Professor Claus J. Riedel was the first glass designer to recognize that the bouquet, taste, balance and finish of wines are affected by the shape of the glass from which they are drunk.

He worked with experienced tasters to determine aspects such as:

• Which sizes brings the appropriate intesity of aromas for different wines
• Which shapes direct wines to specific parts of the tongue
• Which shapes and sizes emphasize fruitiness
• Which shapes and sizes emphasize tannin
• Which shapes keep Champagne from going flat

The whole approach is not about correcting flaws in certain styles of wines, but of achieving balance in bringing out the distinct characteristics of each style of wine.