The Characteristics
(Bloomberg Businessweek) -- Since Austrian designer Thomas Zichtl founded MarkThomas in 2012, elite dining destinations have adopted the company’s wine glasses, including Michelin three-starred restaurant El Celler de Can Roca in Spain and Minneapolis’s cozy Bachelor Farmer. The sides of the handblown Allround are only about a half-millimeter thick, making the glass lighter than most. Gently beveled curves near the base of the bowl aren’t merely cosmetic; the design creates a larger surface area to aerate the wine and highlight its flavors.
The Competition
At $70 per glass, the MarkThomas Allround is within range of the top-shelf options from Riedel and Zalto, two other Austrian names that dominate the market. (Spiegelau, another well-known glassmaker, was acquired by Riedel in 2004.) Riedel specializes in specific varietal glasses and has become a wedding registry staple, but its Sommeliers series includes glasses for rare whites and reds that cost three figures. Zalto, like Riedel, has been around for decades. Lately, its $59 Denke’Art Universal glasses have become a status symbol at wine-focused restaurants such as New York’s Charlie Bird and Le Bernardin.
The Case
The glass’s eye-catching design doubles as a functional feature: If you’re a purist, the lower bend marks a precise 6-ounce pour. Despite its lightweight feel, holding one is an easy balancing act; the bigger-than-average base gives you a sense of stability when you set it down. The glass is also lead-free, so it’s dishwasher-safe and won’t cloud with multiple washings. Best of all, the thin walls and maximized surface area give the nose a boost, making the glass ideal for medium-bodied wines, whether French pinot noirs or California chenin blancs. $70
To contact the author of this story: Kate Krader in New York at kkrader@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Gaddy at jgaddy@bloomberg.net, Chris Rovzar
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