I have been a long-time fan of Riedel glasses and have about 12 sets of the Riedel Extreme Vinum as well as a variety of spirit and champagne tasting glasses in our household. I’ve tried several different brands of tasting glasses in comparison with the Riedel glasses and found they just didn’t compare to the original. So when the folks at the Wine Enthusiast asked me to do a comparison of a set of the Viognier/Chardonnay tasting glasses versus Fusion Stemware, I was dubious, but took their challenge.
Wine Enthusiast sent me both sets of glasses. The Fusion glasses were billed as the World’s Most Break-Resistant Glasses with a 10-year warranty. Shatterproof glasses … hmmm. I remember one fateful party at my house where a friend helping clean up quickly shattered three Riedel champagne glasses due to a faulty drying rack. It still hurts to remember.
I opened up Chardonnay and Viognier wines and got to work. I was surprised to learn that I preferred the taste of the wine in the Fusion glass versus the Riedel glass. The flavors were enhanced, the crystal glass had the heft that I was used to (neither glass was the size of the ones I have at home though) and the fact that it was made for klutzes like me resonated. Having had this experience, if I were to re-invest in my stemware, I’d choose Fusion.
Now neither of these glass sets are cheap and I haven’t seen the Fusion people come through Dallas with wine tastings priced to include the glasses at a big discount.
So you may ask why you should invest in a set of tasting glasses? It matters – because a glass is a glass except when it isn’t. Once you try the right stemware, you’ll notice when you don’t have it.
Dear Dallas Chick:
Next time with a blindfold and soe one else to do the pour, try tasting with a paper cup.
I’ll keep an eye out for the Fusion glassware. My problem with Reidel glasses is that they are too fragile. You mention your breakage of their Champagne flutes. I love the shape and feel of these glasses, but estimate that I have had to buy 20 glasses to keep 12 on hand. The stems are too weak and have snapped when I was shaking off excess water after cleaning. Looking for an alternative!
I would have been interested in you continuing the review of the break-resistant glasses to see if they really are. The Fusion glasses are magnesium based and I’m guessing they should be comparable to the titanium based Schott Zwiesel wine glasses. One winery we went to actually started the tasting by banging the Schott Zwiesel glass on the edge of the counter to my horror! Of course nothing happened but it was amazing to see and certainly needed at my house.
My wife bought me a set of Fusion sparkling wine flutes for Christmas a few years ago, via WE. I found these to be stylish and sturdy — a rare combination in high-priced stemware.
(By the way, the correct word to use is “versus” not verses. And AP style for versus is “vs.” — abbreviated.)
Cheers,
Eric
Alec,
As you saw in my review, I had the exact same issue. Jeff suggests banging the glasses on a counter – I’ll give that a try and let you know!
Jeff, great idea. It would pain me to do it but I’ll give it a shot my next tasting … just seems kinda wrong, doesn’t it?
Thanks for replying and the grammar tips 🙂
Jeff, Since you are in Texas, perhaps we should work to destroy them together 🙂
Ron,
Definitely would rather have a glass 🙂
Feel free to try the breakage yourself (videotape it!) but coincidentally I will be in the Dallas/Frisco area this weekend.
I just saw this! I am so sorry that I missed you… not sure what happened with my comment section…