Exec Dining: The Riedel revolution continues

There is a different buzz in the city this week. It´s not about the latest business acquisition or the record breaking Canadian dollar - it´s about fine crystal. Wine enthusiasts are looking forward to an elegant evening at Brookstreet Hotel on Oct. 4, when Maximilian Riedel, CEO of Riedel Crystal America, will launch Vitis, his new line of crystal glassware.

The Riedel family (pronounced REE-dle as in needle) has been in the glass business for more than 300 years, spanning 11 generations. They have revolutionized the way we taste and enjoy wines with the introduction of their delicate crystal glasses that are specifically crafted and designed to enhance the characteristics for each grape variety.

"You can serve wine in any glass, but once you drink wine in a Riedel glass, you will be amazed at the difference. The aromas and flavours of the wine are amplified and sipping the wine is delightful in the delicate crystal," says Diane Paradis, co-owner of CA Paradis who is hosting the event.

What is the difference?

Actually, it´s both academic and scientific. In the late 1950s, Professor Claus Riedel recognized that the bouquet, taste, balance and finish of wines were affected by the shape of the glass from which they were drunk. Understanding this, he focused on developing different shapes of glasses for each grape variety to maximize the individual´s enjoyment of that wine. In 1961, Riedel launched its revolutionary portfolio of glassware with different shapes and sizes. Today, the Riedel product line has more than 400 styles of glasses and decanters that are enjoyed by thousands of wine enthusiasts around the world.

How does it work?

A wine glass is a delivery mechanism to send wine onto your tongue (or palette). There are four sensory points on your tongue - sweet (tip of tongue), salty (top of tongue), acid (sides of tongue) and bitter (back of tongue). When you take a sip of wine, the shape of the glass actually affects how the wine is delivered into your mouth. Riedel glasses are specifically shaped to send the wine directly to the areas of your tongue that correspond to the characteristics of the grape variety of that wine. For example, a sauvignon blanc typically displays tastes of citrus, herbs and a refreshing acidity. Riedel´s sauvignon blanc glasses are shaped to drive the wine straight to the sides (acidic) and back of your tongue (bitter) to amplify these specific sauvignon blanc characteristics.

"Wine seems dead in a basic glass, but comes alive when served in Riedel crystal," says Stephen Beckta, sommelier and owner of Beckta wine & dining. "The wines are more expressive and taste substantially better."

Mr. Beckta uses Riedel glasses in his restaurant to ensure that his patron´s wine and food experience is memorable.

Riedel´s products were not an instant success. It took more than 20 years for the wine world to embrace the Riedel approach. The tipping point in Riedel´s history came in 1987, when winemakers such as Angelo Gaja, Robert Mondavi and wine publications such as The Wine Advocate, the Wine Spectator and Decanter Magazine endorsed Riedel glassware. These endorsements helped to put Riedel glasses on the tables of the wine world. Under the leadership of Georg Riedel (Maximilian´s father), Austria-based Riedel Crystal became the world´s leading wine glass company.

Those who have tried Riedel swear by it.

"We are proud to sell Riedel glasses and decanters. The product does exactly what it says it will do," Ms. Paradis says. "A customer explained it best - it is the difference between polyester and silk."

Wineries, winemakers and sommeliers agree. Karen Brunet, sales manager at Huff Estates Winery in Prince Edward County, says Riedel glasses are used exclusively for the sampling of Huff wines at its tasting bar and patio restaurant.

"There is a wow factor with Riedel," she says. "The glassware is high-quality crystal, elegant yet incredibly durable. The decanters are mouth-blown crystal and one of a kind. Riedel products are works of art."

James Bertrand, president of National Capital Sommelier Guild, is also a Riedel enthusiast. "I never really enjoy pinot noir wines until I tasted one in a Riedel pinot noir glass, then I fell in love.

Event Info

Participants at "An Evening with Maximilian Riedel" will sample a variety of wines in Riedel´s newly designed Vitis glassware. This elegant evening will include a wine tasting with award winning sommeliers including Veronique Rivest (Canada´s top Sommelier 2006 and internationally acclaimed Wine Woman 2007), Stephen Beckta (owner and sommelier of Beckta wine & dining), James Bertrand (president of the National Capital Sommelier Guild), Vic Harradine (co-author of Wine Current) and Debbie Trenholm, (sommelier and president of The Savvy Grapes). Tickets are $170 per person which includes four Riedel Vitis glasses. To purchase tickets for this Oct. 4 event to be held at the Brookstreet Hotel, contact CA Paradis on 613-731-2866 or www.caparadis.com