Riedel moves in on Muscadine from Florida

A tasting with Georg Riedel revealed the specialist glassmaker’s ability to accentuate the flavours of any product, not just fine wine.

Having tested the impact of glass size, shape and rim diameter on a range of drinks, he admitted he’s working on a new glassmaking project for Florida’s non-vinifera grape Muscadine.

The grape is native to the southeastern US where it’s well adapted to the warm and humid climate and has been extensively cultivated since the 16th century.

Georg, CEO of the company, said that the results were “truly interesting” in the specially developed and soon-to-be-released Muscadine Riedel glass.

He added that the University of Tallahassee were specialising in the grape and spearheading the Riedel project.

His last US-based project was also for a non-vinifera varietal: the Norton grape from Missouri.

He pointed out that as many as 50 wineries produce wines from the grape and a specialist Riedel glass was unveiled in January this year to enhance Norton’s unique flavour.

“People make a living off it and for us it is a business,” he explained, when discussing his decision to produce a dedicated Riedel glass for the varietal.

“We are tool makers and if you order a tool from us we make it,” he added.

He also said that the company, known for its range of upmarket crystal glasses for noble grapes such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, was extending into the Far East. “We are now in China, which is our latest cornerstone – we have just opened our own subsidiary and distribution network.”

Riedel opened an office in Australia last year although it does not retail the glasses itself.

“The globe is running out of space for us,” said Georg, who admitted that the glassmaker was considering India, although presently, “wine consumption is too low”.

Speaking further of emerging wine markets he said, “Our customer is the middle class, we can’t live off a small wealthy elite.”

Patrick Schmitt, 17.06.2010