Product Description: First developed in 1973 by Claus Riedel and the Association of Italian Sommeliers, this collection consisted of 10 sizes. Since that time new wines and wine-producing regions have taken the world by storm. So the series was developed further by Claus's son Georg, into an all-embracing state of the art wine glass collection. Praised in 1991 by Robert Parker Jr. publisher of The Wine Advocate, as "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." Thanks to world demand, Sommeliers is now the wineglass benchmark and the most successful series of hand-made glasses in the world. Each glass is individually made: the upper parts are blown into a mould, the stem and base are hand-crafted using methods developed at the time of Christ's birth. Our glass-makers invest their talent, know-how and meticulous craftsmanship in making glasses of the impeccable quality our customers expect.
Amazon.com Review: Handmade of mouth-blown full lead crystal, this wine glass is from Riedel's top-of-the-line Sommeliers collection and is for those who take their wine seriously. Visually impressive, this gigantic glass was developed in 1959 to enhance the flavor of younger Bordeaux region wines. The glass shape is specifically intended to intensify the texture and blend the acidity with the sweet tannins in wines such as red Bordeaux, Brunello di Montalcino, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rioja, Sangiovese, Sangiovese Grosso, and Tempranillo. The large bowl brings out the depth of contemporary wines in the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot families and allows room for rich layers of aroma to unfold in both young and more mature wines. The glass weighs a substantial 14 ounces and holds 30-3/8 ounces of wine. It stands 10-5/8 inches high with a 4-inch wide bowl. --Cristina Vaamonde
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - came poorly packed--1 broken
Delicate glasses were poorly packed---1 of the 4 was broken. Will never buy glasses through Amazon again and I'm a long-time customer
Rating: - Delicate works of art
These glasses are true works of art: they are paper thin, perfectly balanced, and ring like a bell when you tap them. I'm not sure I believe the hype about how much they improve the taste of the wine versus other decent stemware, but as they say, presentation is everything.
However, at over $70 a stem, they will break your heart when you break them -- which you (or a guest) definitely will. If you are into wine enough that you are willing to buy a $70 disposable glass, go for it. Or save them for dinner parties and hide the dirty glasses after the meal so no one tries to help out by ... Read More
Rating: - Excellent, if not fragile
This is an excellent glass, but very, very fragile. Seems obvious, but even with an obsessively tedious and careful hand washing I broke one. Beware.
Rating: - Great for medium-big reds!
Riedel crystal wine glasses are some of the best you can buy. They are specially designed for drinking wine... Riedel makes many different shapes of crystal glasses for different wine vareitals. If you only buy one type of high-end glass for your red wine, however, this one is a great choice. As part of the Sommelier line, it is oversized, so it really opens up the wine for a fuller nose and body. Not meant for whites, or weak, light wines - use a smaller, tighter glass for that. I use this glass for bordeaux, of course... cabernet, merlot, barolo and occasionally also for pinot noir, sangiovese, ... Read More
Rating: - Very Special Glassware
If you can afford to splurge on a Riedel Sommelier series glass you will never regret it. You simply can't believe how much difference a great glass can make, even on "everyday" wines. IMHO, the Zinfandel Sommelier glass is a good all around shape for the price; the Bordeaux and Burgundy ballon are bigger and therefore better because they have more internal surface area, but they cost more and there super-size makes them somewhat impractical.
Because the crystal is delicate and thin, these clearly are not for the dishwasher and must be handwashed. Be aware also that the Sommelier ... Read More
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