Riedel Vinum Tasting Glass

Height: 161mm 6 3/8"
Capacity: 420ccm 14 7/8 oz

Lead Crystal, Machine Made
Recommended for all purposes.
Priced individually, boxed in indivual tubes.

Professional tasting glass. Do not overpour - fill the hollow stem only. Quantity: 20 ml. - 5/8 oz. For bouquet evaluation please lower the glass into a horizontal position and roll it through 360 degrees.

The tasting glass is a device to evaluate different wines in a short period of time. The world’s most famous tasting glass is the french I.N.A.O. glass, developed by the Institute Nationale des Appelations de Origine in the 1970s. This standard glass allows professional tasters to judge wines in different locations and at different times and to come to comparable results due to the fact that the perception of wine has not been altered by the shape of the glass.

VINUM TASTING GLASS
The Riedel tasting glass serves the same purpose as the I.N.A.O. glass, improving several aspects of judging wine. Riedel has applied to patent this glass. The additional value of this glass is to measure precisely the amount of wine poured by filling the hollow stem. The quantity of 20 ml (5/8 oz.) allows to pour up to 35 portions from a single bottle. At wine events large quantities of precious wine is wasted by pouring too much into the glasses - under the false impression that a larger quantity gives more information. Swirling the wine in the glass offers the possibility to evaluate ’the nose’. Unfortunately only half of the possible surface is reached by the liquid to show aroma intensity. To maximize the aeration space in the Riedel tasting glass, lower the glass gently into a horizontal position. The wine will flow from the hollow stem filling the bowl to just half an inch below the rim and because of its shape none of the wine spills. A 360 degree rotation creates a very thin layer of wine on the complete inner surface of the bowl, maximizing the evaporation surface and consequently giving the most intense and detailed olfactory information.

The larger volume offers the wine more aeration space, which improves the intensity and the complexity of aromas. Additionally the wider opening of the bowl allows the wine to be comfortably sipped, and avoids tilting the head too far back. The available quantity of wine is sufficient for two sips; the first to evaluate the wine and the second to confirm. The distribution of the wine flow is guided mainly to the front part of the tongue emphasizing the fruit. The delivery to the sides and to the back of the tongue accentuates acidity and the bitter components which allows the wine to show all its flavours in a harmonious and balanced way.

This glass is unable to offer the detailed message and joy a special varietal glass can give.