Riedel (pronounced reye-d(ə)l), is a manufacturer of high-quality crystal wine glasses and related glass products based in Kufstein, Austria.
Originally established in Bohemia in 1756, the company has been owned by the same family for more than 250 years. Georg Riedel (11th generation) and Maximilian Riedel (12th generation) currently head up the €265 million per year glass business.
Riedel is the originator of the concept of having many different glasses with characteristics designed to enhance specific types of wines. These range from the short, narrow-mouthed port glass, holding around 250 mL, to the balloon-shaped Burgundy glass, capable of holding an entire bottle of wine. In theory, the different shapes direct the wine to different parts of the mouth, emphasizing the best characteristics of the class of wines. Another characteristic of Riedel glasses is that they are designed to hold a small amount of wine relative to the volume of the glass, allowing the aroma of the wine to collect in the bowl. Typically a normal "glass of wine" will occupy about a third or less of a Riedel stem.
The handmade mouth-blown crystal wine glass collection, Riedel Sommelier, is regarded as the finest in the world by many wine professionals. The critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. says, "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."
In 2004 Riedel acquired the F X Nachtmann Group and, with it, one of its biggest rivals at the time, Spiegelau.
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The Sommeliers line was introduced in 1973 initially with 10 sizes and changed the world of wine glasses. The Burgundy Grand Cru glass (which holds 37 oz.) was developed in 1958 and is displayed in the New York Museum of Modern Art.
In 2004, Gourmet Magazine reported that "Studies at major research centers in Europe and the U.S. suggest that Riedel’s claims are, scientifically, nonsense." The article states further evidence from Yale researcher Linda Bartoshuk, saying that the idea of the "tongue map," claimed by Riedel to be an important part of their research, does not exist. According to Bartoshuk, “Your brain doesn’t care where taste is coming from in your mouth ... And researchers have known this for thirty years.” [1]