Claus Josef Riedel

Life & Legacy

Claus Josef Riedel (19 February 1925 – 17 March 2004) was a Czech (Born in Kořenov near Jablonec) glassmaker, businessman, professor of chemistry, and chemical engineer. He was the 9th-generation owner of Riedel Crystal, an Austrian glassware manufacturer that was established in 1756. Riedel is best known for creating and producing grape variety-specific glassware designed to enhance types of wines based on specific properties of individual grape varieties. He was among the first glassware experts in history to recognize that the taste of wine is affected by the shape of the glass from which it is consumed, and is credited with first discovering the concept of variety-specificity in glassware, developing variety-specific glassware shapes and bringing these glasses to the consumer market. Riedel served as president and chief executive officer of Riedel Crystal from 1957 until 1994.