Glasses "SOMMELIERS" - lead crystal, mouth-blown in Austria, 2008
- 4400/33 LOIRE
The search for the perfect Sauvignon Blanc glass has taken Riedel to the four corners of the globe, has involved hundreds of tasters, and has become his largest ever search for the optimum glass shape.
A Riedel "Sauvignon blanc workshop" was held, in December 1997, at the Carmel Winery to illustrate the affects of the glass on wine. There it became apparent that the existing Vinum Sauvignon Blanc glass, while it enhanced the grape variety well, did not outperform the Ouverture white wine glass. This result led Riedel to hold tastings in Australia and New Zealand where the findings were similar, with the same three glasses winning each time. Riedel developed prototypes to incorporate the shapes of the winning trio.
To Riedel's great satisfaction, at workshops in Bordeaux and Austria, the newly developed shapes worked and some of the prototypes outperformed the trio. The new Riedel Sauvignon Blanc glass is suitable for all styles of Sauvignon Blanc, from the grassy, mineral wines of the Loire to the oak-aged, honeyed blends from Bordeaux. The tall, slim glass offers freshness and intensity on the nose, a harmonious palate, with an excellent balance of fruit and acidity, and a minerally finish.
Recommended for: Bordeaux (white), Chenin Blanc, Coulée de Serrant, Fumé Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Graves blanc, Loire (Blanc), Pouilly-Fumé, Sancerre, Sauvignon blanc, Sémillon, Sauvignon-Sémillon, Spätrot-Rotgipfler, Zierfandler.
- 4400/15 RIESLING GRAND CRU
The Riesling grape variety produces some of the finest white wines, in which high acidity is balanced with residual sugar.
Austria saw the dawn of a new era of winemaking in the 1980s. The best crus of Riesling from the sunniest sites were harvested extremely late, yielding grape musts with high sugar levels, concentrated fruit and typical Riesling acidity levels. When fermented to dryness the resulting wine has an alcoholic strength of 13-14%, with 2-4 grams of residual sugar. Fresh acidity and high levels of mineral components can produce an intense wine with wonderful peach aromas.
The wine also ages exceptionally well, with its colour changing slightly to give the typical hue of an aged Riesling. In search of the shape that would best match this new style, Stuart Pigott, a British wine journalist specialising in Riesling, put together a tasting of the finest 1990 vintages from Germany, France and Austria. Riedel sent a selection of glasses for evaluation, suspecting - correctly - that their Chianti Classico (Item No. 400/15) glass might prove ideal. This tasting was subsequently repeated in London, Paris and New York, raising awareness among wine writers of the new Riesling styles. The wines were presented exclusively in this glass, which henceforth also goes under the name of the Sommeliers Riesling Grand Cru.
Recommended for: Alsace Grand Cru, Jurançon Sec, Patrimonio, Riesling (late harvest), Sémillon, Smaragd (late harvest dry), Teroldego, Vouvray.
4400/0 CHABLIS (CHARDONNAY)
Some of the finest and most expensive dry white wines are made from this grape variety, a native of the Burgundy region which is now grown in almost all wine-producing regions worldwide.
In the New World, especially, Chardonnay's popularity stems from its creamy structure, which balances oaky, buttery flavours with low acidity. The variety produces wines of high alcoholic content, often aged in small oak barrels. Winemakers sometimes add tartaric acid to adjust for its low acidity.
The Chardonnay glass is designed so that this low acidity is delivered in a way that sets off the alcohol and rich flavours of the wine, highlighting its velvety, supple texture, emphasising the fruit and ensuring a long, balanced finish. This classic Riedel shape allows young wines to express all their invigorating freshness, while more mature wines are encouraged to deliver the nutty, spicy, mineral flavours so typical of the variety.
Recommended for: Albariño, Bourgogne Aligoté, Bordeaux (white), Burgundy (white), Chablis, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Corton-Charlemagne, Cortese, Hermitage blanc, Marsanne, Meursault, Montagny, Morillon, Pinot (Blanc, Grigio, Gris), Ruländer, St. Joseph (blanc), Sauvignon blanc (Barrique), Sauvignon-Sémillon (Barrique), Vernatsch, Viognier.
- 4400/01 RHEINGAU
This elegant, tulip-shaped glass with a slightly flared top was first developed in the 1960s by Claus Riedel.
It shows off the character of white wines from more northerly regions (Mosel, Rheingau, Franken, Weinviertel) to the best possible advantage. These light, dry wines, combining high acidity with delicate fruit, make for hugely pleasurable drinking when served in this beautifully designed glass.
Its unique 'acidity spoiler' (a gently curved lip around the rim) means that the tip of the tongue unconsciously curves up, so that a stream of wine is delivered straight to the sweetness-sensitive taste receptors that are concentrated there. This has the effect of emphasising the fruit. These young wines are best served cold and have a fine residual 'perlage' (tiny bubbles) resulting from fermentation.
The tip of the tongue is also highly tactile and sensitive to temperature, and detects this 'perlage' as a slight prickle. The glass also helps to integrate the acidity of the wine pleasantly into its characteristic apricot and peach flavours. The delivery ensures that the wine does not come into contact with the sourness-sensitive edges of the tongue, but moves on to the back palate to give a final hint of bitter almonds and a long, balanced finish.
Recommended for: Grüner Veltliner, Orvieto Classico, Pinot (Blanc, Grigio, Gris), Riesling (Kabinett), Roter Veltliner, Ruländer, Scheurebe, Sylvaner, Vernaccia, Welschriesling.
- 4400/07 MONTRACHET
The Montrachet appellation in Burgundy produces the world's finest and costliest dry white wines.
Their centuries-old reputation is based on Chardonnay grown in the unique microclimate and soil of these vineyards and vinified according to classic techniques. These wines are monumentally complex and dense, with high levels of alcohol and moderate acidity. The wide mouth of this generously shaped glass steers the wine mainly to the sourness-sensitive edges of the tongue, ensuring that the acidity is sufficiently emphasised to create a harmonious balance with the luscious fruit of the late-harvest, healthy grapes and the sweet toasty aromas of the wine's ageing in oak barrels.
The size of the bowl allows space for the rich bouquet to develop its superbly diverse range of aromas, while minimising the risk of it becoming over concentrated. Of course, outstanding Chardonnays from other regions and countries can also be enjoyed from this glass.
Recommended for: Burgundy (white), Chardonnay, Corton-Charlemagne, Meursault, Montrachet, Pouilly-Fuissé, St. Aubin.
- 4400/55 SAUTERNES
This glass was originally developed in 1989 in collaboration with Hardy Rodenstock, described by the Wine Spectator as 'the world's most extravagant wine collector'.
It was first issued as a glass for dry white wine as part of Riedel's mouth-blown HR1 collection. Ironically enough, tastings around the world have subsequently shown it to be the ideal glass for Sauternes and sweet wines. The unusual curved design accentuates the apricot aromas typical of wines made from grapes affected by botrytis ('noble rot').
The glass is designed to emphasise acidity, thus balancing the wine's liquorous sweetness and luscious finish. This shape has now been added to our mouth-blown Sommeliers series as the Sauternes and dessert wine glass.
Recommended for: Ausbruch, Auslese, Barsac, Beerenauslese, Eiswein, Jurançon moelleux, Loupiac, Monbazillac, Picolit, Recioto di Soave, Quarts de Chaume, Sauternes, Tokaji, Trockenbeerenauslese, Vins Liquoreux.
- 4400/05 ALSACE
Introduced in 1973 as part of the original Sommeliers series, the Alsace 4400/05 has always been highly regarded by our customers. Today, nearly 30 years later, however, it has become a kind of compromise.
After the development of the Loire 4400/05, which offered a new concept in wine drinking, the Alsace glass was no longer the first choice for main varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer. In Riedel workshops, our glasses are tested again and again by some of the world's best wine experts. Strengths and weaknesses are evaluated through tastings; this enables us to review our glass recommendations - and even change them.
And that is why we still recommend the Alsace 4400/05 for dry, medium-bodied white wines with balanced acidity. The glass' spherical form offers an excellent advantage: allowing the fruit and mineral components of the wine to be fully revealed. The size of the glass optimizes the concentration of fresh aromas.
Recommended for: Aligoté, Chasselas, Chenin Blanc, Cortese, Fumé Blanc, Fendant, Furmint (dry), Gewürztraminer, Gutedel, Kerner, Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet), Muscadet, Müller-Thurgau, Muskateller, Muskat-Ottonel, Neuburger, Palomino (except Sherry), Pinot (Blanc, Grigio, Gris), Recioto di Soave, Ribolla gialla, Rotgipfler, Ruländer, Sancerre, Sauvignon blanc, Soave, Trebbiano, Vin de Savoie (blanc), Zierfandler.
- 4400/28 VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE GLASS
Champagne is the most northerly wine-growing region of France. Its chalky soil and unique climate both contribute to the naturally effervescent white wines for which it is so famous.
It was not until the 19th century that the technique of secondary fermentation in the bottle was finally perfected. The traditional coupe glass was actually developed for the particular style of sweet, bubbly dessert champagne popular at this period, obtained by adding an extra measure of 'dosage' (a mixture of wine and syrup), although fluted glasses were also used to avoid spillage when champagne was served at standing receptions. It was only around 1930 that the now familiar dry style of champagne became established.
Riedel recommends serving dry champagne in flutes, since these best bring out the fine aromas of the high-quality base wines from which it is made. Many wine-lovers unfortunately are quite unaware of this superb bouquet, since champagne is all too often served either in coupes or in glasses that are too small (and thus filled to the brim) - neither of which can convey any aromas at all.
This flute, filled with four ounces of champagne, concentrates the unique, yeasty bouquet of great champagnes, while emphasising their creamy texture on the palate. The bubbles are not allowed to dominate, but are part of the overall pleasure.
Recommended for: Champagne, Cuvée Prestige, Vintage Champagne, Vintage Sparkling Wine, Rosé Champagne.
- 4400/08 CHAMPAGNE GLASS
This classically shaped glass was developed for light, fresh, dry champagnes. It is designed so that the wonderful tingle of delicate bubbles for which champagne is famous is experienced on the tip of the tongue. Recommended for: Cava, Champagne, Prosecco.
4400/88 SPARKLING WINE
Sparkling wine is produced through a secondary fermentation in closed containers. The yeasts change the sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide: The gas does not escape and creates the 'bubbly' liquid.
Recommended for: Champagne Cocktails, Kir, Prosecco, Sekt.