I know this subject has been brought up in the past but I wanted to ask a slightly different question....

I have 6 Riedel Vinum Bordeaux glasses that I love. They actually do make red wines taste better than my other glasses (Natchmann, Mikasa, etc.). The issue that I have is that these Riedels are very delicate.

I love the shape and look much more than my other glasses, but I rarely use them due to the fear of breakage.

The question I have is.... what recommendations do you have re: similar style glasses with similar quality for less $$$.

I need wine glasses for everyday drinking that are in the $10 range.

Any Canadian forumites with info about retailers that offer a wide range of glasses would also be helpful.

Keep your eyes open for Amazon.com. They have some killer deal on Speigelau sometime!

[This message was edited by rickym13 on Feb 25, 2004 at 01:10 PM.]

A recent post from Board-O :


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Board-O
Member posted Aug 18, 2002 05:16 AM
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GA, the Lenox Tuscany Seires is virtually indistinguishable from the Riedel Sommelier Series.
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Posts: 7172 | From: Long Island, NY | Registered: Oct 18, 2001

The Spiegelau Authentis (sp?) Bordeaux comes very close. And when Amazon runs their specials, you can get 12 (buy 6, get 6) for around $40 including delivery!!!

I have no affiliation with them other than being a satisfied customer. They are having a giant warehouse sale that ends 2/29/04 and the Riedel Vinum Bordeauxs are going for less than $15. Plus last time I ordered from them, one of the glasses was broken. They quickly shipped a replacement. You can order individual too to replace breakage.

I used to be scared to drink out of the Riedel but now as I've gotten more of it, there is no fear and I enjoy the drinking experience much more.

Let go and let Riedel.

Baird. I recently bought some Riedel's at Stokes, which I think is also in Ontario. They were called "Tasting Series" and I'd never heard of them before. They were $10 each and had them for red, white and port. They're not the little glasses that you frequently see at tastings but full size ones. Definitely not as fine as the Vinum's but sturdier, with good shape and perfect everday glasses.

I drink out of Reidel glasses almost every night without incident. When I was younger I broke several by doing the unbelievable...putting the glasses in the dishwasher . I'm older, wiser, and not as lazy . So now, after the wife and I finish I was them by hand and place them on the holder to air dry. So go ahead and enjoy your wine in those glasses unless you were lazy like me then I would recommend paper cups

JFJ

Riedel also has a series called "Overture" (spelling?) that are sturdier and cheaper; I believe I paid roughly $39.95 for 4 Bordeaux glasses from one of the wine catalogs (Wine Enthusiast, Wine & All That Jazz, etc.). They make great everyday glasses.

My everyday stuff is Waterford Marquis. Their Bordeaux and Burgundy glasses are nice and big and for crystal they are quite durable.

quote:

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Originally posted by rickym13:
Keep your eyes open for Amazon.com. They have some killer deal on Speigelau sometime!

[This message was edited by rickym13 on Feb 25, 2004 at 01:10 PM.]

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Amazon.com will not ship stemware to Canada. I tried.

Baird, The Wine Establishment has some really nice Spiegelau offerings, often on sale. They're on Esplanade, east of Sherbourne. They've even got a website, although it's better to go there in person.

Lenox Tuscany (grand vino series?) and Speigelau Authentis Magnum glasses are as close as you can get to the Riedels IMO.

Just buy more Riedels. If they break, they break. Riedel will make more.

Joe

Check out these prices for Lenox Tuscany. I just bought 8 Burgundy glasses. Love the Riedel Somms, but at $60 per stem, ouch. I just got 8 of the Tuscany's at this site at a price of 4 for $19.99
Lenox Tuscany

i've got a bunch of different Ridel glasses: riesling, chianti, flutes,vinum, extreme, sommelier, bla-bla-bla... which i hardly use anymore, ever since i seriously overbought Speigelau on Amazon, thinking they will break as easy, but no...i haven't broken any yet. i wish i could say the same about Riedels

Free Martha!

Mikasa makes a line that's similar in size and shape to the Vinum Bordeaux and Burgundy, but I'll be damned if I can remember the name of it right now. They sell for about C$8/stem, which makes it a lot more reasonable if you figure you'll be breaking them.

Over the last 5-6 years, I figure I've broken 3 or 4 Riedel Bordeaux glasses, which I figure isn't too bad for the amount of use they see. What annoys me far more is when you get a really tiny chip on the outer edge (happened once when we clinked glasses in a toast) of one. It's not quite enough to justify throwing the glass out, but it's enough never to use the glass knowing that it's chipped.

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Cheers.

I JUST broke a Riedel Vinum Bordeaux!!!

I second the Amazon Spiegelau deal...it was AMAZING last time. And the glasses are nice.


grrrr......

a

"What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?" -- W.C. Fields

Out of sheer boredom, I actually did a comparason between the Riedel Vinum, Spiegelau Vino Grande and 8 other glasses. The other glasses were Spiegelau Expert Tasting (ISO), two high end Mikasas and an assorted bunch of sizes and styles.

The clear winners ALL had a tapered top. The big suprise was the Spiegelau Expert Tasting Glasses (ISO). $34.95CDN for 6 glasses and it held almost the same nose as the Vinum and Vino Grande.

I tried to fall in love with the Riedel glasses but the Spiegelau Bordeaux glasses were just as good. Apparently the 26 percent lead versus 5 percent (in the Spiegelau) would make a big difference with regard to legs and aroma. I couldn't tell the difference (nor could 4 others). The glasses are almost identical except for the Riedel having a slimmer stem.

So..... I am stocking up on Spiegelau Vino Grande.

(I won't be returning the 6 Riedels I already have)

where did you get them from?

quote:

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i've got a bunch of different Ridel glasses: riesling, chianti, flutes,vinum, extreme, sommelier, bla-bla-bla... which i hardly use anymore, ever since i seriously overbought Speigelau on Amazon, thinking they will break as easy, but no...i haven't broken any yet. i wish i could say the same about Riedels Roll Eyes

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Like wise..I love the glasses (Speigelau) but still havn't even chipped one.

Cam you really over buy when it comes to a great deal like that one?

baird,

It is interesting you couldn't tell the difference, and nor could your guests. I have tried the test on a number of people (myself included) without suggesting my thought before hand. Uniformly, everyone I test with thinks the Speigelaus provide a more powerful and nuanced nose but that the Riedels make the wine seem a big bigger and richer, and perhaps seem to have a slightly longer finish. No one I've tested it on, however, could discern a preference save for the majority opinion that the Riedels are more nicely weighted (that is why I prefer them, actually). I would be interested if you tried the experiment again with a different wine.

a

"What contemptible scoundrel stole the cork from my lunch?" -- W.C. Fields

Drthvader,

The Spiegalau's ($14.95 each) from a wine accessory store in the same plaza as the big Mississauga Vintages store and the Riedels were from Costco (6 for $145-ish).

Whiner15,

I agree with you. I should have said "no preference" instead of "no difference" as the glasses are not identical but very close. There were very subtle aroma differences but very little on the palate. The Spiegalau is obviously a Riedel knockoff but a very good one.

The Speigalaus also look better made as the Riedels have clear ridges where the stem joins the bowl and the base and the Speigalaus almost look/feel like they are man-made.

That's enough overanalysing for one day! They are both great glasses and the real decision is if you want to spend $15 or $30 CDN per stem.

I can't say enough good things about these boards!!! As a result of your postings last December, I picked up a dozen (6 Bord, 6 Burg) Spieglau Authentis glasses for $29.99, then another 6 & 6 for $24.99!!!

Prior to that, I had purchased a pair each of the Vinum Extreme Chardonnay and Cabernet glasses. Once again, at your recommendation.

The Authentis are pretty sturdy and the Extremes are as well!!

I've got a dozen $1.49 tasting glasses that I bought from Cost Plus that I don't even pull out anymore (I lend them to friends to use at their parties). There's no point to using cheap glasses when the Spieglaus are so affordable.

"Buddy the elf, what's your favorite color?" - Elf

Most glass manufactureres make a restaurant line which are built to take more abuse. If you are looking for sturdier glasses, a restaurant supply outlet can be a good source.

After breaking 3 Riedels in the cleanup following one dinner party, I purchased a set of bordeaux and burgundy glasses made by Schott Zwiesel. The line is called 'Grandioso Hotel' on clearance for $28(Cdn) per 6 glasses. They lack the delicacy of Riedels, but the size and shape are good. And they're not a bad alternative if the evening is going to be a bit rowdy or if my sister-in-law will be helping with the dishwashing.

I bought Spieglau Pinot Noir glasses when Amazon was running their sale. I think the shape is great, with its extreme tapering. Has anyone used these glasses with wines other than PN ? Next time we get a Riesling or other flowery white I think I'll try them.

thanks baird