by Bob Ross » Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:57 pm
Or is it just a gimmick?
Robinson had a short note on the glass, and Riedel's take on it:
The Oregon Pinot Noir glass was a one-off, he says, initially fueled more by the desire of the state’s winemakers to have such a vessel than by Riedel’s to desire to make one.
“I didn’t like the thought of producing a regional glass, as it opens one up to questions both pleasant and unpleasant,” he says. (Like, what makes Oregon so special? And, isn’t this just a trick to sell more stemware? Or, can my region have one, too?)
“I was sceptical at first – do I need to do this, will it make a difference? But the region supported it so strongly – Amy Wesselman (executive director of Oregon’s International Pinot Noir Celebration), Ponzi, Drouhin, Domaine Serene all pushed for it. So we took a serious approach, not for commercial reasons but to make a difference.”
In 2005, a committee of vintners began tasting their wines from various glasses in the Riedel collection. They concluded that a cross between the Vinum Burgundy, Vinum Extreme Burgundy and Sommeliers Grand Cru glasses was ideal, and had Riedel create prototypes.
The one chosen is indeed a handsome glass, 9.5 inches tall and with a capacity of 28.25 ounces. Theoretically, the gently flared rim of the tulip-shaped glass focuses aromas and delivers wine to the back palate, giving greater emphasis to fruit and less to acidity and hard edges in young wines. Riedel says the glass gives concentrated wines more balance without over-emphasis: “The wines are more balanced, more harmonious, and with better Pinot Noir expression.”
Sounds awfully gimmicky to me. But, if it would improve New Jersey wines, I'd be willing to contribute to a project to develop one for the home state's sake.
Regards, Bob