INTRODUCED IN 2020

RIEDEL Winewings Restaurant

A Striking New Collection by Georg Riedel

Over the course of his 47-years working in his family business, 10th generation Georg Riedel has become the father of functional glassware, having built a career on products designed to enhance the enjoyment of beverages. Now, Georg introduces his swansong series to the world: RIEDEL Winewings.

In the Northern Summer of 2018, Georg was asked by a customer to create ‘the ultimate glass’ for Cabernet Sauvignon. Following 12 months of tastings and changes to shape, size and rim diameter, Georg’s single glass for Cabernet developed into seven shapes for the most popular grape varietals, and a completely new shape emerged.

Flat-bottomed and reminiscent of an aircraft wing, complete with winglets, RIEDEL Winewings was born and about to take flight! While not the most visually beautiful collection, RIEDEL Winewings is “brutally functional, taking the wine’s aromas and flavours on a flight,” Georg says.

This innovative series is a symbolic shift in aesthetic for the RIEDEL brand, as it is a step away from his father’s original Sommeliers series shapes, and towards a new era of functional glassware. The impact of this new shape is a collection for the true wine connoisseur. For the first time, the RIEDEL Winewings glasses primarily emphasise the minerality of the wine, whereas all other collections tend to highlight fruit. The collection is ideal for the ultimate wine geek who prefers wines with depth and complexity.

RIEDEL Winewings is produced by machine in lead-free crystal glass, and sold as a single glass. All RIEDEL glasses are dishwasher safe.

GEORG RIEDEL'S VISION

MODERN GLASSWARE REIMAGINED

“I chose a flat and stretched bottom with a wing-like shape as it increases the surface area of the wine exposed to oxygen. This leads to greater levels of evaporation and enables a greater intensity of aroma,” says Georg. “When positioning one’s head to the glass, the nose is closer to the exposed and wider surface of the wine. This alone would not fully deliver the optimal aroma of each grape variety so, to capture the delicate layered aromas, it was necessary to curve the glass walls and to correctly calibrate the opening of each glass with its rim diameter.”

LASER CUT RIM

Quality wine glasses feature a
laser-cut polished rim to direct
the flow of wine onto the tongue.

WORKSHOP APPROVED

The top third of the RIEDEL Winewings
bowl is based on our traditional
egg-shaped form, tested and
proven through wine workshops
the world over.

THE CURVE

Creates a balance between the
bowl and the rim diameter, in
order to optimise the wine’s
flavours and aromas.

FLAT BOTTOM

Maximises surface area for
better wine aeration and
intensifies the wine aromas.

SEAMLESS STEM

Smooth, elongated stem which
perfectly connects the base and
bowl with the seamless look of a
handmade product.

DISHWASHER PROOF

RIEDEL glasses have been proven
dishwasher safe for up to 1500
washes.

VARIETAL DECLARATION

The base of each RIEDEL Winewings
glass includes which grape variety
the glass is designed for, as well
as the RIEDEL logo.

Quality wine glasses feature a
laser-cut polished rim to direct
the flow of wine onto the tongue.

The top third of the RIEDEL Winewings
bowl is based on our traditional
egg-shaped form, tested and
proven through wine workshops
the world over.

Creates a balance between the
bowl and the rim diameter, in
order to optimise the wine’s
flavours and aromas.

Maximises surface area for
better wine aeration and
intensifies the wine aromas.

Smooth, elongated stem which
perfectly connects the base and
bowl with the seamless look of a
handmade product.

RIEDEL glasses have been proven
dishwasher safe for up to 1500
washes.

The base of each RIEDEL Winewings
glass includes which grape variety
the glass is designed for, as well
as the RIEDEL logo.

The science behind Varietal Glasses

One Glass Doesn't Fit All

The research and development process behind RIEDEL's iconic Grape Varietal Specific glasses is complex, but this complexity rewards the wine lover. To discover the difference that a varietal glass can make, we encourage you to try your favourite wine from the correct Grape Varietal Specific glass and from a generic wine glass. In the words of Georg Riedel: “The satisfaction derived from the specific glass will certainly make you believe you drink the better wine.”

White Wine Glasses

Georg Riedel explains: “We are dealing with the three classic and most significant white varietals. Each features different flavours and even a different mouthfeel, which each require a different glass shape in order to truly appreciate their unique characteristics.”

The Chardonnay glass offers classic aromas of fresh yellow fruits and rich, buttery flavours when the wines have been aged in oak barrels and have undergone malolactic fermentation.
The Riesling glass presents powerful floral aromas, crisp acidity and a touch of sweetness. Riesling does not have new oak, or undergo malolactic fermentation.
The Sauvignon Blanc glass delivers herbaceous notes, aromas of citrus, high acidity and minerality.

Red Wine Glasses

At RIEDEL, red wine glasses are categorised based on the impact the skin makes on the wine's intensity, as either mild, medium or powerful. Our red wine glasses harness the intense flavours and aim to harmonize them, while balancing these flavours with other, more powerful elements, in order to demonstrate each wine’s complexity.

To enhance the enjoyment of those profiles, we suggest three different glass shapes:

Mild: the Pinot Noir glass is ideal for fruit-forward, light- to medium-bodied wines with high perceived acidity and low tannins.
Medium: the Syrah glass highlights earthy, toasty elements in medium- to full-bodied wines, and smooths out tannins
Powerful: the Cabernet Sauvignon glass brings forward aromas of blackcurrant, and is ideal for full-bodied wines with high levels of tannin.

RIEDEL Winewings champagne wine glass 1234/28

Champagne & Sparkling Glass

The Champagne glass in the RIEDEL Winewings collection is a true loudspeaker for this prestigious wine made from Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay grapes.

With Champagne, a second fermentation is triggered in the bottle by adding a fine, measured quantity of yeast and sugar to the still wine. Over time and under pressure, fine bubbles are created by this process.

The glass elevates the delicate aromas of sweet, toasted bread and enables a sensual mouthfeel, with the tiny bubbles expressing a lively, yet creamy texture of the palate. The rich taste is enhanced by low levels of residual sugar, allowing a long-lasting and delicious expression.

A man pours wine for two women in RIEDEL glasses

THE RIEDEL WINEWINGS DECANTER

A GRACEFUL COMPLIMENT TO THE SERIES

The RIEDEL Winewings decanter is a colourful and elegant recreation of RIEDEL's Swan decanter. First designed in 2008, Swan's striking elongated curves make it an incredible statement piece, with the grace of a beautiful bird. Wine is gently decanted through the large opening then poured from its exquisite neck - long enough to reach any guest at the dinner table!

The new iteration of this decanter, at the same soaring height but a slimmer design, now also includes an indented handle for easier pouring. This piece features a lavender purple stripe through the design, achieved by introducing a rod of purple crystal into the molten glass before the decanter has been formed.

MORE INFORMATION

Riedel Winewings is a glass collection which is perhaps not the most aesthetically beautiful but is striking in its design and is inherently functional, helping wines’ aromas and flavors take flight.

RIEDEL Winewings