Riedel Sommeliers Cognac XO 4400/70 - 1 pcs.

A single glass, hand-blown and light as a thought in the palm. Some glasses are made to drink from, others to teach you the scent of what you are about to drink. Sommeliers Cognac XO belongs to the second kind.

Expert's Description

Riedel Sommeliers Cognac XO 4400/70 is a hand-blown cognac glass in crystal from the Austrian glass house Riedel, with a capacity of 170 ccm and a height of 165 mm.

Sommeliers was Riedel's first true glass series and the world's first collection designed around how individual wines and spirits behave in the glass. Behind the series stood Claus Josef Riedel, ninth generation of the glassblowing family, who began experimenting in the 1950s with how the shape of a bowl shifts the flavour on the tongue.

Unlike the machine-made Vinum glass, every Sommeliers glass is hand-blown by a glassblower, giving a thinner, lighter bowl and a more delicate rim. For XO cognac, the shape is smaller and more closed than the wide Vinum glass – precisely because an aged, concentrated cognac needs to be poured in smaller measures and kept close to the nose without becoming overwhelming.

The glass is built for the heavier, more complex cognac styles – XO, Napoléon and Hors d’Age – where long cask ageing has given the spirit enough depth that a concentrated glass draws it out rather than drowning it.

Specifications

Name: Riedel Sommeliers Cognac XO 4400/70
Producer: Riedel
Country: Austria
Type: Cognac glass (XO)
Material: Hand-blown crystal
Capacity: 170 ccm
Quantity: 1 pc.
Height: 165 mm

Did You Know?

The Sommeliers series is considered the world's first glass collection where every single glass was designed for one specific wine or spirit rather than being all-purpose – an idea so new at the time that it founded an entirely new branch of the glass industry.

Frequently Asked Questions About Riedel Sommeliers Cognac XO 4400/70 - 1 pc.

Why is the Sommeliers Cognac XO glass smaller than other cognac glasses?

An older, more concentrated XO cognac needs less air and a tighter bowl, so the aromas stay gathered instead of spreading out and becoming overwhelming.

Can the glass also be used for VS or VSOP cognac?

Yes, but the shape truly comes into its own with older, more complex bottlings, where long cask ageing has given extra depth to explore.

How should a hand-blown Riedel glass be cleaned?

Hand-washing in lukewarm water without heavily scented soap is recommended, since thin crystal is more fragile than machine-made glass and can easily be damaged in a dishwasher.

Does the glass make a good gift for an experienced cognac collector?

A hand-blown Sommeliers glass is exactly the kind of detail a collector of older cognac would often invest in themselves, which makes it a fitting gift.

What is the difference between the Sommeliers and Vinum series from Riedel?

Sommeliers glasses are hand-blown by glassblowers and have a thinner rim, while Vinum is machine-made and therefore more robust in everyday use.