For my birthday I want to treat myself with good wine glasses. I read few threads on this forum, but still undecided between Riedel Bordeaux and Grassl 1885/Cru. I mostly drink Bordeaux blends and Italian reds (pretty much all of them except Amarone and Primitivo). I really like shape of Grassl glasses but most reviews say they are best for Pinots which I drink much less. Anyone has both and what’s your experience? Any other recommendations?
Thank you.
Do a search here for “glass shape”, there are lots of threads with long discussion.
My advice is to drink from something that feels good in your hand and looks good to your eye.
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I have just read your Fun with wine glass shapes thread. I would say it’s too scientific for me 
but definitely great effort.
I like approach of “feels good in your hand and looks good to your eye”. Esthetics and feel make larger impact than taste nuances. Not sure weather Grassl are sold in brick stores where I can go and see in person. Riedel is available in quite few stores near where I live.
I’m guessing (I don’t own any Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux glasses; only own two of their Sommelier Syrah/Hermitage glasses) that the Grassl are much lighter. I love that about them. I own a bunch of different Riedel Vinum series glasses and they feel like clunkers compared to either my Grassl or Gabriel-Glas Gold series glasses.
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I have a bunch of Grassl’s and Riedels, Grassl to me is vastly superior in general feel.
Riedels are more bulky, even the Sommelier series.
Then again, I haven’t broken a single Riedel, but I have broken a few Grassl’s.
Look up Glasvin too, I like them too.
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If it’s all about how it feels (to you) and looks (to you), I’d say buy both and return the ones you like less. It will take some extra time on your part, but will actually guarantee getting the one you like better, whereas spending the same time asking other people what they like guarantees you nothing.
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Absolutely agree. Just did not like the idea of buying both with purpose to return one of them.
I currently drink mainly from Grassl Liberte, and Glasvin Prestige. Really like them both. And like lots of other manufacturers as well, these just happen to be what I have now. I’d be happy to drink from Gabriel, Zalto, Riedel, etc.
I will say that, while I like the “look” of wine in a larger bowl, I’m always uncomfortable swirling a full glass, or filling and rinsing at the sink. The forces seem like they could snap the bowl from the stem.
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Why not? That’s one of the advantages of online purchasing. No sheepishly handing over returns to a sales clerk. I buy two sizes of things sometimes, knowing I won’t keep both. It is a bit less than green, but if you don’t abuse it, I would say do it.
There is just not a single thing about various glasses that hasn’t been said here, I am pretty sure. So if you’ve already narrowed it down, you’re not going to learn anything new here. Try 'em out!
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It will not an issue for me. I always pour just a little. That’s my standard pour.
As for washing glasses my wife never broke anything so far.
That’s about my pour as well, just seems a little precarious when swirling. The stem on that glass is pretty solid relative to some others.
General recommendation from glass manufacturers is to use a dishwasher, helps minimize breakage.
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Your standard pour is three bottles? That’s pretty hardcore!
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Alan, how do weights of the Liberte and the Prestige compare?
I think the issue with dishwasher is risk of breaking the glass while putting it in or putting something else that can accidentally hit the glass.
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I generally agree, but I think what happens to the product once I return it. Does it get repackaged and sold to someone else? And whether I myself would be OK to receive something that has already been sold before, tried and returned.
They are both quite light and delicate, though I haven’t yet broken one lol. Probably can’t tell the difference empty, though you definitely feel the weight of the wine more in the larger bowl prestige, because there’s a bigger “lever arm” of wine away from the center, especially when you swirl and tip to drink. I like the looks of both, tend to use the Liberte more for whites, and the Prestige for red, but not for any good reason lol. I’ll drink anything out of either. I know the manufacturers value the delicacy and intricacy of the ultra thin walls and stems, but I would probably prefer just a touch more meat on the bones, particularly the stem, as a trade off for durability.
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I only wash this type of fine glassware in the dishwasher, much less risk of breaking (for me) than hand washing and drying. Plus they come out beautifully clean 
There is always a spot reserved for the glassware, with nothing around it that could be a risk for breakage.
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Agreed. Cleaning glasses after hand washing is a pain. I never satisfied finding either tiny spots or some cloudy areas. Just drives me crazy.
The Levenberg is the correct answer.