GLI OSPITI

After World War II, at a time when the Riedel family had lost everything, Georg Riedel’s grandfather and father were invited to take over the bankrupt "Tiroler Glashütte". They agreed and, with the purchase financed through a loan from the famous Swarovski family, the Riedels got their second, lucky chance to rebuild their glass tradition which had started all the way back in 1673 in Bohemia. It was there, deep in the Isar Mountains, in what is now the Czech Republic, that in 1756, the third generation had built and operated the very first Riedel glass factory.
Georg, the first born of the new generation, was, at an early stage, chosen by his father as his designated successor. Claus deemed that a technical education in Vienna would be the most suitable for Georg, who graduated as engineer. Despite this, he had struggled to meet his father’s academic expectations, and so this ended with a determined call to start work in the Kufstein factory on June 1,1973.
Considering carefully where to start his career in his father’s work environment, Georg selected the finance department. This department had not been controlled so closely by Claus as other areas, with the result that the financial situation of the company gave some concern. And so, Georg thought his talents would be best used in a complete review of the business and to initiate the first cost cutting programs, whilst battling the devastating oil crisis of 1974.
Georg soon found he was leading his father’s company into a new era of becoming much more cost efficient and eventually fully profitable. At an early stage, Georg invested in computers and both developed and adopted software to help the business reach the required targets. Claus, in turn, trusted his son, as did the financial institutions, who were in favor of a management change. In 1987, Georg became the majority shareholder and Managing Director, a position he shared with his father until 1994, when he became the sole director.
The success of the Riedel brand, in modern times, has been wine glasses and, no more so in those days, than the legendary "Sommeliers Collection”; the very first range where the glass bowls were designed, not to please the eye, but as primary instruments, this elevating the wine experience. Claus had set the industry benchmark in 1973 when introducing this hand-made, mouth-blown line, produced by master-craftsmen in the Kufstein factory.
Georg's major contribution to the Riedel company wine glass success came in 1986 with the launch of the new Vinum range. Using the most advanced out-sourced machine-made glass technology, the worldwide demand of Vinum became the foundation of Riedel's fame. The introduction of Vinum also coincided with the time when New World wines were becoming popular. Now, Georg started to travel the globe, meeting with and making life-long friends with many of the world’s most prominent winemakers, by introducing the "magic” of Riedel glass in comparative tastings.
Georg is also the majority shareholder and owner of Riedel Glassworks, which holds the Riedel, Nachtmann, Spiegelau brands and subsidiaries, and he continues to overlook his worldwide operations diligently. He considers that he has successfully mastered his life-time dream to hand over to the next generations an independent company, with a highly valued brand name, which over the last 30 years never had to bother a bank for money. And, just as importantly, he is now the proud Grandfather of five grandchildren (12th generation).

Wine Talks

La Forma Del Vino

sabato 21 settembre - Ore 17:00

Palazzo Geremia
Via Rodolfo Belenzani 20, 38122 Trento TN

Evento gratuito

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