Tradition and innovation – The Riedel Company can proudly look back on its 250 year success story. From its beginning in northern Bohemia and now 11 generations later Riedel Glass has stood for the high art of glassmaking and a fascinating span of history interweaves this remarkable success story. Reidel crystal has created an extensive range of glassware in collections that differ in sophistication and pricing. Riedel glasses deliver the typical components of grape variety, highlighting the balanced flavours, maximising the fruit and integrating acidity of tannins into the overall pleasure of wine.
Claus Josef Riedel (9th Riedel generation) changed the world of wine with his revolutionary concept of functional stemware. He realised the effect the shape of the glass had on the perception and drinking pleasure of alcoholic beverages. Simply put he discovered that the same wine tasted different when drunk from different glasses. George Josef Riedel (10th Riedel generation) further developed this concept when he found that the correct choice of glasses would enhance the flavours of wines and that the wine’s message its bouquet and taste depends on the form of the glass.
In 1673 when Johan Christoph Riedel was born in the Bohemian town of Neuschloss no one could have guessed that this was the birth of one of the greatest glass enterprises in the world.
This Bohemian glass merchant was the starting point of a direct line through ten generations down to today’s corporate head George Riedel and his son Maximilian (11th Riedel generation). Each person in this long chain of Riedel generations has been able to contribute his personal skills and views to expand the company’s success to make it the success that it is today. In the spirit of ‘quality made in Europe’ George Riedel is creating the foundation of a new corporate constellation in a position of the world’s largest glass company.
In 2004 George Riedel purchased the large German glass and crystal manufacturer F.X. Nachtmann AG including its six production sites and in 2005 it acquired of Spiegelau. These three glass brands are clearly positioned without any conflict. However Riedel remains the brand that is sought after by wine connoisseurs and the most demanding customers.
