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Caring for your glassware

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Serving, Tasting & Preserving Wine

How to taste wine - The basics » Wine Preservation » How to taste wine like a professional » Why does glass shape matter? » The Art of Decanting » Wine Faults »

You've made the investment into greater wine enjoyment, now don't let care and cleaning stop you from getting pleasure out of your glassware every day! Our simple instructions provide advice on how to wash, dry, polish, and store your crystal products to ensure a long life!

Cleaning Glasses

If washing using dishwasher

  • RIEDEL and ZALTO glasses are dishwasher safe. RIEDEL exclusively recommends MIELE. If using another brand of glass, please check the manufacturers recommendations.
  • To avoid stains: use soft water (low mineral content)
  • To avoid scratches: Avoid glass contact with other glass or metal
  • To remove stains: use white vinegar
  • If available use a stemware rack


If washing by hand

  • Wash the glass under warm water (use detergent and rinse the glass carefully)
  • Glass polishing: Use two polishing cloths, never hold the glass by the base to polish the bowl
  • Stem snap: Occurs through mishandling = torque or bend pressure at the stem
  • Storage: Avoid glass storage in kitchen cabinets which have strong aromas that translates into glass

Microfibre Polishing Cloth

  • Wash at boiling temperature (to kill bacteria) with odorless soap
  • Should be machine washed at min. 170° F/75° C
  • Never use fabric softener when rinsing your microfiber polishing cloth (avoids grease film on surface)

Decanters

If you love wine as much as we do, a great decanter is a must-have. But if you feel it’s too much hassle to clean after use, your decanter might be getting neglected. In this simple guide, we’ll demystify this process so you can use your beloved decanter more often, for wine enjoyment!

So now I've used it, how do I clean it?

  • If you are washing your decanter straight after use, it should only require water. As Jersey's tap water is soft you don't need distilled water as harder water (alkaline) can cause cloudiness. If you do have hard water, we do recommend the use of distilled water
  • Take care not to knock the spout of your decanter on the tap as this can cause chips. If your decanter is too tall for your sink, you can also try your laundry or bath tap! 
  • Avoid using dishwashing soap or detergent inside your piece as it can be very difficult to remove all traces.
  • If you’ve enjoyed a couple of bottles over a dinner party, we recommend rinsing any leftover wine out of your decanter and upending a bottle of carbonated water (such as soda water) into the decanter to sit overnight. Rinse this out in the morning, with a steadier hand!
  • If the design of the piece allows, rest the piece upside down to dry on a tea towel, or rest atop a tea towel over a dish drying rack. The tea towel will help to protect the decanter’s spout from chipping on the rack, while still allowing the decanter to aerate to prevent condensation.
  • If your decanter cannot be stored upside to dry, remove as much water as you can and leave to air dry out of the cupboard. In this instance, the decanter may contain some patches of condensation; before its next use, simply rinse again with some water or, better yet, with a little wine to condition the piece. You could also use a hairdryer - see video below.
  • Use a Microfibre Polishing Cloth to dry and polish reachable areas of the decanter, for a perfect sparkling finish.
Riedel Decanter Balls

What if my decanter has red wine stains in it?

  • If you have not used the decanter in a while or it needs a bit of TLC after frequent use, we recommend purchasing a pot of stainless balls from Dunell's, which are tiny stainless steel beads that remove dirt, residue, sediment, and superficial stains from inside the decanter.
  • Simply fill the vessel with water, add the beads and swirl. When you're finished, carefully empty the beads into a mesh strainer, rinse the pellets well, and dry them. If dried and stored correctly, the beads can be used many times.
  • Please be aware that this product cannot be used in any intricately designed decanters where the balls could potentially get lodged in any crevasses.
  • For persistent red wine stains, fill the decanter with white vinegar and soak until removed, then rinse well and dry as above. For particularly stubborn staining, we recommend using denture cleaning tablets. Dissolve the tablets in water as suggested on the packet, and soak until the stains are gone. Rinse well and dry as above.

Storing your glassware

  • Store your glasses in a closed cupboard, away from your stove and oven, to stop them from picking up cooking smells, or gathering dust or grime between uses. 
  • Store them on their bases to ensure you don't chip the rims as they go in and out of the cupboard.
  • Do not store them in their boxes as they will take on a musty, cardboard smell that will interfere with your wine’s aroma.
  • Do not store them in a temperature or humidity controlled room or cellar as these conditions can affect the brilliance and clarity of the glass.

 

(Article in association with Riedel)