Tag Archives: Riedel

The proper stemware will change your wine life

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People are naturally skeptical. So when presented with the idea that stemware not only makes a difference but can completely change your physical perception of a wine, most people raise an eyebrow.

And that’s okay.

We’re not trained to think that a glass matters. Plates don’t change the taste of food, do they? Is there a special spoon to make my ice cream taste better? Nope.

But we’re talking about the sense of smell and the sense of taste, and a plate or spoon are different because they are holders, not deliverers.

Here is the analogy to keep in mind: the wineglass is a delivery system for the sense of smell and taste, like a speaker delivering music to your ears. You can have a $300,000 Goldmund’s Reference II turntable hooked up to a Pivetta Opera One Amplifier (a steal at $490,000), and monster cables leading out to your speakers … but if you have cheap and low quality speakers you’re going to have horrible sound.

This isn’t voodoo or hocus-pocus. There is no three card monte game going on in front of you. This is science, pure and simple.

Two things are at work with proper stemware. First, the size and shape of the bowl controls and delivers the aromatic molecules that delivers the sense of smell. A big wine (Cabernet Sauvignon) swirled in a tight, small bowl will deliver a sharp, tart, and harsh aroma package. The same wine in a large bowl allows the expansion of the aromas to match the style of the wine. Second, the shape of the opening along with the thickness of the glass controls where on your tongue the wine gets delivered. Wherever it hits first makes the longest and strongest impression. Wines to emphasize fruit (ala Pinot Noir), should hit the tip of the tongue first. Wine to emphasize acid should hit farther back.

Nobody has done more research and development in this subject than the Riedel family. Through trial and error, testing and time, with the top winemakers and sommeliers in the world, they have developed the best stemware for the world of wines. A tasting with Georg or Max Riedel is one of the most eye-opening experiences a wine lover can have, and will leave you changed.

A good rule of thumb from Riedel is to spend the same amount on your stemware that you spend on an average bottle of wine. Do you drink $50 Pinot Noir regularly? Invest in a set of Vinum Burgundy glasses. Do you drink $10 Australian Shiraz all the time? Find a set of Overture Magnums. In other words, investing in quality stemware pays for itself over and over again by amplifying your hedonistic pleasure. 

Here’s a fun video from Gary V, drinking Pinot Noir out of a half-dozen different stems. His honesty is apparent (and he announces he walked into this as a skeptic). Go straight to 16:20 to hear his conclusions.

The BEST Stemware for Champagne might surprise you

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It’s the final week of the year, which marks the peak of Champagne season. While we believe Champagne is one of the best food wines around, and should be consumed far more often than just special occasions, there is no doubt it is still the drink of celebration first and foremost, especially to ring in a New Year.

And, as you know, good quality Champagne doesn’t come cheap. A good bottle of Champagne is going to set a person back at least forty or fifty bucks, sometimes more than a hundred.

So here’s the big question: why spend that much on a bottle only to drink it out of the wrong glass?

You read that correctly: the flute is not the best vessel to experience Champagne.

Why are flutes traditionally used with Champagne? Mainly because they make the bubbles look pretty. The gentle helix arising from the bottom of the glass is a sight to behold, and there is no better way to see the magic than with a flute. However, when you think about it, a glass of that shape does nothing to help enhance aromas. As a matter of fact, the design of a Champagne flute actually helps hide faults in the wine … a little known fact that some big Champagne houses might not want you to know.

The Oregon Pinot Noir XL stem, left, is a far better vessel for enjoying Champagne than the traditional flute on the right.

(One thing many people forget is that Champagne is wine, and it should be treated as such. If you really want to get a sense of the quality of the juice going into your hard earned Champagne bottle, use a little trick that Terry Theise promotes: allow a half a glass to go flat, then try it as you would any other wine. How does it taste now? We’ve done this many times in our own experiments, and are amazed at just how bad the wine from some particular big name houses performs).

Anyway, back to the stemware. If you want maximum return on your bottle of Champagne, the best stemware to use is the Riedel Oregon XL Pinot Noir stem. Seriously. It’s a wonderfully big bowl that allows you to swirl the wine to your heart’s content (impossible in a flute), intensifying the aromas and thus delivering a very clear picture of the quality of the wine. This stem is a favorite around the office, and is our go-to stem for all things Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (such as, you guessed, Champagne).

Start 2013 off right … with the right stemware! The Oregon XL Pinot Noir stem is available through Wine Enthusiast, Amazon, and locally through your favorite wine retailers (if it’s not in stock, simply ask them to special order it from The Wine Company).