Riedel

Riedel were the first company to design glass shapes according to the character of the wine and, subsequently, are the modern day inventors of the functional wine glass.

We are proud to stock every range from Riedel, from functional Glasses to elaborate Decanters. Important ranges include the popular Vinum range and the hand-made Sommeliers range. The O Stemless glasses have recently become a popular choice with their accessible price points. Further to that, the Value Packs are a great choice for someone who is starting their collection. With glassware and serving pieces to suit all price points, Riedel really is the discerning choice for the avid wine lover.

At David Shuttle, one of the roles we play is to educate the customer on the nuances of the Riedel brand. Although the history of Riedel is fascinating, the most interesting quality is the ability the correct glass has to ensure the wine tastes as intended.

To explain these qualities, David Shuttle and Riedel work together to hold wine tasting evenings for our discerning customers to explain in person the finer points of the magic. During these tastings, we are able to demonstrate how the shape of one wine glass will totally compliment or hinder the bouquet and taste of certain wines. To some doubters, it seems unlikely, which is why we try so hard to hold such events to explain this importance.

Our other role is ensuring the immediate availability of the vast ranges at competitive prices. We are proud to do this with the highest standard of Customer Service.

More about Riedel

The Riedel family have been producing some of the world's greatest crystal stemware for over 240 years, and we have been selling it since 1995. Riedel Stemware is regarded as some of the finest available in the world today. Ranges vary in price from their illustrious Sommeliers collection to their functional Vinum range.

"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." (Robert M.Parker, Jr. The Wine Advocate)

Their designs deliver the typical components of a particular grape variety, highlight the balance of flavours, maximise the fruit, and integrate acidity or tannins into the overall pleasure of each wine. If served at the correct temperature, they ensure the wine could not taste better.

The Riedel family has been in the glass business for 300 years and is currently in its 11th generation. The Riedel story begins in 1678 in the northern part of Bohemia, bordering Schlesia - today the Czech Republic and Poland respectively. This part of Bohemia was a German-speaking enclave known as the Sudetenland.

The Riedel trademark dates from the Art Nouveau period at the end of the nineteenth century, and was used for Riedel glassware made in Bohemia from 1890 to 1925. In 1996, to commemorate Riedel's 240th anniversary, they reintroduced this trademark for all their mouth-blown, handmade products. The distinctive Riedel signature is now featured on the base of all these products made in Austria. This signature trademark helps you to distinguish immediately between products that are handmade and those made by machine.

The glasses are designed to emphasize a wine's harmony, not faults. Riedel has always viewed the wine glass as an instrument to bring together the personality of the wine: smell, taste and appearance (including the beauty of the object). To fully appreciate the different grape varieties and the subtle characteristics of individual wines, it is essential to have a glass which has a shape fine-tuned for the purpose.

The shape is responsible for the quality and intensity of the bouquet and the flow of the wine. The initial contact point depends on the shape and volume of the glass, the diameter of the rim, and its finish (whether it is a cut and polished or rolled edge), as well as the thickness of the crystal. As you put your wine glass to your lips, your taste buds are on alert.

The wine flow is directed onto the appropriate taste zones of your palate and consequently leads to different taste pictures. Once your tongue is in contact with the wine, three messages are transmitted at the same time: temperature, texture and taste. Riedel's guiding principle: The content determines the shape.

Although the content determines the shape, the beauty of the Riedel glasses is still recognised, which is why the Riedel Sommeliers Burgundy Glass is showcased at the New York Musuem for Modern Art.

"The Riedel family has never stamped its name on a single bottle of wine. But over the past 50 years, this Austrian clan of master glassmakers has done more to enhance the oenophile's pleasure than almost any winemaking dynasty". (Quelle: TIME MAGAZINE)