Riedel is one of the first brands in the history of glassware. Riedel has been recognized for its innovative designs complementing alcoholic beverages and other drinks.
The brand was founded in 1756 in Austria by the Riedel family. They pioneered varietal-specific glassware in 1958 and have become a household name in the glassware industry.
We can say that Riedel wine glasses are better compared to other brands:
Here Is Why Riedel Wine Glasses Are Better:
Riedel has a very good variety of wine glasses. Their glasses are of outstanding quality, with elegant designs and exceptional functionality. Because of their reputation, Riedel has become the brand of choice for consumers, specifically wine connoisseurs, and in the hospitality industry.
Are Riedel Wine Glasses Different from Other Brands?
Wine glasses are more or less the same when it comes to function, despite the brand.
As for quality, look, and design, they tend to differ from one brand to another. Durability and glass material are also other factors that vary between different brands.
The more high-end brands use more expensive materials like crystal glasses and process them to produce their wine glasses.
Riedel is considered one of those high-end brands. They use crystal glass to manufacture their glasses.
The size and shape of a wine glass highly affect your wine tasting or drinking experience. All Riedel glasses go through comparative tasting sessions during production. These tasting sessions go that a panel of judges would vote on what shape they think performs the best for every type of wine.
This is to make sure that all Riedel glasses serve their purpose of enhancing the wines’ flavors and aromas.
While they match the quality of other high-end brands, what sets Riedel apart are the awards that they have won over the years, which proves their top-notch quality.
Are Riedel Wine Glasses Made of Crystal?
Riedel wine glasses are made of crystal glass and regular glass. It depends on which collections or designs you are looking at.
The more expensive Riedel series such as the Sommelier, Vitis, Vinum, Vinum Extreme, and Vinum XL, and the Wine series are all made of crystal. The Sommelier Series is a handcrafted and mouth-blown crystal from Austria, while the Vitis, Venum, and Wine series are machine-blown crystal wine glasses made in Germany.
The Riedel O series and the Degustazione, Restaurant Riedel, Restaurant XL, Restaurant O, and Restaurant Swirl are made from regular glass. These non-crystal wine glasses were made sturdy to withstand the busy restaurant environment.
The non-crystal glasses are not available for everyone, though. The Restaurant series is available only for food and restaurant clients, but the O series can be used and enjoyed at home, just like the crystal glasses.
Are Riedel Wine Glasses Worth the Extra Cost?
The prices of Riedel wine glasses vary depending on the series. The glasses from the Ouverture collection range from $9 to $21 per piece. A wine glass can cost as much as $83 each from the Sommelier series. Glasses from the Vinum series cost from $18 to $33.
In general, Riedel wine glasses are more expensive than other brands of wine glasses. There are many wine glasses out there, under different brand names, that cost less than $3, so buying Riedel wine glasses can be a splurge.
Riedel wine glasses are worth it with their good quality, excellent design, craftsmanship, and really good functionality.
Over the years, Riedel glassware has won many awards, including 2018 The Good Design bestowed by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, the 2019 Tableware International Award of Excellence in the Fine Glassware category, and the Tableware International Awards Of Excellence 2021.
If you plan to regularly use your Riedel wine glasses, they can be good investments. Apart from being beautifully designed, they are sturdy and durable, so they can last for a very long time as long as you are careful with them.
Can You Put Riedel Wine Glasses In The Dishwasher?
Many wine glasses are not dishwasher safe and are marked as hand wash only, but this is not the case for Riedel wine glasses. They are safe to be put in the dishwasher.
Riedel wine glasses are dishwasher safe for up to 1500 washes. Unlike other wine glasses, their quality or clarity would not be affected.
Here are some tips before putting your Riedel wine glasses in the dishwasher:
- Riedel recommends using Miele dishwashers because, through many tests, they found that Miele dishwashers give Riedel glasses a life span of 1500 washing cycles.
- Keep the Riedel wine glasses away from heavier items like pots when putting them in the dishwasher. You also need to avoid getting these glasses in contact with metal or other glassware.
- It is recommended to put them in a stemware rack when washing them in the dishwasher.
- The glasses also need to be properly spaced not to contact each other.
- Use modern dishwasher detergents. You can also use white vinegar to remove any stains and use cool wash cycles for the glasses.
Are All Riedel Glasses Marked?
Riedel wine glasses, or any of their products for that matter, are quite easy to identify.
All Riedel glasses are etched on the base. The Riedel signature was used for Riedel glasses that are hand-made. The machine-made Riedel products have the block capital etching on the base.
Are Riedel Wine Glasses Lead-free?
Back in the day, Riedel wine glasses contain lead. They used to manufacture their glasses with lead crystal, with their lead content being within the EU standards.
However, in 2015, Riedel phased out their collection of lead crystal glassware. That year, they stopped using lead crystal glass and used an alternative type of crystal called borosilicate. Borosilicate is non-toxic and is heat-resistant. It also does not crack easily, making it very sturdy and durable.
Overall, Riedel is an excellent award-winning wine glasses and other glassware brands. They make top-quality wine glasses perfect for formal occasions, casual entertaining, hospitality and restaurant, and even everyday use.
They may be more expensive than other brands, but their great quality, paired with classic elegance and durability, makes them worth it.