Following his internationally award-winning 'Josephine' wine glass collection, glass designer Kurt Josef Zalto is now presenting the second component of his new decanter series: the 'Josephine Brilliant Magnum' decanter.
From a purely visual standpoint, the new handmade decanter is a larger version of the 'Josephine Decanter Brilliant' introduced in summer. Both impress with their minimalist design and filigree structure. From November 4, the 'Brilliant Magnum' decanter will be available in limited quantities exclusively on josephinen.com for 270 USD.
"It is astonishing what an influence form and materials can have on the flow behavior of wines. With this knowledge, the sensory experience can be significantly influenced. The same wine never tastes the same from different glasses," notes Kurt Josef Zalto. "Like the great masters of the Renaissance, I follow the concept of the 'calculated form' in my design approach. I take as much time as I need to develop the shape of an object until the individual radii harmonize perfectly. Ultimately, my goal is always to create a highly functional yet aesthetically pleasing form. I've been working on my decanter series for over two years, and I'm pleased that we'll be able to launch it before the end of the year."
Function before design
Kurt Josef Zalto drew visual inspiration for his decanters from a brilliant cut diamond, which represents what is pure, beautiful, and everlasting. For the Austrian glass designer, however, the sensory aspect comes first and foremost, followed by the language of form. "It is important to me that all the design elements used serve a purpose," says Zalto. "Both decanter variants feature a cone in the base. This ensures optimal aeration of the wine during pouring by means of a spiral-shaped swirl." And this is precisely what a decanter is meant to do: to quickly enrich the wine with oxygen.
Compared to the smaller version, the circumference of the 'Brilliant Magnum' provides a larger surface through which the wine can come into contact with oxygen. In addition, the tip protruding from the liquid allows you to see through the wine and wonderfully perceive its tonal nuances. Accordingly, the Magnum decanter is not only suitable for magnum bottles but especially for wines that benefit from greater exposure to oxygen.
"I enjoy it when a high-quality wine that develops its full potential through aeration is presented in a decanter in a restaurant. There's something festive and ritualistic about that," says the glass designer. "The value of a wine is appropriately honored through the presentation. In this context, it was also important to me that handling be easy for sommeliers. Both decanters lie excellently in hand and demonstrate their balance, especially when pouring. This allows the wine to be served in an effortless and elegant manner."
Passionately handcrafted
All of the Josephinenhutte glasses and decanters are intricately mouth-blown and handcrafted. Four glassblowers and one finisher work expertly over the course of two days to produce a decanter.
"The decanter is a tribute to the value of the glass craft, which my family has now been practicing with great passion for over two hundred years!” states Zalto.
For more information, product samples, or an interview with Kurt Josef Zalto, please contact:
Josephine Collection
Exceptionally light and thin-walled, yet flexible, extremely delicate and yet robust, of generous size, soft and smooth in the hand. The wine glasses are designed by a master of his craft, Kurt Josef Zalto. Each glass is like a sculpture, the result of many years of expert craftsmanship and the perfect combination of form and function. The ratio of height to diameter, the unique contour of the goblet, and the conical base sharply tapering into the stem create the perfect harmony of touch, taste, and smell. A glass that brings out the perfect flavor of wines and its characteristic shape delights both palate and eye.