Maximilian Riedel is the 11th generation CEO of Austrian glassware company Riedel.

The company was founded in 1756 and according to Maximilian it is currently facing some of the biggest challenges in its 267-year history.

There’s been the covid pandemic obviously, but more recently, the war in Ukraine, which is hugely concerning for an energy intensive manufacturing business such as Riedel, given its reliance on Russian gas.

In spite of these headwinds, Riedel recorded its most successful year of sales ever in 2022, and Australia was one of the top performing markets.

With Maximilian at the helm over the last decade, Riedel has continued its innovations with glassware for specific grape varieties and occasions, and trending drinks categories like Japanese sake.

Its new range Riedel Veloce has been made using a specially developed machine to create glassware that looks and feels as though it was made by hand, by a master glassmaker.

I sat down with Maximilian while he was in Sydney recently for his first visit in many years.

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