RiedelVVE-033 Vinum Xl Riesling Grand Cru Glass, Clear

My only beef is the price on these fluctuates like crazy.On to the glasses. I did a wine tasting that had you drink the same wine from different glasses. The varietal specific glasses make a difference.

The Riedel Vinum is my go to red wine glass for tasting. I taste a couple hundred wines a year and this is my most trusted glass. I like the  Riedel Vinum Extreme Cabernet/Merlot Glasses, Set of 2  a little better for looks and with some wines that I really want to concentrate the aroma of, but this Vinum wine glass is my overall favorite.I posted a picture showing the various glasses that I have been using for side-to-side taste tests with. The choice of glass does matter, so it is important to match the wine to the glass. In general, match the type of glass with the varietal of wine being tasted. However, even with glasses that are for the same type, there are differences between manufacturers.The Vinum glass makes all my reds taste good. There are more specialized glasses that make certain wines taste better out of certain glasses. Some of the larger glasses shown in the pictures are better for the large and robust red wines. However, an older wine with more subtle flavors and balance actually tastes better from the smaller glass (this reviewed Vinum).The largish bowl helps the aroma develop. They are really good to swirl the wine with and release the flavors to your nose (you really taste with your nose). The rim is nice and thin which is great. The balance in your hand is nice; it is not too light to feel like it will break in your hand, but also not heavy so it distracts from the wine. A good glass almost disappears in your mind when you are drinking. You notice it when the wine is poured. You notice the feel in your hand and the feel against your lips. Then the glass should just get out of the way.They are somewhat fragile and it is tempting to try the  Spiegelau Vino Vino Bordeaux Glass, Set of 4  which is almost identical in shape and size. It is a good glass as well and worth considering, especially if price is an issue. I have tasted many wines side by side from the two glasses and think it is a good product. However, a couple things to note...The Spiegelau has a smaller foot or base than the Riedel Vinum. This makes it more likely to tip over and break while spilling your wine all over the place. Not something that would keep me from purchasing them, but it is something to be careful of when you are using them. You also get a little less crystal so that can be one of the reasons the price is lower.Also, the rim of the Vinum is thinner and more delicate than the Spiegelau Vino Vino. This changes how the wine enters your mouth and releases the flavors. It also impacts how the glass feels on your lips. A small amount can be a noticable difference. The Spiegelau is not a thick rim, but it is thicker. This extra thickness however makes the glass a little more robust.My recommendations is to purchase the Riedel Vinum glass if you are looking for glasses for yourself or small groups to enjoy your wine. Be careful when washing them (see below) and understand that they will occasionally be broken. There is a two glass set ( Riedel Vinum Bordeaux, Set of 2 ) that lowers the overall price if you only want a couple for your personal use. If you are looking for a set of glasses to use for larger parties and want a good quality set then I would suggest the Spiegelau. I would not recommend going with the lower priced Riedel sets.Washing:My advice for washing all your nice wine glasses is to hand wash the next day. DO NOT wash glasses after you have been drinking. Think about it...you have poorer coordination and you are going to wash your nice wine glasses. Rinse them out and then leave them on the counter.Secondly, get use to water spots. Unless I am having a fine meal with guests, I wash my glasses by hand with very hot water and then dry them with a hand towel. I generally do not use soap and when I do it is just a little bit on my fingers and I use it on the rim only. No dishwasher.NEVER hold the foot of the stem and twist the glass. You will snap the stem off. Also, do not force your hand or a towel into the bowl to dry it. You are just going to break the bowl. Take the end of the towel and put it into the bowl and twirl the towel around. Do not force the towel in so it is tight. Just have it in there rather loose. You will get most of the water off the sides, but not all of it. When it dries, you will have some spots. If you are going to drink out of it next, do you really care? I would rather have a few spots on my intact wine glasses than have broken glasses. The spots disappear when you put your wine in the glass and swirl it.

To get the two extra glasses is great. It's on the small size but versitile as can be used for any type of white wine except a white bordeaux

I'm a Reidel believer. The same wine tastes different in different shaped glasses (try it!). These are perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

These are large capacity glasses. I think good for allowing wines to open in the glass and good for the nose.I cannot comment on durability and sturdiness as, well, I just got them. However, let's keep in mind that they *are* crystal wine glasses -> how durable & sturdy should one expect them to be?

Every time I order these, at least two are broken, and at least two are missing. The quality control around inventory and shipping is horrible.I love the glasses, but I always pay for more than I receive.

I ran into the Reidel glassware on a cruise and did the wine tasting of putting the same wine in different glasses. This glass is also known as the Tannin Tamer and really does work to remove the tannic bite present in dark reds. Like any crystal glass, they are a bit easier the shatter than the thick, not so versatile glasses, but if you are spending this much, hopefully you take care of your stuff. The Sommelier had said never to use soap on the glasses, but the website belies that and they are much prettier to look at and to drink from if they are well washed with soap and water. You can occasionally polish them by holding them in the steam from a boiling pot of water and using lint free glasses, they really shine then, but for normal use, a bit of dawn and water goes a long way.Do rinse them right after use. They form a ring of dark red right around the stem and unless you have small hands, cleaning it is tough.

I love everything about these glasses!

Great glasses, rotten handling, perhaps they need a layer of bubble wrap???

I was surprised to see that the style of the Cabernet Merlot glass had changed. It does not match our existing glasses. It is still excellent quality and I am not disappointed by the quality.

This is the second set of these glasses that I have bought and they are beautiful crystal. Great for all aspects of tasting red wine and my husband is now even using them for his white. Worth the money!

Les verres reçus sont les « RIEDEL VINUM PINOT NOIR (BURGUNDY RED) » et non les « bordeaux » (comme indiqué dans le titre). Mais, ils sont de bonne qualité et je suis entièrement satisfait.

Riedel offers the best wine glassware on the market with designs suited to different wines. The glassware is elegant, light and strong. I wouldn't wish to drink wine out of anything else!