wine glasses

Sexy Stems

by whitney on January 21, 2013

I was given a nice Christmas present that I had yet to test out and thought that a weeknight solo pajama party would be a good time to do it. The present- the Zalto Denk’art Universal Glass, Aldo Sohm edition. The party- putting wine it and drinking it all by myself.

I almost forgot that the wine itself was also a gift! I’ve been on a bit of a Northern Rhone Syrah kick this winter, so I was happy to dig in to this Domaine des Entrefaux Crozes-Hermitage “Les Champs Fourné.” It hit the spot. After the first sip, I realized I needed to eat a hot dog. It just made sense and was really good with the wine. I’m classy like that.

So, the glass. It was a collaborative design between my fav wine glass company, Zalto, and sommelier Aldo Sohm. Aldo is basically a celebrity in the wine world. He is Chef Sommelier at Le Bernardin in New York and was named Best Sommelier in the World in 2008. So, yeah, he knows a thing or two about what a wine glass should be like.

I’ve mentioned my love for Zalto before and how sexy those thin stems are. I mean, am I right or am I right? Just you put one of these in your hand and see if you don’t get turned on. The verdict? I love the glass, naturally. The shape is great for white or red and is just plain beautiful.

PS- that thing the glass is on in the first two pictures? A hand-dyed leather cocktail napkin. Boom! I’ve been holding back a secret for a little while which is that I am launching an online shop called Bottle Stock! We are still a few months away, but consider this a glimpse of things to come. We’ll be selling all kinds of good looking wine and drinks accessories, tools, and gift items. It’s gonna be rad and I can’t wait for the reveal! Stay tuned.

To Stem or Not to Stem

by whitney on October 17, 2012

That is the question. The question I ask myself every time I pour a glass of wine at home. I have simple tumblers, rocks glasses, a variety of Riedel (stemless or not), cute Moroccan sippers and a couple random big swirl-that-red-around kind of glasses. How do I choose?

I think about the wine first. I pretty much take color or bubbles out of the equation. I don’t care. I care more about whether I would classify it as “serious” or “fun.” Then I think about context. Am I alone or with friends? What kind of friends? Drinking with a specific meal or without any food?

THEN I think about how I want to feel when I drink it. This is most important to me. It’s a concept that first entered the realm of my thinking as it pertains to wine and the drinking of it when I worked at CUT about 5 years ago. Wine Director Dana Farner mentioned it to me casually one evening during service and that idea has guided my choices ever since.

When I want to feel fancy, elegant, refined, serious, perhaps even sexy- ya heard? I think Zalto is the way to go. Or would be the way to go if I actually owned any of their stemware. They are a little pricey, but not crazy. This is the thing about Zalto- the actual stems are skinny and delicate. Which kind of turns me on. Let’s get honest people! Just hold one in your hand and you’ll know what I’m talking about. I also LOVE the tulip shape of the actual glass. It gives good swirl.

Christmas present to myself? Great idea.

Photos taken at Leitz, Rheingau, Germany.

Ask Whit: Pimp Cupz

by whitney on August 26, 2012

Q: What’s your preference in wine glasses? Is there anything you love or hate?

A: I’m not too picky about glassware when it comes to wine. Is it in a shape that is conducive to getting liquid from point A (the glass) to point B (my mouth)? Great. I’ll use that. OK- maybe I’m not THAT laid back. But, when I’m out and about and at the mercy of someone else’s wine vessel of choice, I go with the flow. I’ve definitely consumed lots of wine out of clunky Ikea stems and an assortment of colored plastic cups. As well as maroon goblets and the most popular wine glass in American households- ones with winery names etched into the side that were acquired free of charge on a hazy afternoon in a tasting room somewhere.

My favorite glasses are ones that are free from flourish and are clear, as in not tinted. I don’t like trinkets or embellishment, just give me a plain glass that isn’t too heavy or thick, with stem or without.

Except sometimes, I just don’t care. Like this time:

I attended a BBQ this weekend at a friend’s parents house. You can imagine that there were mainly adult fancy things for use in the kitchen and such. When it was time to pop open the pet nat, this was our best option. It actually couldn’t have been more perfect for the wine we were drinking- Domaine La Grange Tiphaine’s Rosa, Rosé, Rosam. It’s pink, it’s flirty, it’s slightly bubbly and it could inspire a wildly successful rap song. Every time I picked up the golden glass, this song started playing in my brain…


 

And I couldn’t hate on the little gold charms adorning the stems, because it actually helped all of us idiots remember which glass was our own. As much as I really hate to admit that. Some things are just meant to be.

Wino Wish List

by whitney on December 10, 2009



I’m a wino and I’ll drink if I want to! And I would prefer to drink out of sculpturally divine glasses, pour from super cool decanters and open bottles with a knuckle ring corkscrew. You heard me. I am making a list and checking it twice, people. I give you (some of) the Brunellos Have More Fun Xmas list…

Bourgeois-Brass-Knuckle-Screw

rainman_vit_0020_liten

mon petit coeur

I would also like this built into the floor of my kitchen…my landlord will thank me later.

glass wood

peek-a-boo

stairway to heaven

And just for kicks….i definitely need this pimped out wine glass/cane to complete my New Year’s Eve look.  2010- watch out!

ringing in the new year

merci didier.