With September here and event season in full-swing, there are countless options of styles, shapes and colors to consider when including wine service in your fall design concepts. But as many of us know when it comes to specialty menus and wine tastings, not all wine glasses are created equal. With glassware being so essential to wine appreciation, quality crystal construction is in high demand for an accurate perception of color, aromas and taste. And in the world of events, catering and food service, having style options is also essential to achieving that perfect experience.
Premium glassware company Riedel has been mastering the balance between quality construction and aesthetic appeal since 1756, and as the manufacturers of our newest premium collection – the Riedel Wine Series, they developed a beautiful, opulent glassware line characterized by a decorative bevel-cut crystal stem, designed to elevate a variety of looks by adding a light-catching texture.
Widely known for being the first manufacturer in history to discover that the taste and aroma of a beverage is affected by the shape of the vessel from which it is consumed, Riedel has been pioneering varietal-specific stemware since 1958. While our classic Riedel collection includes a well-suited all-purpose glass for wines regardless of their style or color, the two newest glasses are designed for specific varietals.
As there can sometimes be dozens of different aromas in a single glass of wine, our latest additions include a Riesling/Zinfandel glass for supporting bouquets of fruity reds or floral whites, and a Cabernet/Merlot glass for supporting complex aromatic reds and white bordeaux.
Riedel Wine Series Riesling
Works Best With These Grapes: Riesling Smaragd, Marsannay rosé, Pouilly Fumé, Welschriesling, Sauvignon Blanc (unoaked), Loire (Blanc), Dolcetto, Teroldego, Traminer, Bardolino, Montepulciano, Riesling, Jurançon Sec, Riesling (Spätlese/late harvest dry), Côtes de Provence, Lagrein, Scheurebe, Schilcher, Sancerre, Beaujolais Nouveau, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Alsace Grand Cru, Côtes du Rhône Rosé, Müller-Thurgau, Vernaccia, Grüner Veltliner, Blauer Portugieser, Zinfandel, Primitivo, Smaragd, Rosé
Riedel Wine Series Cabernet
Works Best With These Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Emilion, Listrac, Moulis, Margaux, St. Estèphe, Cabernet Franc, Fronsac, Merlot, Médoc, Graves rouge, Pauillac, St. Julien, Pomerol, Pessac Leognan (Rouge), Bordeaux (white)
Discernable Differences
There are primarily two types of stemware construction in the market today – glass and crystal. The difference is in the amount of minerals in the material – crystal can have up to a 30% mineral content. While wine glasses constructed from glass can be cost-effective, they also tend to be thicker which can distract from the sip. Crystal wine glasses sometimes contain lead (no worries, it’s harmless) which makes them more resistant – allowing glass makers to create thin, elegant stemware which is the choice for our Riedel Wine Series collection along with some of the best restaurants in the world.
Stemware 101: Shapes & Sizes Matter
With literally hundreds of different types of wine glasses designed to accentuate particular varietals, most tablescapes have at least three: the red wine glass (tall with a large bowl) the white wine glass (smaller and narrower) and a tall, narrow flute for sparkling wines to channel the bubbles in a steady stream.
The width of the glass (aka the size of the bowl) is the fundamental factor. The more complex and aromatic the wine is, the more space it needs to express itself and breathe. That’s why complex Pinot Noirs and barrel-aged Chardonnays are best enjoyed in large bowls, while timid Sauvignon Blancs or Muscadets are better in narrow ones. Specialty glasses for particular styles of wine like Sherry are best enjoyed in small, narrow wine glasses called “copita” (meaning little glass) as they are more pungent and aromatic.
To view our complete collection of glassware visit https://www.partyrentalltd.com/products/glassware/5201