RIEDEL: BEHIND THE SCENES

Think of an object that’s made today as it was 3,000 years ago – the list wouldn’t be long. It may include the production of paper, a rudimentary pen perhaps, a block of cement even. But the humble glass could happily sit at the top. Arguably a fundamental part of wine enjoyment, the wine glass itself has of course evolved over time, but the initial recipe, perfected by the ancient Egyptians, Romans and Persians, has hardly changed.

Glass production has evolved, but it is only in the last 50 years that wine glasses have become both aesthetic and epicurean, style and substance, form and functionality – elevated from a utilitarian object to one deemed essential for wine lovers everywhere.

‘Stemware is crucial to the overall sensory enjoyment of wine,’ believes Amanda Wassmer-Bulgin, former Bilanz Sommelier of the Year and current wine director at the 5-star Grand Resort Bad Ragaz Quellenhof in Switzerland. ‘A prime example is Champagne. All the hard work that goes into achieving layers