Riedel Vinum Glasses
Launched in 1986, still Riedel's best-seller — the series that started varietal-specific glassware.
Check price on AmazonThe short answer
Riedel Vinum is the original varietal-specific glass series — machine-made, dishwasher-safe, and built around the idea that a Cabernet needs a different bowl than a Pinot Noir. It's the affordable, everyday entry point into Riedel's shape-per-grape philosophy. Want the newer, lighter step up instead? See Vinum vs Veritas, compared.
The specs (Cabernet/Merlot shape)
Height
225 mm
Capacity
650 ml
Bowl shape
Tall, tapered
Material
Machine-made crystal
Why the series works
In 1986, Georg Riedel bet that bowl shape genuinely changes how a wine tastes, and built the first machine-made series where each shape was engineered for a specific grape family instead of one bowl trying to handle everything. Vinum became Riedel's best-seller because it made that idea affordable — no hand-blown price tag, just a real varietal-specific bowl at a price most wine drinkers could justify.
The line covers the shapes that matter most: a tall, tapered bowl for Cabernet and Bordeaux blends that softens tannin, a wider bowl for Pinot Noir that lifts delicate aromatics, and dedicated shapes for Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and dessert wine. Being machine-made means it's also dishwasher safe — a real advantage over hand-blown lines you have to baby.
Best wines for Riedel Vinum
- Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot (flagship shape)
- Bordeaux blends
- Pinot Noir (dedicated Vinum shape)
- Viognier & Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc & dessert wine
- An everyday, dishwasher-safe upgrade
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Riedel Vinum — FAQ
What is Riedel Vinum for?
Vinum is Riedel's original varietal-specific glass series, launched in 1986 — the idea that a Cabernet glass and a Pinot Noir glass should be different shapes because the wines behave differently in the mouth. It's still Riedel's best-selling series, with dedicated shapes for the major grape families rather than one glass trying to do everything.
What's the difference between Riedel Vinum and Veritas?
Veritas is the newer, more refined step up — about 15% taller and 25% lighter than Vinum thanks to thinner walls and a finer rim, at a higher price. Vinum is the original, slightly heavier, and typically the more affordable entry point into varietal-specific Riedel glassware.
Is Riedel Vinum dishwasher safe?
Yes. Vinum is machine-made crystal, and Riedel lists it as dishwasher safe, unlike the hand-blown Sommeliers line which is hand-wash only.
Which Vinum shape should I buy first?
If you drink mostly red wine, start with the Cabernet/Merlot glass — it's the flagship shape and the one most people mean when they say "Riedel Vinum." If Pinot Noir or Burgundy is your main pour, the dedicated Vinum Pinot Noir shape is the better starting point.
Have you personally tested Riedel Vinum?
Not yet — this page covers what the series is designed to do, based on Riedel's own published specs, not a hands-on tasting review. We only publish first-person verdicts on glassware we've actually used at length.