( 3 reviews )
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Posted: Sep 6 2006
Some of the reviews of various Riedel Sommeliers series wine glasses are correct in commenting on their relative fragility, but the criticism isn't really deserved. First, these are handblown crystal--no two are alike, and yes,this does mean some glasses may be even thinner than others. And the Riedel Montrachet glasses are probably their thinnest. But "thinness" in a wine glass is a virtue and, for that matter, much more difficult and expensive to make than a thick glass. I won't take up your time with a long explanation here of why thinness is an essential quality in a wineglass, but the short of it is that it makes the wine taste better! The Riedel company did at one time have a very nice essay on the subject--it's probably still available on their website and it's worth reading. Meanwhile, let me say this: Bad things happen in shipment, true, but the last glasses I ordered from Amazon came in beautiful Riedel shipping tubes that were, themselves, packed within an Amazon shipping box. So I think both Riedel and Amazon are doing their best with a fragile product. As to breakage by guests, which one critic commented upon: serve them with Riedel Vinum series or other less expensive glasses: if they can break a Sommeliers series glass by holding it, trust me, they'll never know the difference. Regarding washing: NEVER wash these glasses in a dishwasher (instant exploding crystal) and ALWAYS hold the glass when you're washing it by cupping the bowl lightly in your hand; avoid holding it by the stem. Be especially careful drying the glasses: again, don't twirl the glass by the stem (everyone who buys Riedel must do this once before we learn), and don't stuff the towel into the bowl--the result will be that the thinnest part of the glass, by design, which is the lip, will simply crumple. This probably sounds dire and discouraging, but I've had Riedels now for about 20 years and we use them every day. I think in those 20 years we've broken 4 glasses. In my opinion, the taste superiority of a Riedel glass fully justifies the expense
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( 0 of 2 found this review helpful ) Posted: May 4 2005
We are HUGE Amazon customers and we have always been so pleased with our purchases. However we were shocked when we went to use 4 out of 6 of these expensive wine glasses. THEY FELL APART! The glass is tissue thin! Perhaps from shipping there are many fine fractures???? One fell apart in my guest's hand...three fell apart later that night while being rinsed out. we handled these glasses so delicatly...I have 2 more and we would like to send them back and be reimbursed for all 6.
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( 2 of 3 found this review helpful ) Posted: Oct 26 2002
These are the finest wine glasses that money can buy. The effect of these glasses on fine wines is profoud. I can't begin to tell you what a difference they make. The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound. Thanks to worldwide demand, Sommeliers is now the wineglass benchmark and the most successful series of hand-made glasses in the world.
