Maximilian Riedel

Maximilian Josef Riedel, 11th generation glassmaker, is CEO of Riedel Crystal USA. Born in Vienna, Maximilian Riedel joined the family business at the age of 20, training in sales and administration. He introduced Riedel into the Dubai market, and then spent two years in Paris at Riedel and its French importer, Ercuis, where he managed sales and conducted tastings.

In 2001 Maximilian Riedel created his first line of glassware—Riedel Restaurant, exclusively for the on-premise trade -- and in 2004 he introduced the successful, and sometimes-controversial Riedel “O”, the stemless glass series. In 2005, Maximilian introduced a pink “O” glass to benefit breast cancer awareness. This limited edition glass sold out in record time and 15% of the purchase price was donated to Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

Maximilian has designed two decanters—his first was the graceful swan neck Cornetto, which quickly became Riedel’s best selling decanter, followed by the “O” decanter, whose ergonomic design balances effortlessly in the hand and won the prestigious Good Design award presented by the Chicago Atheneaum for outstanding industrial design. His “O” Chardonnay glass was selected for the permanent collection of the Corning Glass Museum. In 2004, Riedel purchased F.X. Nachtmann, a fine German crystal maker, virtually unknown in the U.S. Maximilian then launched Nachtmann’s fine crystal giftware in the U.S. market in 2005. Maximilian Riedel was raised in Kufstein, Austria, where the family business is headquartered. In addition to his native German, Maximilian Riedel speaks English and French fluently. An avid car enthusiast, Maximilian likes nothing better than motoring through the vineyards in a vintage car with friends (and a mechanic in tow) or orchestrating a themed dinner with every detail polished to a fine lustre. His less exotic pursuits include skiing, collecting art and rare watches and of course, tasting wine.