A 300 year-old family owned company

RIEDEL - The Wine Glass Company

Established in 1756, RIEDEL CRYSTAL has been at the forefront of glassmaking for over 270 years, spanning eleven generations. Family-owned and operated by Georg J. Riedel (10^th generation) and Maximilian J. Riedel (11^th generation), RIEDEL is globally recognized for designing and producing the highest quality glasses and decanters that enhance the enjoyment of wine and spirits. RIEDEL’s collections cater to every lifestyle and price range, ensuring there's a series for every wine lover - be it for critical wine evaluation, a casual gathering, or an elegant dinner. 

Pioneers of Grape Varietal-Specific Glassware 

In the late 1950s, Claus J. Riedel (9^th generation) revolutionized the industry by introducing wine-friendly stemware, recognizing that the taste and aroma of a beverage are influenced by the shape of the vessel. This innovation led to the development of grape varietal-specific glassware by Georg J. Riedel (10^th generation), a concept that has become a cornerstone of RIEDEL’s design philosophy.

Why Shape Matters

At RIEDEL, we believe that form must follow function. The shape of your glass isn't just a matter of style - it’s a powerful tool that enhances the full spectrum of wine’s expression.  Every RIEDEL glass is engineered to elevate the four key sensations of wine = 

• Bouquet: The shape of the bowl directs aromas to the nose, amplifying the wine’s aromatic profile and revealing its complexity.
• Texture: The design influences how the wine flows across the palate, shaping how you perceive body, balance, and tannins.
• Flavor: Rim diameter and bowl depth determine where the wine lands on the tongue - guiding acidity, sweetness, and bitterness to the right taste receptors.
• Finish: A well-matched glass accentuates the wine’s finish, allowing its character to linger with clarity and finesse.  

This is the heart of grape varietal-specific stemware: it’s not about luxury for luxury’s sake - it’s about serving wine in a vessel that does justice to the winemaker’s craft. 

Comprised of three parts: bowl – stem – base

The Architecture of Stemware

The design - or architecture - of a stemmed glass must ensure that its proportions are in perfect harmony. The bowl, stem, and base must work together functionally. The bowl’s size must align with the stem’s height and the base’s width to achieve seamless balance. 

When these elements follow the correct ratio, the result is not only aesthetically pleasing but also structurally sound. This is the principle behind timeless tabletop “classics,” composed using the golden architectural formula. 

The concept of harmonious glass design began gaining traction around 1920, led by pioneering Viennese architects such as Adolf Loos, Josef Hoffmann, and Otto Ertl. In the late 1950s, Claus J. Riedel revived and refined this approach, combining it with the stylistic influence of classic French and Irish stemware. The result: glassware that is both visually stunning and sensorially precise. 

Hand-Made / Hand-Finished Glassware 

The art of mouth-blown glass dates back over 2,000 years to the Roman Empire, where the technique first emerged. At RIEDEL’s factory in Kufstein, we proudly carry this tradition forward by crafting hand-made and hand-finished crystal glassware to the highest standards. 

Each item is individually shaped and refined by our master glassmakers, whose experience and skill ensure excellence across every piece. Due to the handcrafted nature of the process, small variations in size, weight, bubbles, or surface texture are not flaws—they are signs of authenticity, character, and artisanal quality. 

Machine-Made & Premium Machine-Made Glassware 

While RIEDEL is celebrated for its artisanal craftsmanship, we are equally recognized as pioneers in cutting-edge machine manufacturing. Our machine-made glasses represent a pinnacle of precision, offering consistency, durability, and affordability without compromising performance. 

Even more advanced is our premium machine-made technology, found in collections like RIEDEL Veloce and RIEDEL Superleggero. These glasses are produced using state-of-the-art techniques that allow for profiles and varietal-specific shapes previously reserved for handmade items. The result: unmatched sensory accuracy, elegant proportions, and outstanding value - crafted at scale by the leaders in wine glass innovation.