Out of 12 different glass shapes, including specialised Champagne glasses and the regular flute, Riedel’s Veloce Riesling glass was voted as the most preferred glass by English producers from three regions for their sparkling wines, announced the Austrian glassware manufacturer.
In search of the best English sparkling glass
Last week, 25 wine producers from three of the UK’s primary sparkling wine-producing regions were invited to attend three Riedel workshops for comparative tastings of 12 different glass shapes (see below) from the glassmaker’s existing product range.
- Riedel Stemless Wings Riesling Glass
- Riedel Veritas Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo/Rosé Champagne Glass
- Riedel Performance Riesling Glass
- Riedel Vinum Vintage Champagne Glass
- Riedel Performance Pinot Noir Glass
- Riedel Winewings Champagne Wine Glass
- Riedel Veloce Riesling Glass
- Riedel Performance Champagne Glass
- Riedel Wine Friendly Red Wine Glass
- Riedel Veloce Champagne Wine Glass
- Riedel Veritas Champagne Wine Glass
- Champagne flute (the ‘Joker’ glass)
The 12-strong lineup was hand-picked by Riedel based on the results of similar workshops held with international sparkling producers, including those from famed Champagne houses and Tasmania, explained Maximilian J Riedel, 11th-generation CEO and president of the family-owned glassware manufacturer, who conducted all three English sparkling workshops in Hampshire, Kent and Sussex.
Also read: Riedel – An exclusive look behind the scenes
During four rounds of tasting at each workshop, representatives of 25 English wineries and trade experts voted for their favoured glass shapes that best presented their local sparklers.
The tasting workshop: How did it work?
Each workshop began with all 12 glass shapes (product names not given) at the first round of tasting. During the first three rounds, participants were to vote for their preferred glasses to keep, leaving out their three least favourite glasses. They could only choose one favourite glass in the last round. The final winner was the glass shape that had the highest number of total votes throughout all four rounds.
At the Hampshire workshop, hosted at Exton Park Vineyard, the participating producers were served a total of four sparkling wines sourced locally, chosen without any prior criteria given by Riedel.
‘(The winner) has to work for all of the styles,’ explained Maximilian.
The Hampshire workshop wine list
Round 1: Exton Park, RB32 NV
Round 2: Louis Pommery England NV
Round 3: The Grange, Classic NV
Round 4: Hattingley Valley, Classic Reserve NV
The Stemless Wings Riesling Glass (see above, left), the Vinum Vintage Champagne Glass (middle) and the Champagne flute (right). Credit: Riedel
During the first round, participants first ruled out the Stemless Wings Riesling Glass (see above), the Vinum Vintage Champagne Glass and the common Champagne flute.
The Performance Champagne Glass (left), the Wine Friendly Red Wine Glass (middle) and the Veloce Champagne Wine Glass (right). Credit: Riedel
The Performance Champagne Glass, the Wine Friendly Red Wine Glass and the Veloce Champagne Wine Glass were voted out in the second round.
The Veritas Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo/Rosé Champagne Glass (left), the Performance Pinot Noir Glass (middle) and the Performance Riesling Glass (right). Credit: Riedel
By a close vote after the third round, tasters dismissed the Veritas Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo/Rosé Champagne Glass, the Performance Pinot Noir Glass and the Performance Riesling Glass.
Maximilian admitted that the early exit of Veritas Pinot Noir/Nebbiolo/Rosé Champagne Glass was a surprise as it was his glass of choice for English sparkling rosés. The Performance Riesling Glass, on the other hand, attracted a considerable number of votes until this round.
The results
The Winewings Champagne Wine Glass (left), the Veloce Riesling Glass…
Source : https://www.decanter.com/learn/riedel-research-reveals-the-perfect-glass-shape-for-english-sparkling-wines-496850/
