A clever and educational red-wine tasting set that turns Riedel's varietal-specific glass philosophy into a practical three-glass experience. Rather than simply providing three different tumblers, it allows the drinker to compare thin-, medium- and thick-skinned grape varieties and observe how bowl shape influences aroma, texture, balance and finish.

The "The Key to Wine" stands testament to the company's passion for wine and glass education, and elevates the enjoyment of wine into a magical wine glass experience. 

Based on the principle of ‘form follows function’, the "The Key to Wine" Tasting Set includes glasses which show the difference in performance of thin-skinned (Pinot Noir), medium-skinned (Syrah) and thick-skinned (Cabernet/ Merlot) grapes.

RIEDEL offers both varietal-specific glasses for true wine connoisseurs and wine-friendly glasses for casual wine lovers. When you opt for a grape varietal-specific RIEDEL glass, rest assured that it is purpose-built and excels when paired with a specific wine. The Key to Wine is designed to unlock the most exclusive characteristics of red wine styles.

A single glass shape is not ideal for all styles of wine; a wine's bouquet, taste, balance, and finish are all affected by the shape of the glass from which it is consumed. A wine can display completely different characteristics when served in different glasses. These differences can be significant - even experienced wine connoisseurs can believe they are tasting as many different wines as there are glasses. Different grape varietals carry unmistakable flavor profiles in their DNA, which emphasizes the importance of selecting the appropriate glass.

The thickness of grape skins plays a significant role in the flavor, tannin content, and overall characteristics of red wines such as Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Cabernet / Merlot. Red wine grape varieties can be distinguished by their different skin thickness, contributing to their unique taste profiles:

Thin-skinned grapes like Pinot Noir, Gamay, Nebbiolo, Champagne
Grapes with thin skins result in wines with a lighter color and body compared to thick-skinned grapes. Thin skins yield lower levels of tannins, making these wines smoother and less astringent. These wines are often described as having a silky or velvety texture on the palate. Thin-skinned grapes are more susceptible to environmental factors, which can be both an advantage and a challenge. It allows the grapes to express their unique terroir, but it also makes them more delicate and harder to cultivate.

Medium-skinned Grapes like Syrah, Shiraz, Blaufränkisch, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Grenache
Medium skin thickness provides these wines with a moderate level of tannins, resulting in wines that have very good balance and structure. Such wines can be both robust and approachable, offering a mix of red and black fruit flavors. The medium skin also allows the grapes to adapt to a wider range of climates and terroirs, resulting in versatile grape varieties suitable for growing in various wine regions around the world.

Thick-skinned Grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot
The thick skin contains high levels of tannins and pigments, which influence
the wine's flavor and aging potential. Tannins are compounds found in grape skins, seeds, and stems that contribute to the wine's structure. The thicker skin provides a significant amount of tannins, resulting in a wine with a firm, often grippy tannic structure. The thick skin also helps protect the grapes from environmental factors, making such grapes more resilient and suitable for aging. This contributes to the wine's ability to develop complex flavors over time. 

In summary, the thickness of grape skins significantly influences the taste and characteristics of red wine. The thick skin contributes to a more bold and tannic nature, while thin skin produces a lighter and more delicate wine. A medium skin thickness, strikes a balance between these two extremes, resulting in wines that are often bold yet approachable. The skin thickness is just one of many factors that influence the final flavor and style of these wines, but it's a critical one in understanding their differences.

The Key to Wine unlocks a wine’s individual characteristics.

Technical Specs

Brand: Riedel
Product Type: Red Wine Tumbler Tasting Set
Collection: The O Wine Tumbler
Model / Article No.: #6789 / 5414/74-1
Design: 2024
Material: Crystal Glass
Manufacturing: Machine-Made
Colour: Clear Crystal
Capacity: Varietal-specific bowls; individual capacities are not specified by Riedel for this set
Packaging: Riedel-branded Gift Box
Set: 3 Glasses
Country / Brand: Austria

Features
Signature Concept: The Key to Wine is an educational tasting set created to demonstrate how different glass shapes influence the perception of red wines made from grapes with different skin thicknesses.
Three Varietal-Specific Glasses: The set contains three O Wine Tumblers representing Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet/Merlot. The corresponding grape varieties are indicated on the base plate of each glass.
Thin-Skinned Grapes: The Pinot Noir glass is intended for thin-skinned varieties such as Pinot Noir, Gamay and Nebbiolo. Its shape emphasises delicate aromas, lighter body and silky texture.
Medium-Skinned Grapes: The Syrah glass is designed for medium-skinned varieties including Syrah, Blaufränkisch, Grenache, Sangiovese and Tempranillo, supporting their balance of fruit, spice and moderate tannin.
Thick-Skinned Grapes: The Cabernet/Merlot glass is intended for thick-skinned varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, with a shape suited to their greater tannic structure and concentration.
O Wine Tumbler Design: The glasses are stemless versions of Riedel's varietal-specific wine shapes, making them easier to store and dishwasher friendly while retaining the functional bowl proportions of the company's wine glasses.
Educational Wine Tool: The set is designed to make the effect of glass shape directly observable through side-by-side tasting, helping demonstrate Riedel's principle that different wine styles can express differently depending on the glass used.

Care Instruction
Cleaning: Dishwasher safe. Riedel recommends placing the glass carefully so it does not touch other glassware, utensils, racks or spray arms during washing.

Suitable for: Pinot Noir, Gamay, Nebbiolo, Syrah, Shiraz, Blaufränkisch, Grenache, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and other red wines with comparable grape-skin and tannin characteristics.