Riedel Restaurant Degustazione Red Wine Glasses (12 Pack)
Riedel Restaurant Degustazione Red Wine Glasses (12 Pack)
Trade Customers Only
This product is available exclusively to approved Trade customers.
Riedel Restaurant Degustazione Red Wine Glass
The Riedel Restaurant Degustazione Red Wine Glass (0489/0) is the entry point into Riedel's restaurant glassware range, and it makes a compelling case for why entry-level and generic are not the same thing. Designed specifically for the hospitality sector, Degustazione was created with new and budget-conscious operations in mind: restaurateurs who want to offer their customers a genuinely wine-friendly glass without the investment of the Veritas range across every table in the room.
The 560ml bowl with its 89mm rim provides a versatile, capable shape for the full range of everyday and mid-range red wine styles. It is not a varietal-specific design in the way the Veritas shapes are, but it is a properly proportioned, machine-made Riedel glass in lead-free crystal, and the difference that makes relative to a generic catering glass is consistent and meaningful. Riedel's machine-blown technology delivers the precision and consistency that handmade glass cannot reliably achieve at this price point, and the result is a glass that performs above its category. Like all Riedel restaurant glassware, the Degustazione Red Wine Glass is certified for 1,500 commercial dishwasher cycles under EN 12875-1/2, meaning it is built for the demands of professional service rather than domestic use. Sold in sets of 12, it is sized for operational efficiency at volume.
Key features of the Riedel Restaurant Degustazione Red Wine Glass:
- Genuine Riedel quality at entry-level pricing: Machine-made with Riedel's precision glass technology in lead-free crystal, delivering a wine-friendly experience that a generic catering glass cannot match, at a price accessible to new and budget-conscious operations
- 560ml versatile red wine bowl: Generous capacity with an 89mm rim suitable for a broad range of everyday to mid-range red wine styles, from Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz to Merlot, Malbec, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo
- Set of 12: Sold in cases of 12 rather than the 6-glass sets of the Veritas range, reflecting the volume requirements of higher-cover operations and providing a more efficient unit for restocking
- 1,500-cycle dishwasher certification: EN 12875-1/2 certified for 1,500 commercial dishwasher cycles, corresponding to 10+ years of normal restaurant service life, the same durability standard as the Veritas range
- Part of a complete four-piece range: Degustazione includes a matching white wine glass, champagne flute, and stemless water and wine glass, allowing operations to build a coherent, consistent table presentation across all drink types from a single entry-level Riedel collection
- Lead-free crystal: Machine-made from lead-free crystal with the simple, elegant aesthetic the Degustazione range is known for
- Trade-only: Designed specifically for the hospitality sector, available exclusively to bars, restaurants, hotels, and catering operations
This glass suits new operations setting up their first dining room, established venues managing high-volume covers where cost per glass matters, and any operation looking for a commercially durable, genuinely wine-friendly red glass at an accessible price. The full Degustazione range is available exclusively to trade customers.
What Hospitality Professionals Ask About This Glass
How does the Degustazione compare to the Veritas range?
Both ranges are machine-made by Riedel in lead-free crystal and carry the same 1,500-cycle dishwasher certification. The difference is in design philosophy and price. Veritas glasses are varietal-specific: each shape is engineered for a particular grape or structural profile, with bowl geometry calibrated to highlight specific aromatic and palate characteristics. Degustazione is an elegant all-rounder: a versatile shape designed to deliver a wine-friendly experience across a broad range of styles without specialising in any single one. Veritas is the right choice for operations with a specific, considered wine programme. Degustazione is the right choice for operations that want genuine Riedel quality at a more accessible price point, whether for a new opening, high-volume casual dining, or overflow cover during busy periods.
Why buy a Riedel entry-level glass rather than a cheaper generic alternative?
Generic catering glasses are typically made to cost rather than to performance. Riedel's machine-blown technology applies a level of precision to the bowl geometry, rim diameter, and crystal composition that generic glassware does not. The result is a glass that genuinely changes how the wine in it tastes and smells, which is a claim that very few catering glass manufacturers can honestly make. The Degustazione range brings that Riedel performance to an entry-level price point, so the choice is not between Riedel and cheap glass on cost alone, but between a glass that enhances the wine and one that is simply a vessel.
Can Degustazione and Veritas glasses be used in the same operation?
Yes, and many operations do exactly this. A common approach is to use Veritas shapes for the premium and fine dining sections of the operation, and Degustazione for casual dining areas, private dining overflow, garden or terrace service, or high-volume functions where the risk of breakage is higher. Both ranges share Riedel's lead-free crystal and dishwasher certification, so they sit alongside each other credibly. The visual difference is visible on close inspection, but for most customers in most contexts, Degustazione reads as quality glassware.
What red wines suit the Degustazione red wine glass?
The 560ml bowl and 89mm rim make this a capable all-purpose shape for everyday to mid-range red wine styles: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Syrah, Malbec, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Grenache-based blends, and similar. It is not a varietal-specific glass and does not differentiate between structural profiles in the way the Veritas shapes do, but it provides the bowl volume and rim diameter to present a wide range of reds at a meaningfully higher standard than a generic catering alternative.
How many dishwasher cycles are these glasses certified for?
The Degustazione Red Wine Glass is certified to EN 12875-1/2 standards for 1,500 commercial dishwasher cycles with no visible deterioration. In normal restaurant usage this corresponds to 10+ years of service life, the same durability standard as the Veritas range.
The Right Glass From Day One: Why Entry-Level Riedel Beats Generic
Opening a restaurant involves hundreds of decisions about where to spend and where to save. Glassware often ends up in the savings column, with the reasoning that a glass is a glass and customers will not notice the difference. The problem with that reasoning is that customers do notice, even if they cannot name what they are noticing.
A wine served in a generic catering glass does not smell or taste as good as the same wine served in a properly proportioned, well-made crystal glass. The aromatics are less expressive, the palate delivery is less balanced, and the overall impression is of a venue that has not thought carefully about its wine offer. That impression is not catastrophic, but it costs something: in the perception of value, in the likelihood of a customer ordering a second glass, and in the impression the table setting creates before a drop has been poured.
The Degustazione range exists to remove that compromise. It is the point at which Riedel's machine-made precision and wine-friendly design philosophy become accessible to an operation with a tight opening budget or a high-volume casual dining model. The 560ml red wine glass is not a varietal-specific shape in the way the Veritas range is, but it is a genuine Riedel glass, and the difference that makes relative to generic stemware is consistent and real.
For operations that progress over time, the Degustazione range also provides a natural upgrade path. As a venue grows in confidence and ambition, Veritas shapes can be introduced for specific categories, used alongside Degustazione for different areas of the operation, or used to replace Degustazione progressively as the glass inventory turns over. Starting with Degustazione rather than a generic alternative means the step up to Veritas is a refinement rather than a complete restart.
Specifications
Care & Use Instructions
Commercial Dishwasher Use: The Degustazione Red Wine Glass is certified for 1,500 commercial dishwasher cycles under EN 12875-1/2. The 89mm diameter fits standard commercial dishwasher racks comfortably. Use standard commercial cycles with professional-grade detergent. Remove promptly after each cycle and allow to air dry to prevent water spotting.
Serving Temperature: Red wines generally serve best at 14-18°C depending on style. Lighter, fruit-driven reds such as Merlot or Pinot-based blends suit the cooler end of that range; fuller, more tannic styles such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Shiraz suit 16-18°C. Serving red wine too warm flattens the aromatics and pushes alcohol forward; too cold and the tannins feel harder and more austere.
Pour Size: Pour 125-150ml for a standard red wine service, filling the bowl to approximately 25% of capacity. The 560ml bowl provides adequate headspace at a standard pour for aromatics to develop before reaching the nose.
Handling: The Degustazione range is machine-made to commercial standards. Hold by the stem or base. The construction is certified for commercial use with proper handling during racking, service, and storage.
Storage: Store upright with adequate height clearance for 225mm. Never stack or store rim-down. The 89mm diameter racks straightforwardly in standard commercial glass racks. The 12-per-case format makes bulk storage efficient.
Why Buy From The Riedel Shop?
As specialist Riedel retailers, we stock the full range of Riedel restaurant glassware from entry-level Degustazione through to the premium Veritas collection, and we can help you understand how the two ranges work alongside each other for operations at different stages. Whether you are equipping a new venue from scratch, managing overflow stock for a high-volume operation, or looking for an upgrade path from generic glassware, we provide the product knowledge and service standards that professional buyers expect. The Degustazione collection is available exclusively to trade customers.
Our Guarantees to You
- ✓ No Quibble Returns
- ✓ Half-Price Accidental Breakage Replacement (2 Years)
- ✓ Price Match Guarantee
Read our full guarantee policy →
Questions? Visit our contact page
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does delivery take?
Standard delivery to mainland UK addresses typically takes 3-5 working days. For hospitality operations requiring urgent delivery, contact us to discuss expedited shipping options.
Can I return glasses if they don't suit our operation?
We offer a no quibble return guarantee on unopened cases in original packaging. We recommend ordering one case to assess the glass in your operation before committing to larger quantities.
Can Degustazione and Veritas glasses be used together in the same operation?
Yes. Many operations use Degustazione for high-volume or casual dining areas and Veritas for fine dining, premium wine service, or specific varietal categories. Both ranges share Riedel's lead-free crystal and 1,500-cycle dishwasher certification. The visual difference is visible on close inspection but both read as quality glassware in a service context.
Can home users purchase Riedel Restaurant Degustazione glasses?
No. The Restaurant Degustazione collection is designed specifically for the hospitality sector and is available exclusively to trade customers including bars, restaurants, hotels, and catering operations.
Do you offer volume discounts for larger orders?
For hospitality groups requiring significant quantities, particularly for new venue openings or multi-site operations, contact us to discuss volume pricing and delivery arrangements.
What other glasses are in the Degustazione range?
The Degustazione range comprises four glasses: the Red Wine Glass (0489/0, 560ml), a White Wine Glass, a Champagne Flute, and a Stemless Water and Wine Glass. All are machine-made in lead-free crystal and certified for 1,500 commercial dishwasher cycles, allowing operations to build a coherent, consistent table presentation across all drink types from a single entry-level Riedel collection.
