Designed specially for wines made from Chardonnay and other select white grapes
Machine-made of 24% lead crystal
Affordable second-tier from a prestigious name in wine-friendly stemware
Made in Bavaria by world's premier wine glass maker
Editorial Review:
What can we learn from a Riedel (rhymes with "needle") glass? That size matters, as does shape? That form following function has meaning for wine-lovers as well as designers? Or perhaps the deeper lesson that the contents of an outwardly "plain" glass may provide a more sensual, complex, and rewarding experience than those of a superficially beautiful one? The Austrian Riedel family has been involved with glass-making since 1756, but it was two centuries later that Claus Riedel conceptualized a glass made specifically to enhance the flavors and aromas of a designated wine. Through an involved process each style of glass is crafted to accentuate the strengths, while minimizing the weaknesses, of a particular spirit. This is done through changes in the size and shape of the bowl, the diameter of the opening and the cut and polished lip which directs the wine towards a specific area of the tongue. Small wonder Riedel stems are preferred by sommeliers and oenophiles world wide for their ability to transform the perception of a wine.
When you first hear of the philosophy behind Austrian glassmaker Riedel and its Vinum line of machine-made full-crystal stemware, you can be forgiven for raising your eyebrows higher than prices of white Burgundy. The tongue is divided into four zones, each recognizing either sweetness, bitterness, saltiness, or acidity and that by matching the size and shape of the glass to specific wines, their sensory attributes can be enhanced? Fortunately, with the Riedel Vinum series Chardonnay glass, the company has put its Montrachet where its mouth is and come up with a design to please not only Chardophiles, but also fans of Chenin, Viognier, the Pinot brothers--Gris and Blanc--even noble rotters from Sauternes. A Pacific Northwest Chard tasted in both the Riedel and what was previously thought to be "the good crystal" revealed a balanced acidic brightness in the former and a sort of boozy flabbiness in the latter. With its medium-height bowl and tapered opening, the Vinum Chardonnay glass almost forces you to purse your lips, directing the wine to the mid-tongue's acid receptors and thereby balancing the wine's fruit and oak. --Tony Mason
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Riedel Vinum Chardonnay/Chablis Wine Glasses, Set of 6:
What's not to like? Set of replacement glasses for confirmed white wine drinkers. Order delivered as promised in perfect condition.
Quality counts:
I have recently began appreciating fine wine and high quality crystal does make a difference. The purchase was simple and the stemware arrived flawless. I commend both Riedel and Amazon on a job well done.
Beautiful glasses:
I am not an oenophile and actually prefer the sweet wines. However, these glasses have helped me appeciate the dryer whites better. The tastes seems to be more complex and I no longer focus on the dryness of the wine. The glasses themselves are beautiful. They look very delicate but have thus far survived multiple dinners and hand-washings. I received many compliments on them. These glasses have helped this novice appreciate a wider range of white wines. They are expensive and I feel my heart race... more info
The Best Wine Glass:
This wine glass is great for several reasons. First of all, it is very light. Second, you know how much wine to pour (pour to the widest point in the bowl and that is a "glass" of wine). The balance of the glass is good. We also have the burgundy wine glass; however my wife prefers her red wine in the chardonnay glass because she doesn't like to hold the big burgundy glass. If you are only going to purchase one type of wine glass, I would recommend this one.
