It was previously the Cigar Room. Now JW Marriott has transformed the space next to its Q88 bar into the Riedel Room, the first such extension for the famed glassmaker. It opened on Monday night with the boss of the 11-generation family business, Maximilian Riedel, in attendance.
'When I was in Hong Kong last, we had discussions with the hotel,' Riedel (pictured) said. 'The smoking ban was coming in and they had to do something else. It all came together very quickly. This whole beautiful room was constructed in less than 12 months. That could never happen in New York.'
When it comes to wine crystals and decanters, Riedel is as high end as it comes. Naturally, it wants a piece of ostentatious Hong Kong. The room will exclusively use its stemware and unique decanters for serving.
Its local agent, Ravi Gidumal of Town House, was enthusiastic in pitching the products.
'These glasses can affect you physiologically,' Gidumal said. 'An LV bag can't do that. It might make you feel good but our glasses can change the way your wine tastes. It's all about aromatics.'
It seems the glasses can heighten the bouquet of a wine for your nose. In running the company, perhaps the New York-based Riedel has also sharpened his other senses. When a canape dish fell and broke, the crystal chief executive quickly noted: 'That's not a Riedel. I can tell. It sounds too heavy.'
