Last night we went to a Reidel tasting. We got to keep the 4 different
glasses we used. The wines were not spectacular, but the wine was not why
we were there. There were 4 different Riedel glasses and an ordinary glass.
We tasted the same wine out of the Riedel glass and then poured it into the
regular glass. The difference was dramatic. Then we poured a wine that
tasted pretty good in 1 Reidel glass and poured it into a different Riedel
glass and the taste was entirely different. I knew glassware made a
difference, but this was amazing. I thought the difference was between
"good" glasses and "ordinary" glasses. The difference between "good"
glasses was profound.

Fred.

In article qMlUe.74561$DW1.20816@fed1read06, says...

Last night we went to a Reidel tasting. We got to keep the 4 different
glasses we used. The wines were not spectacular, but the wine was not why
we were there. There were 4 different Riedel glasses and an ordinary glass.
We tasted the same wine out of the Riedel glass and then poured it into the
regular glass. The difference was dramatic. Then we poured a wine that
tasted pretty good in 1 Reidel glass and poured it into a different Riedel
glass and the taste was entirely different. I knew glassware made a
difference, but this was amazing. I thought the difference was between
"good" glasses and "ordinary" glasses. The difference between "good"
glasses was profound.

Fred

Fred,

I harbored similar thoughts and notions, until I did one of these, just when
they introduced their Montrachet glasses. After the tasting, I immediately
acquired 24 of the hummers for those bigger wht Burgs and monster US Chards
that my wife so loves. It does now give me about 96 "white wine" glasses - and
I generally prefer reds, but I had to have Montrachets. All of the closets in
the guest rooms are filled with extra wine glasses. I hope that no guests
bring too many clothes with them! G

Hunt

1. Was the tasting "blind"?

2. Were the Riedel people present as you tasted?


On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 19:55:02 GMT, Fred wrote:

Last night we went to a Reidel tasting. We got to keep the 4 different
glasses we used. The wines were not spectacular, but the wine was not why
we were there. There were 4 different Riedel glasses and an ordinary glass.
We tasted the same wine out of the Riedel glass and then poured it into the
regular glass. The difference was dramatic. Then we poured a wine that
tasted pretty good in 1 Reidel glass and poured it into a different Riedel
glass and the taste was entirely different. I knew glassware made a
difference, but this was amazing. I thought the difference was between
"good" glasses and "ordinary" glasses. The difference between "good"
glasses was profound.

Fred.

--
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Visit the MIAMI WINE TASTERS group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/miamiWINE
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The Riedel demonstrations are pure sales. There is no blind tasting.
The rep is talking up the product the whole time, even telling the
participants what they should be tasting next. There is no comparison
to other quality glassware -- only to the joker glass (as they call it)
and among the four shapes of Riedels they provide. At least that was my
experience a year or so ago. Riedel gasses are pretty to hold and to
look at, for sure. There may be some difference in taste between the
Bordeaux-style shape and the wider, shallower Burgundy style. But all
the variations within each general profile are a bit silly and
precious, in my opinion.

Andy

Leo Bueno wrote in
:


1. Was the tasting "blind"?

No

2. Were the Riedel people present as you tasted?

Yes

On Fri, 09 Sep 2005 19:55:02 GMT, Fred wrote:

Last night we went to a Reidel tasting. We got to keep the 4 different
glasses we used. The wines were not spectacular, but the wine was not
why we were there. There were 4 different Riedel glasses and an
ordinary glass. We tasted the same wine out of the Riedel glass and
then poured it into the regular glass. The difference was dramatic.
Then we poured a wine that tasted pretty good in 1 Reidel glass and
poured it into a different Riedel glass and the taste was entirely
different. I knew glassware made a difference, but this was amazing. I
thought the difference was between "good" glasses and "ordinary"
glasses. The difference between "good" glasses was profound.

The wine was not the main reason for the tasting. The fact that the same
wine tasted very different in different glasses was not avoidable. While I
have no intention of having a different glass for each wine I will make
sure that I have the right glass for the main varieties I drink. Spending a
lot on wine you drink in the wrong glasses is a mistake. I never thought
that glassware could have such an impact on what I was drinking.

Fred.

On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 02:28:26 GMT, Fred wrote:

The fact that the same
wine tasted very different in different glasses was not avoidable.

I am sure few would deny that, but it is hardly a reason for buying
Riedel glasses.

You need to assess whether they are better than others (not just te
joker glasss) and whether they are worth the money. Just coming from a
Riedel sales pitch is not the best time to decide.

Try other good glasses in your own time. Maybe buy a few cheaper
glasses that also have large bowls and thin rims and see what you
think.

--
Steve Slatcher
http://pobox.com/~steve.slatcher

Steve Slatcher wrote in
:

On Sun, 11 Sep 2005 02:28:26 GMT, Fred wrote:

The fact that the same
wine tasted very different in different glasses was not avoidable.

I am sure few would deny that, but it is hardly a reason for buying
Riedel glasses.

You need to assess whether they are better than others (not just te
joker glasss) and whether they are worth the money. Just coming from a
Riedel sales pitch is not the best time to decide.

Try other good glasses in your own time. Maybe buy a few cheaper
glasses that also have large bowls and thin rims and see what you
think.

My girlfriend and I each got 4 free glasses at the tasting. We don't
need to buy any more at the moment. We don't have room for any more. We
just reorganized the crystal cabinet. It is not like we went to the
Riedel sales pitch and bought a bunch of each glass they make. I have
had Riedel glasses for my Bordeaux for years. If you drink a lot of
Chardonnays the Riedel Chardonnay glasses may be worth the investment. I
don't so the 2 I got at the tasting will do me nicely for a while. If I
was inviting a few friends over for a dinner where a white should be
served, I may put a few more Riedel Chardonnay glasses on the shopping
list. Differences in glassware do make more of a difference in wine than
I thought. I think the tasting/sales pitch was more than worth the price
($68). I am very familiar with the sales process. I did not feel
"pitched" that night. There is a big difference between pitching a
product and educating a customer why your product is worthwhile. I would
like to compare other "good" glasses with Riedels. My current needs have
been met or are not that great. If I was looking at stocking a
restaurant or buying a lot of glasware because I was just starting out
that would be different.

Fred.

OK. Seems you have thought it through more than I imagined.

Best wishes

--
Steve Slatcher
http://pobox.com/~steve.slatcher

In article ,
says...


1. Was the tasting "blind"?

2. Were the Riedel people present as you tasted?
[SNIP]

Leo,

I can only talk about my most recent Riedel tasting (now two years ago). In
this one (we had attended several others at different venues, usually at
either the WS Annual event, or Epcot, or New Orleans Wine & Food), the Riedel
rep only set up the room, then poured the wines. In our case, the wines were
all mid-range, and quite enjoyable. As I already owned several styles of
Riedels, plus other "good" glasses from other mfgrs, I was already of the mind
that good glasses can definitely make, or break a wine. I'd formed that
opinion years earlier. The rep did not "lead" the group in any way, and other
than her presence to answer questions, might well have left after pouring.

What struck me was the way that Shafer Red Shoulders Ranch Chard opened up in
the Riedel Montrachet glasses. I did A-B-C tastings with the SB glass, the Bdx
glass, and the Montrachet glass. For bigger whites, I had usually used a Bdx
stem, or similar, and still do for Viogniers. The wine was so much better in
the Mont. glass, that I immediately acquired some, though I had many other
white wine glasses, that were at, or above the price point of the Mont.

I never bothered with the "joker" glass, as I had long ago done that, and had
run variations of it in wine "parlor games," for friends.

Obviously, this road show is an attempt to sell Riedels. If one cannot tell
the difference, then it would be money wasted. The, obviously again, are
selling Riedels, but much of the experiment translates to many other quality
mfgrs - IMO.

Hunt

Could someone please explain -- simply -- what difference the glass can
make? I understand the shape, and how that effects the nose. But the rim?
The thickness?

--

Richard

On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 10:48:10 +0000 (UTC), "Richard Johnson"
wrote:

Could someone please explain -- simply -- what difference the glass can
make? I understand the shape, and how that effects the nose.

It is difficult to separate the effects on the nose and taste. Improve
the nose and many will think the wine tastes better.

But the rim? The thickness?

No difference apart from being nicer to hold and drink from. Worth
paying a bit extra for IMO.

So, yes, it is basically the shape affecting the nose that is the
issue.

Riedel will also have you believe that the glass shape and rim directs
the wine to different parts of the tounge. Something I find very
difficult to accept.

--
Steve Slatcher
http://pobox.com/~steve.slatcher

I did a tasting with my dad. He didn't know which glass was which.

He liked the Bordeaux better in the Bordeaux glass, and the Burgundy
better in the Burgundy glass.

The odds against that happening due to chance are 3:1 against.

Not all that scientific but better than nothing.

I also agreed with which wine tasted better in which glass, but as I
knew which glass was which, I'm not counting that.

Shaun Eli
www.BrainChampagne.com
Brain Champagne: Clever Comedy for the Smart Mind (sm)

In article , richard@rjsj.
demon.co.uk says...

Could someone please explain -- simply -- what difference the glass can
make? I understand the shape, and how that effects the nose. But the rim?
The thickness?

--

Richard

A purely personal note, and not based on any science that I can think of:

I find that the feel of thick (glass, crystal, ceramics, et al) just is not
pleasant to me. Even a rather thin-walled glass, but with a large bead is not
to my liking. My first choice is thin crystal with a sanded edge, but a thin
bead will do.

Again, this is what *I* like.

Hunt

On 12-Sep-2005, "Richard Johnson" wrote:

Could someone please explain -- simply -- what difference the glass can
make? I understand the shape, and how that effects the nose. But the rim?
The thickness?

The rim can help direct the wine to "correct" part of the palate. I.e. - if
you have a typical glass (rolled rim), the wine will flood the mouth, as
opposed to a smooth rim which can *help* direct the wine to the part of the
tongue which best discerns sweet, bitter, salt, etc.

Can't help you with the thickness part of the question....

All told, it really is a matter of how you best appreciate the wine. I've
sold Riedel and Spigelau for a number of years, and know that there are a
couple of other knock-off producers, but long ago realized that each one of
us tastes differently and no matter how much I love Riedel, you may not.
Try different glasses, and judge for yourself. After all, wine is meant to
be enjoyed and to heck with what anyone else (who is probably a snob anyway)
thinks :-)

Cheers,
Gary