Believe it or not, a wine glass isn’t simply a vessel in which to hold your drink. It’s far more than that. In fact, it’s almost a magical thing. As astounding as it may seem, the taste of the wine can be altered by the shape of the glass in which it’s held. Those flavors can also be affected by the type of material the glass is made out of. These two interesting connections between drinking vessel and flavor were first discovered in the late 1900’s by Claus J. Riedel, and Riedel wine glasses are still admired and sought after all over the world.
Although the Riedel family had been manufacturing wine glasses since the 17th century, the company and the wine world about 40 years ago. Claus Riedel wanted to invent a drinking cup that would not only look lovely and be functional, he wanted it to actually enhance the joy of drinking wine. Essentially, he wanted to create something entirely unique the world had never before seen. He decided that basic was best, and produced a long, thin glass that was devoid of decoration. Testers universally agreed that the wine seemed to taste better in those simple, unadulterated glasses, and they soon became in great demand on the market.

As Riedel produced more wine glasses, he began to win awards, and even museum curators were asking to display some of his works. As a result, he started making different vessels designed specifically for certain types of wine. He operated on the assumption that certain shapes were better for delivering certain types of wine to the tongue in a way that most enhanced that wine’s flavor. So, for example, he made short cups for port, wide-mouthed ones for burgundy, and so forth. He also created small glasses for all types of wine that allowed the scent of the drink to build up inside, which further enhanced the flavor when it was consumed.
Today, Riedel wine glasses are considered works of art. They’re also considered some of the most desirable drinking stemware to have among those who love the grape. You can still find Riedel glasses in a variety of fine wine stores, as well as online. They’re a bit pricey, but the total drinking experience they provide makes them worth every cent.
Riedel glasses come in a variety of styles and shapes. Amazon’s Riedel Store is a good place to get started with your wine glass shopping.