Customer Reviews

Riedel Vinum Port Glasses, Set of 6

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just picked up eight of these (Riedel 416/60) and found them to be the least well made Riedel Vinum glasses I've seen. Four of the eight stems had clearly visible casting lines down into the foot, and you could feel the ridge on all but one or two of the glasses.

I am also not fond of the large logo spelling out RIEDEL on the bottom of the glass. I didn't even like the smaller initials they used to use. I want to think about what I'm drinking; I don't need to be reminded who made the stemware.

Like the other Riedel glasses, the port glasses are extremely well balanced. For a glass so short with such a relatively large bowl, a thick, heavy foot is required for balance compared to the other glasses, which get away with relatively thin and light feet due to the leverage of longer stems and wider feet. Like their prestige cuvee champagne glasses, Riedel's port glasses are heavy, which feels nice in the hand, like good silver.

The Riedel port glasses are the preferred shape for port, and can be used for other port-like drinks such as Banyuls (which is a relatively inexpensive, long-lived, grenache-noir-based fortified wine that's worth seeking out, especially for pairing with chocolate). I also use the port glasses for dessert wines of all kinds. This matches what I see in restaurants worldwide and works well for me, even if Riedel has a series of other recommendations for various dessert wines. Riedel's least expensive line of glassware labels this shape simply as "spirits", so it's not a stretch to put them into service for whisky, cognac, etc.

Like all other heavy lead content crystal (24% here), be very careful washing them. Scratchy sponges, abrasive cleaner, grit in the sink, etc., will leave marks.

These are NOT Riedel crystal! After I returned them, I told Amazon that that need to update the description. If you read the fine print, it does say "Manufactured to exact specifications of Riedel, Austria". They are made by some other company, not in Austria, and the quality is very, very low. You get what you pay for.

I was a little concerned after reading the reviews regarding the possible misrepresentation on the glasses being made in Austria by Riedel, but mine were machine made crystal made by Riedel in Austria. Washed them and tried them out immediately on some recent 1997 vintage port and they were super. Although the port was very young, the glasses really brought out the flavor in a side by side comparison. Great for entertaining, and a super value!

After buying these Riedel Vinum Port Glasses in person at Williams-Sonoma where I paid full price, I found them ... for 1/3 less even with shipping. I learned my lesson. Anyway, the size and shape of these glasses (slightly smaller than a typical wine glass but larger than a "cordial" glass) really do make port and other fortified wines taste better. I didn't drink dessert wines much until Wine Spectator's October 2002 feature, "Chocolate for Wine Lovers." I decided to try some of the combinations they recommended. Invited to dinner at a friend's house, I brought a Banyuls (like port but more fragile) with incredible Pierre Hermé "Sweet Indulgence" chocolates. This was a magical combination, a delight to the senses. The wine is so intense, you don't need much; hence the smaller glasses. The host didn't have proper port glasses, so I bought these as a gift. It can be difficult to find real port glasses but these are just perfect. We are enjoying them while trying other dessert wines for chocolate, like fine Port, Tokay, and Vin Santo. I found the quality excellent; our glasses had none of the defects that previous reviewers mention and no "logo" on them either. I would recommend them to anyone.

I was a skeptic, but so many wine lovers and respected critics said Riedel glasses did wonders for the tasting experience that I, a port lover, decided to try these. Now I am a believer. I tasted a favorite port from my (very nice, Scandinavian)previously favorite glass, and from the Riedel port glass. I cannot speak to the issues other reviewers have raised as to the relative quality of the manufacture, but the taste was a marvel.

I bought this set of glasses as a gift for my boyfriend, who loves to drink port. I thought the glasses might be disappointing after reading the reviews posted here, but luckily it isn't the case! IMHO the quality is excellent, but not so delicate that we're afraid to use them. I like how they came in a set of 6, so accidently breaking one or two isn't so bad. My boyfriend loves them, and even his fellow port drinkers are impressed. Maybe if you're a wine expert of the highest rank, you have the right to look down on the Riedel Vinum line of port glasses, but I can't imagine glassware being much nicer while being so functional.

Perfect in size with a great hand feel. These glasses are large enough to allow room for a nice bouquet and some swirling if you're so inclined. If you like port, you'll love these glasses.

Oh boy, you guys are hilarious. I didn't even notice the logo on the bottom of the glass until I read your 'complaints' about it. <eyes rolling>. These glasses are great for the ports for which they are designed, other sweet wines, and the occasional spirit as well. I broke one just cleaning with a cloth, though, so only 4 stars.

Ok, so Riedel Vinum Port Glasses are in fact beautiful, I certainly don't dispute that. When I saw them in the store I thought, "that's exactly what I'm looking for." $21 a piece ($85 for six or whatever it is), a little steep but I'll bite the bullet and get 'em. Then I picked them up. Why would someone design such a beautiful glass (or anything for that matter) and insist on putting their name on it. Tacky. I don't advertise at my dinner table. As a professionally trained chef I recommend going for the official port glass, authorized by the IVP - Instituto do Vinho do Porto and designed by world acclaimed Portuguese architect Siza Vieira. <$37. I believe they ship from Europe so it may take a few to get them here in the states...mine are on the way.

OK...
Got all excited about finally buying Riedel wine glasses. They are on sale. I am opening the box and.... RIEDEL is etched in frost in big letters on the underside of the base. What the heck? I am returning these. When I am paying this kind of money on glassware, I do not want a cheap logo on them. If they had put a discreet "R" or something, that would be different. This is just plain tacky. Such a shame as the glass otherwise looks good, although I do feel a ridge on the stem as someone else did. I suspect this is why they are on sale, as I doubt they were meant to be frosted this way. What a dissapointment...