Josephinenhütte receives the gold award at the International Design Awards 2022 (IDA) in Los Angeles. The Josephine collection consisting of four hand-blown wine glasses was awarded gold in the category of “Home Interior Products/Tabletop”.
“Driven by a vision to find the ultimate shape, Kurt Josef Zalto invested years to develop a new glass form,” reads the award description. “The Josephine is a handcrafted wine glass that is equally compelling both visually and sensorial. The unique design of this lightweight glass features a distinctive bend that allows the wine to release its flavors quickly and intensely.”
This year marks the 16th edition of the International Design Awards. Members of the IDA jury included renowned architects, journalists, entrepreneurs, creative directors, and interior and fashion designers from around the world. They judged submissions from nearly 80 countries in five disciplines: Architecture, Interior, Product, Graphic, and Fashion Design. Criteria such as degree of innovation, aesthetics, and functionality were used as a basis. “I find the ‘impact’ evaluation criteria particularly noteworthy—this is about the benefits that a user or society experiences from the design being evaluated,” says Marcus Meyer, managing director of Josephinenhütte. “Kurt Josef Zalto's designs focus on functionality first, in order to give the wine lover the best possible enjoyment experience. The impact that our glasses are having on the world of wine enjoyment never ceases to overwhelm me. The feedback from winemakers, sommeliers, restaurateurs, and wine lovers is fantastic.”
Kurt Josef Zalto is considered one of the most important glass designers of our time. His “Josephine” collection has won numerous awards over the past twelve months, including the “Iconic Award,” the “Red Dot Award,” the “GQ Home Award” and the “House Beautiful Award.” “We live in an insanely fast-paced world,” says Kurt Josef Zalto. “But high standards take time, especially when it comes to wine. I am grateful that I had the luxury of being able to take this time to develop the Josephine design, and I have succeeded in creating my masterpiece.”
For more information about the Josephine collection, product samples, high-resolution photos, 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.