street party planned for next week, outdoor dining is at the forefront of people’s thoughts. A few years ago Riedel developed the “O” range, a collection of glasses that cover the main grape varieties (Montrachet Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc / Riesling, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cabernet, Voignier Chardonnay), in which each glass comes minus the stem! These glasses are perfect for this time of the year. Add them to your picnic bag and include them as part of your patio or garden party. The lack of stem means they are far less prone to being knocked over and match the informality of such outdoor events.
I really wanted to understand the glasses relative to the type of everyday wines I drink at home, rather than any £20+ bottles of wines that may influence my thinking about the “experiment”, so chose the wines myself. So here’s what happened. I tried four wines across five different glasses (four Riedel Vinum lead crystal glasses and one basic pub-style glass – “the Joker”), the wines a French Sauvignon Blanc (Sancerre approx £7.99), a new world Chardonnay (Chilean £7.99), a Pinot Noir (French approx £11.99) and an Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (£7.99). The results were staggering, The Sancerre went from an acidic, angry wine with no real bouquet to a floral, elegant experience in the Riedel Sauvignon Blanc styled glass. The Chardonnay glass tempered the overly oaked notes often found in this style of wine and even the slight “alcoholic burn” often experienced at the back of the mouth was eliminated. Turning to the reds, the Cabernet was improved dramatically, whilst the most amazing was the Pinot Noir experience. This grape is notoriously unforgiving, fundamentally I really enjoy Burgundies, but never feel I am drinking them at their best. This will be case no more! The Riedel Burgundy glass had such an effect I settled down with the glass and bottle of wine and relished the experience. The thin acrid wine became more rounded; the vivid taste of raspberries came to the fore along with other hidden treasures. It is true to say following the tasting I really can appreciate exactly why these glasses are held in such high esteem. The dazzling array of grape specific stemware can seem a little daunting, but you only need to choose the glass type that suits the style of wine and grape variety you enjoy.
With summer arriving this week, Easter this weekend, and many a street party planned for next week, outdoor dining is at the forefront of people’s thoughts. A few years ago Riedel developed the “O” range, a collection of glasses that cover the main grape varieties (Montrachet Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc / Riesling, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cabernet, Voignier Chardonnay), in which each glass comes minus the stem! These glasses are perfect for this time of the year. Add them to your picnic bag and include them as part of your patio or garden party. The lack of stem means they are far less prone to being knocked over and match the informality of such outdoor events.
To view Riedel glasses on our website please click here http://www.whiskcooking.co.uk/CatalogCategories.asp?CategoryID=88
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