Latest news with #Zalto
WIRED
25-04-2025
- General
- WIRED
The Best Wine Glasses for Every Kind of Wine
Zalto Denk'Art Burgundy Red Wine Glass This is a bit of a misnomer. It's hard to choose a single 'best red wine glass' because there are so, so many different styles and expressions of red wine around the world, and a glass that works well for, say, a brooding traditional Barolo might not be what you want to serve with a bombastic California zinfandel. We could do an entire sub-guide on red wine glasses, but if pressured under duress to pick just one, I'm going to go with a glass that flatters my personal favorite red wine style—all roads lead to Burgundy, and the Zalto Burgundy Glass. Zalto is a household name in the wine stem world, and so popular among wine drinkers that it's been subject over the years to product shortages and competitive distribution paths. Some of that is hype, but when it comes to Zalto's signature Burgundy bowl, I think the product backs it up. The Zalto Burgundy radiates elegance: It's hand-blown, dishwasher safe, and bleeding massive, offering a full 32 ounces of volume—enough to pour out a full bottle of wine if one so desired. This size gives drinkers the ability to effortlessly swirl and sniff away at French pinot noir from the Burgundy region, but it's also quite at home when used for aromatic white wines, such as chardonnay or Grüner Veltliner. There's just something about these glasses—the brand is made in Austria but has roots in the glassmaking traditions of the Veneto, in northern Italy, so perhaps it's a matter of sprezzatura . If you're at a restaurant using these glasses, it's quite like you're in good hands, and at home it elevates one's wine drinking situation to new heights. There are many outstanding red wine glasses on the market, but there is only one Zalto Burgundy Glass. $190 $156 at Amazon (Set of 2) Mark Thomas Double Bend White I was completely unfamiliar with the Mark Thomas line of glassware before researching this feature, and found myself immediately attracted to the entire product line for its unique 'double bend' beveled shaping and sleek, smooth aesthetic. Founded in Austria in 2014, Mark Thomas focuses exclusively on hand-blown lead-free crystal glassware, and its products can be found at a unique collection of bars, restaurants, and leading wine shops, including Red & White Wines (Chicago), Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels (NYC), and Claridge's (London). White wine glasses are another enormously popular and competitive category, and a lot of establishments will actually carry glassware specially purposed for serving white wines in. But this one, wow—it is feather light at just 76 grams, and yet still dishwasher safe. Everything tastes beautiful in the Mark Thomas (try it with mineral water or apricot juice), but there may be no finer glass in the world of enjoying crisp, clean white wines like riesling, sauvignon blanc, and even vintage Champagne. The brand's signature 'double bend' offers a neat trick—one can fill to the rim of the first bend for a sample pour or wine tasting, or to the top of the second bend for a proper glass pour. They're visually appealing and offer an alluring, totally modern profile. This was a total discovery to me, and I'm now fully on Team Mark Thomas for its entire product line—but if you have to pick just one, start here. $134 at Mark Thomas (Set of 2) $141 at Kneen & Co (Set of 2)
Forbes
29-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
This Glass Sold Out In 1 Day: Kurt Zalto On Josephinenhütte's Success
Josephinenhütte's Josephine No. 10 Eau de Vie glass. A single day was all it took for the latest release from Josephinenhütte to disappear from shelves. The Josephine No. 10 Eau de Vie glass, launched in January, exceeded all expectations, selling out within hours. The overwhelming response underscores the demand for precision-engineered glassware and highlights the reputation of the man behind it: Kurt Josef Zalto. Zalto's work has become known for challenging long-held ideals in glassmaking. His designs prioritize sensory experience over convention, an approach that has gained momentum among professionals and casual drinkers alike. 'A wine glass is the last thing between us and the wine,' he says. 'That's why it should feel as effortless and natural as possible so that the experience of the wine itself remains immediate and unfiltered.' 'Balancing tradition and innovation in glassmaking comes from knowing which aspects of tradition to preserve and where innovation can improve the experience,' Zalto says, via Zoom. 'For me, it's about refining, questioning and perfecting the sensory experience.' Zalto's approach also questions the notion that a wine glass is merely a vessel for a liquid. To that effect, the brand's signature design is centered around ultra-thin, mouth-blown crystal with a distinctive bend in the bowl. 'A well-designed glass doesn't just hold wine, it actually shapes how we experience its aromas, structure and balance,' he explains. The Josephine collection, which includes glasses designed for different styles of wine, reflects this philosophy. The brand moves away from strict varietal categories and instead focuses on the sensory profile of a drink. 'The inspiration behind the Josephine collection was simple yet ambitious,' Zalto says. 'It was to create a shape that allows wine to reveal its full complexity and unfold in its purest, most immediate form.' Zalto emphasizes that the brand's designs are not dictated by tradition. Instead, every element is scrutinized and refined. And that distinctive kink in the glass is more than an aesthetic feature. 'It actively enhances aeration, allowing the wine to evolve with every swirl,' Zalto says, describing the glass as 'so delicate that it feels as though you're holding the wine in your hand.' Master glassmaker Kurt Josef Zalto. The creation of each piece is an intensive process. Zalto explains that every design begins with the wine itself. Rather than tailoring glasses to specific grape varieties, he focuses on the interplay of sweetness, acidity, tannins and aromatic complexity. 'Each glass is designed to provide the perfect stage for wines with similar stylistic DNA to unfold,' he says. 'Everything begins with the wine by understanding its attributes, its structure and the fundamental elements that define its character.' The production process is equally demanding. The distinctive design requires a level of skill that only a handful of glassblowers possess. 'The transition from concept to creation is an intricate process that merges artisanal craftsmanship with scientific precision,' Zalto explains. 'Finding artisans who can execute this vision with the necessary precision is extraordinarily difficult.' The Josephine No. 1-4 Tasting Set. The No. 10 glass, developed over 15 months, was especially designed for fruit-forward spirits (like tequila or mezcal). The shape is meant to highlight the subtlety of Eau de Vie—the French term for clear, unaged fruit brandy distilled from fermented fruit. 'Unlike traditional spirits glasses, which often emphasize alcohol burn, No. 10 enhances purity, depth and balance,' Zalto says. The launch of the Josephine No. 10 Eau de Vie glass reaffirmed the demand for high-caliber glassware. Distillers have taken notice, Zalto says, with some now using it during production to evaluate spirits with greater accuracy. That said, even Zalto was taken aback by the rapid sellout. 'We believed in its potential, but selling out within the first few days exceeded all expectations,' he says. Coincidentally, while the global wine market faces some of its most serious headwinds in decades, with some reports indicating stagnation or slight declines in consumption, the drinkware sector continues to expand. The global wine glass market, valued at approximately $1.21 billion in 2024, is projected to grow to $1.44 billion by 2033, according to Business Research Insights, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.92%. Other forecasts for the glass drinkware market are more ambitious, anticipating a growth rate of 11.1% from 2025 to 2030. This divergence suggests that even as wine consumption shifts, demand for high-end glassware remains strong, reinforcing Josephinenhütte's rapid sellout as part of a broader trend toward premium drinking experiences. As Josephinenhütte's reputation continues to grow globally, its approach has resonated beyond collectors and enthusiasts. The company's next steps remain under wraps, but Zalto is clear about his long-term vision. 'I will be continuing to push boundaries further,' he says. 'My focus remains on creating stemware that elevates taste to the next level.'
