Riedel’s versatile O Series turns 20

Wine glasses don’t need their own stems – Riedel’s “O” series does just fine without them. Now, these multifunctional glasses are celebrating their 20th anniversary.

Glassware company Riedel has always been ahead of the curve: they were the first to design grape-specific wine glasses as early as 1958 and, twenty years ago, they launched their next innovation – a series featuring only the bowl. The stem was removed to create a more modern and relaxed wine-drinking experience, without sacrificing aroma or aesthetics. Named The O Wine Tumbler, it was based on the previous Vinum glasses, with identical bowls.

"Twenty years with Riedel O is not just a milestone for our brand but a revolution in wine culture. Our drinking glasses have become a symbol of modern wine enjoyment," says Maximilian J. Riedel, the eleventh generation of the family to run the company, together with one generation above, Georg J. Riedel.

Today, wine is enjoyed in a variety of settings. The idea behind the O glasses was that they should be functional and accessible, even when you want to enjoy your wine outdoors or on the water. Without the stem, Riedel’s tumblers can handle most environments.

Not only for wine

Originally developed for wine, the O series has seamlessly transitioned into a versatile set of glasses suitable for many different beverages. For example, the Big O Pinot Noir glass has become popular among gin enthusiasts, and many restaurants use the glasses as water tumblers.

Lena Lövenvik in Falun has worked with O glasses for almost 15 years. She is a sommelier and wine importer and previously ran an interior design store: “I have both stemmed and stemless glasses,” she says. “It looks nice when the wine and water glasses have the same bowl.”

After selling the O glasses in her store, they quickly became popular due to their combination of function and form.

“Since I had both an interior design store and an interest in wine, I didn’t just want stylish design glasses. They had to be something more. With Riedel's glasses, you really notice a big difference when drinking different wines.

“Besides, the O glasses are very practical: you can take them anywhere and use them as regular glasses. They are also less fragile and take up less space without the stem.”

Lena confirms that the O glasses are popular among boat and caravan enthusiasts, and she says the fact that the glasses lack a stem has never been met with scepticism: “No, the glasses have the same bowl as the Vinum series. And for the sake of temperature, it doesn’t matter much – you only hold the glass when you lift it to drink.”

Perfect for the outdoors

In an era of climate change and more wind, it’s also possible that O glasses might become an alternative to traditional wine glasses in exposed environments, such as in archipelagos and at higher altitudes.

Back to Pinot Noir, and Riedel’s New World Pinot Noir glass is a great example of how the company works: it was developed in collaboration with producers in Oregon to find a shape that would best enhance sweetness, balance acidity and tone down the alcohol in the wines; the glass has a tulip shape with a slightly flared rim, designed for the fresh and concentrated New World fruit.

This thoughtful approach to design also allows for experimentation. Lena shares that she didn’t like cognac – until she tried it in a cognac glass from Riedel.

“Previously, I thought it just tasted like alcohol. Now I can sit and smell it, and really enjoy it.”

Join these tastings

This fall, Maximilian J. Riedel will visit the Nordics for two glass tastings – on October 8 in Gothenburg and October 10 in Trondheim. Tickets are on sale via Billetto (Gothenburg) and Aftenposten (Trondheim).

And on October 13, Riedel will present the Best By the Glass list at the Star Wine List of the Year Norway event and the Sommelier Day, in Oslo - see link below!