Just went through a wine fest/tastng in Mammmoth Lakes and some people kind of mocked/envied my Reidel bourdeax glass there. Told them to pick any red in their "tasting glass" and then taste the same in mine...winner!

Mountainman,

If I remember right, there were a few green eyes in New Orleans, too . You know how I love my Riedels...changed that whole tasting, no?
That Riedel lady was nice, eh? Looking forward to seeing you and MW, again, in Seattle.

Last night at a party, the host had the only genuine Riedel Bordeaux (Vinum). His "fakes" were actually very functional. Towards the end of the night, 12 bottles down, his base broke off. He continued to use it, minus the base, clutching onto the stem. While I don't think he ever put his glass down while full, we did find it this morning stuck in a planter.

What I found most interesting about this article is that the Somms are considered distinguishably better than the Vinums. Since the the both seem to have only the slightest difference in size and virtually none in shape, has anybody any idea about why they should perform better? Anybody had the same experience? Should the handmade sign and the price tag make the difference ??

Lenox does make a grand bugundy glass. Perhaps Macy's does not carry it.

Here's a URL for the Lenox site with a product list: http://www.lenox.com/pg/pg1.cfm

Phylloxera, the Riedel Bordeaux glasses are quite different in size. The Sommeliers are 10 5/8" high and hold 30 3/8 ounces. The Vinums are 8 7/8" high and hold 21 1/2 ounces. So there is quite a difference. The Speigeleau hold 22 ounces I believe and I'm not sure of the height. The Vinum Extreme Cabernet glass is 9 3/4" high and hold 28 1/4 ounces (fairly close to the Sommelier in height and size). The Sommelier glasses tend to be larger than the other types of glassware that Riedel makes.

Btw, this was all taken from the brochure I received with some Riedel's I purchased so I assume it is accurate.

One point I picked up on from the author's informal test - the Riedel Vinum and the Spieglau were relatively indistinguishable. I have found this to be my experience as well. Given the price difference, the Spieglau bordeaux would be my future choice (when the Riedels all break).

Now, with the burgundy glasses, I'll continue to pay extra for the Riedels. The Spieglau just does not seem to work as well.

Thank you, GA. I'll check it out.

Just checked out the Lennox site. The glasses are similar, but the Lennox Burgundy glass is several ounces smaller (about 30.5 vs. 37.5). Of course it is far less expensive too. The Lennox Bordeaux is 26.75 ounces so it is getting close to the Sommelier in bowl size. Again they look much less expensive.

I agree with the article that the Vinum and Speigeleau are pretty much identical. So now for every day drinking I use the Speigeleau (and for parties too)

skwid, are you looking at the Tuscany Series? They look the same to me.

I've been pretty happy with the Vinum series, though on occasion the Sommelier's seem to be worth the difference. But these Lenox Tuscany glasses look very tempting, especially since Macys.com has them on sale for $27.50/4 stems. Doesn't look like they carry the Burg glasses, which do look just like the Riedel Somms, but are a little smaller in capacity. They do have the Bdx.

I recommend for people to try the Mikasa Vivendi series (I have the bordeaux and the burgundy styles). I have been told they are made by riedel and they retail from $4-8 per stem. Not as big as the Sommelier series, but bigger than the vinum, these bowls are big enough and I find them to be as good or better than most of the vinums and Speiglaus I have tried.

A question to those who use Spiegelaus. Which of the many series available do you have?

Board-o, the Lenox glasses I was comparing to the Somms were the "Tuscany Classics". The URL is as follows:

http://www.lenox.com/pg/pg2.cfm?id=2835

Andreasx, the Speigelau glasses I am talking about are the Vino Grande Bordeaux. The number on the box is 4510035. These glasses cost about $6 to $7 each. About half the cost of the Riedel Vinums. I purchase them at The Wine Club in San Francisco (great prices on glassware).

http://www.thewineclub.com/spbrd.html

Check out:

http://www.thewineclub.com/departments-accessories.html

For prices on lots of Riedel and Spiegelau for reference.

sqwid,

thanks for the thorough reply. Mrs X offered to buy me a set of good stemware for my 40th b-day [coming up, way too soon ] but she put the onus on me on doing the research. The URL's you provide will come in handy.

AX

Man it's good to be back with the wine geeks!
I did a little measurin' with a diet scale and here's what I came up with.
Riedel Sommelier, glass weight (GW) 8oz, capacity to brim (Cap) 32oz
Riedel Bordeau Vinum Extreme, GW 8oz, Cap 26oz
Riedel Vinum, GW 7oz, Cap 21oz
Speigelau Grand Palais, GW 5oz, Cap 23oz
Control- Silver Oak Schott, GW 7oz, Cap 17oz
I personally prefer the Speigelau Grand Palais (cheapest I've seen, $14.95 per) to the Riedel Sommelier, it is hand blown as well, has no visual or otherwise discernable attachment between bowl and stem (the Som has a bump), it's tiny weight combined with it's beautiful glass is just one classy package. I think the Sommelier has just a slight edge in aromatics. I'm really not sure it's an edge either, my experience shows each glass highlights different aromas. Because of it's cost and fragility, I use the Sommeliers very infrequently. The cheaper Speigelau machine blown glasses, I think are a nice glass, but not quite a Riedel Vinum. I don't like the Riedel Vinum Extremes, they remind me of rocks (see GW).

What j bembry said. I was in awe of the bouquet that the Riedel Soms Burgundy glasses could produce. The swirl is fantastic, leaving tons of wine on the sides of the glass for airation. I'm in the process of purchasing them now.

Also, I've actually been quite surprised with how resilient my Riedel Bordeaux Vinums have been.. I fully expected them to break on a few occasions, but they live... Just a smell chip on one now. Going to get one of those diamond files for it.

I have been very very very fortunate. For my 21st my uncle gave me two of the Chianti Classico, the Bordeaux Red, the White Burgundy Grand Cru, The Red Burgundy Grand Cru and the German Riesling MSR Glass of the sommelier range of Reidels. I have kept them all and only used them when some one special was involved. Not one has chipped or broken, and they are the best glasses I have ever owned. The 18% lead crystal just seems to put them a notch above the Vinums in texture and weight. Worth the money? Don't know but I sure enjoy them. For every day wines I use Zerrutti Glassware which has an nice selection of specialised glasses but not excessively expensive about 30$ NZD so about $15 USD.

While my budget dictates that I use Vinum Riedels for my whites and Spiegelaus for my reds (I have Bordeaux and Burgs of these), I was completely blown away by the Riedel Sommelier Burgundy glasses when I got to try them in Oct 2002 with the NJ Crü. Mamma-Mia!

www.vinocellar.com -- Mm-Mm-good