Sales Rank: 11332


Features:

9-1/4 inches tall; capacity of 22-7/8 ounces

Six glasses for wines made from the Shiraz grape variety

Glass design enhances taste of wines such as Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre

Machine-made, 24-percent lead crystal

Made in Austria by world's premier wine glass maker

Average Rating:
Rating: - A direct comparison will clinch the argument
We currently live in France, a country where wine is etched into the national consciousness. We invited some French friends over to compare Australian and French wines of the same grape varieties (chardonnay, cabernet, merlot), but didn't have enough Riedel glasses to go around. Some of us were consistently rating wines lower - and then we realised that they had the non-Riedel glasses. A quick tour of the table with the same wine in the two types of glass convinced everybody of the merits of this glassware. A TIP ON WASHING: one pain is the need to hand-wash these glasses. A sommelier gave us the tip that to avoid breaking Riedels while washing, do not hold the stem to turn the glass while cleaning it. Hold the whole bowl with one hand, while using a wash cloth with the other.

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Rating: - Nothing else will do....
I attended Tulsa Chef Fest 2002 in November and attended a Riedel conducted seminar sampling a series of wines from around the world. I was skeptical but after the seminar I am rabid convert preaching the word. The effect of these glasses on wine is simply amazing. In the subsequent couple of weeks my wife and I purchased several of the Vinum series - "Bordeaux", "Chablis" (Chardonnay), "Sauvignon Blanc" and "Syrah". We will be adding more in time. The Syrah glasses are particular effective at concentrating the nose of the Australian and South African wines we have already enjoyed. Your satisfaction is guaranteed and the price, even at full retail, is worth every penny for the years you will enjoy with this superb glassware.

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Rating: - a dip in quality?
There aren't any wine glasses out there that I prefer over the Riedel Vinum series (except the Sommelier of course). I do have one observation though, and this is why I didn't give this glass a 5 star rating: the Vinums that I've purchased in the past 5 months don't seem to be up to the same quality standards of the Vinums I purchased a year ago. The "older" Vinum, which has the logo etched in the base, has a better/cleaner cut rim and the bowl seems to be thinner - making the entire glass look, feel and sound more elegant. The "new" Vinum, which has the logo and "riedel" name etched in the base, has a lip which looks slightly rounded in a side-by-side comparison with the "older" glass and the bowl/glass itself seems thicker. Maybe Riedel made some changes to improve durability, but I like my old Riedels better. All in all, as I said at the beginning of this review, there is nothing better out there than the Riedel Vinum series (as long as you don't pay full retail)....