It's no secret that Riedel crystal wine glasses are some of the most sought after on the market--speak to any wine enthusiast or connoisseur and odds are they will all agree. Offering a host of different lines at varying price points, Riedel's craftsmanship and attention to detail has earned them accolades in the wine world--they are used internationally at the finest restaurants and wineries. Not only are they brilliant crystal eye candy, Riedel wine glasses are extremely functional. Much thought is put into their design and production, factoring in wine type, age, characteristics and more. With more than 250 years of history, Riedel clearly has a firm grasp on the high art of high-end crystal glassware.
New Wine Needs the Right Line
With bigger, bolder, newer wines gaining popularity on the wine front, such as California Pinots, Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays, Riedel recognized the need to craft a line of crystal stemware that would supersize the flavor notes, characteristics, bodies and finishes of these wine youngsters. Just like people, immature wines present a different challenge than mature wines. Riedel's mission to create such a glass would culminate in one of the best wine glasses from which I've ever sipped my beloved Chardonnay or yearly Beaujolais Nouveau--Riedel Vinum XL wine glasses.
Sometimes Size Does Matter - Riedel Vinum XL
Like its predecessor, the classic Riedel Vinum crystal wine glass (introduced in 1986) --Riedel's "benchmark"--the Vinum XL wine glass (introduced in 2009) is a clear illustration of form following function. The original Vinum line was the first varietal-specific, machine-made crystal stemware to be developed as a result of craftsmen and connoisseurs rolling up their sleeves and having tasting workshops rather than sketching a glass concept on paper and going from there. The XL line was born out of the consideration of new wine. The glasses themselves are exactly the same as the Vinum glasses, with the only difference being their bigger size. Described by Riedel as "large, luxurious and lofty" (I love that description) the bowls are considerable and the area greater, offering more oxygen to the young wine--working with its chemistry to enhance the overall experience of it. The tannins, acid, and alcohol (among others) levels, along with concentration, of immature wines are significantly different than their elders, and maximum oxygenation is paramount in processing them.
More About Riedel Vinum XL
The Riedel Vinum XL line is crafted in 24% high-quality Bavarian lead crystal and offers exceptional glass color, brilliance and ring. The line is dishwasher safe, although because you will pay a bit more for them rather than the straight Vinum line, I personally wouldn't risk cleaning them this way, because sometimes in the dishwasher (as the flight attendants for Southwest Airlines say about exercising caution when opening the overhead compartments after a flight) "shift happens." Cheers!
Louis Cooper is a 37 year veteran of the retail trade. An avid wine connoisseur in 2007 he started OnWineTime to offer the wine enthusiast the finest wine glasses, decanters and wine accessories from around the world. Located in Ft Lauderdale Florida, OnWineTime carries over 150 different wine glasses from the top wine glass producers in the world, including Riedel, Schott Zwiesel, Wateford, Eisch, Spiegelau, Peugeot, Ravenscroft and Nachtmann.
