Crystal Clear
The latest in top-of-the-line stemware
WHEN HAD IN THE RIGHT place and with the right people, wine can make time all the more magical. It is one of those few things in life that can also turn a less-than-pleasant setting into a palatable, even memorable experience. It doesn’t have to be the most sought-after vintage or served in the highest-grade crystal. Whether sipped out of a café tumbler at a trattoria in Tuscany or poured barrel-side in a Sonoma tasting room, wine can be equally delicious. But at home, where the ambience is mine to affect and the pour is in my control, I like to serve my wine in shapely stems—it’s a gesture that’s visually appealing and, as local experts agree, allows the wine to really show itself.
“I’m a fan of Riedel crystal, the Austrian company that produces various shapes to enhance the character of different varietals. Some people scoff at the idea—contending that wine is wine, but I disagree,” says Leon Santoro, winemaker and general manager of Orfila Vineyards, located in the San Pasqual Valley, near Escondido. “To test the importance of the wine container, try the same wine in different-shaped glasses and in different materials: glass, crystal, plastic, paper cup and Styrofoam. You’ll be amazed by the differences—and you may even become a Riedel enthusiast yourself.”
Jesse Rodriguez, wine director at The Grand Del Mar, shares Santoro’s affinity for Riedel. “For everyday use I prefer Riedel Vinum Extreme, as they are the most durable and still allow the wines to showcase their elegance,” he says. “If it is a nice sit-down dinner, I like the Sommelier Series from Riedel. These glasses have a nerve of delicacy, which allows the wine to show its beautiful color, and are designed to allow the specific varietal that it is crafted for to shine in all its varietal type of glory.”
For those of us who don’t have the education of a wine master, starting a stemware collection can be intimidating. If approached with the right attitude, however, it can be fun. Maria Hunt, a San Diego-based food writer and author of the soon-to-be-released book The Bubbly Bar, added to her collection during a trip to northern California.
“Lisa Mori is the glassware designer I love,” says Hunt. “Her flutes have a real architectural yet fluid and graceful style. I bought my favorite pair on a trip to Montecito, and every time I drink out of them it reminds me of the beautiful mountains and ocean there.”
And while it may be the granddad of wineglasses, Riedel isn’t the only maker out there. Spiegelau, Baccarat and even designer William Yeoward have lines worth looking into. To get your collection started, check out the latest from some of the most renowned glassmakers.
BACCARAT
For more than 200 years, Baccarat has illuminated national palaces, royal and presidential residences, sumptuous mansions worldwide, theaters, and French and Latin American cathedrals. Luckily for wine drinkers, the venerable French firm, established in 1764, also designs beautiful glasses. The Oenology Champagne Flute, $175, and Mille Nuits Flutissimo, $210, are two stunning examples of an old-world craft elevated to modern standards. baccarat.com
RIEDEL
The Austrian company that revolutionized the wineglass offers stemware for novices and sommeliers alike. From its mouth-blown, lead-crystal Sommeliers line to the entry-level, machine-made Ouverture series, Riedel has a glass to suit all tastes and drinking styles. The Sommeliers Bordeaux Grand Cru was designed in 1961 and remains a cult classic today. riedel.com
SIMON PEARCE
With the skill of an old-country craftsman, Simon Pearce brings to the home bar a collection of stemware that bridges traditional and contemporary settings. The handblown Stratton Stemware collection features intricate “air twists” captured within the glass. This old technique involves taking a gather of molten glass from the furnace, rolling it and then pinching it with a special tool specifically created by the company’s master glassblowers to create grooves. Additional glass is then gathered over these grooves, actually trapping air inside. The glass is then shaped and twisted, turning each of the air pockets into spirals. The resulting air twist reflects the surrounding light and sometimes appears to be made of silver or mercury. simonpearce.com
SPIEGELAU
Since 1521, Spiegelau has combined hand craftsmanship and innovation with modern glassmaking technologies, resulting in some of the finest crystal around. Today, the company is part of Riedel Glass Works, and produces wineglasses that are certified as “extremely dishwasher safe”—a characteristic achieved by Spiegelau’s Platinum Glass Process, where liquid glass is passed through platinum-lined tubes to eliminate any impurities and remove all imperfections and inconsistencies that might otherwise exist. The Grandissimo is one example of the company’s commitment to excellence. spiegelau.com
WILLIAM YEOWARD
William Yeoward may not have as long a history in stemware as other manufacturers, but this London designer’s style is probably the most traditional. Established in 1995, the firm aspires to revive the golden age of British and Irish crystal, epitomized by engraved glasses such as the one seen here. Fern is a pattern from the mid- to late 19th century, when botanical designs were very popular. In the great houses of England, landowners were competing with each other to grow and propagate plants from cuttings brought back from exploration in exotic places. Fern honors this time period by displaying a pattern of beautifully cut fronds. williamyeowardcrystal.com
Do you like what you read? Purchase Exquisite Weddings Magazine »
