Porcelain and wine – can you do that?
Sommelier Mathias Brandweiner tests and evaluates the GRAND CRU GOLD wine and digestif tumblers from SIEGER by FÜRSTENBERG
"I definitely had preconceptions"
Sommeliers know their trade – their senses are highly tuned, and they are always on the lookout for the latest treat. Just like Mathias Brandweiner. The “Host of the Year, 2019” has already worked with a number of Michelin-starred chefs, most recently as restaurant manager and sommelier at the Ritz-Carlton, Berlin. The Austrian gained international experience in London, for example, where he poured the right wine for the likes of model Naomi Campbell, singer Fergie and Prince William. Recently named one of the top-50 sommeliers at the Rolling Pin Awards, the 27-year-old has been managing his own restaurant, the Hafenküche in Berlin, since the beginning of 2022.
The seasoned expert has now tested the GRAND CRU GOLD wine and digestif tumblers from SIEGER by FÜRSTENBERG. “A drink’s presentation is incredibly significant,” he explains. The question remains: porcelain and wine – can you do that? And if so, what works best in the tumblers?
Mathias Brandweiner on Instagram
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"I always find it cool when people think outside the box, which is why I was immediately determined to try them out."
Material and shape "outside the box"
The GRAND CRU GOLD tumblers are manufactured in three sizes from thin-walled porcelain and 24-carat gold. Thanks to a slightly curved base, they rock gently back and forth during pouring and when touched, only to regain their upright position once again. This gets things moving on the table.
So as to be able to precisely assess the tumblers and identify distinctions, the expert compared them with various glasses for white wine, red wine and Burgundy – and, of course, tested them with a large selection of wines – 25, in fact. What counts, he emphasises, is that you are open to new things. Only in this way can it be an enriching experience. “This is especially true for committed wine drinkers,” he adds with a wink.
"I think that the tumblers are particularly suited to uncomplicated, fun wines. The ones where you open the bottle, drink a glass and then you want to drink the whole bottle because it’s good and straightforward. I also think this really suits the product because it has something playful about it, something pleasurable."
OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE
Won over by the haptics and digestif tumblers
Mathias also found the mouthfeel and haptics especially noteworthy. The tumblers are available with a glazed or matt satin surface. The sommelier is particularly enthusiastic about the matt finish. “It makes a huge difference to the drink because you have the three dimensions of aroma, taste and feel. The senses make you much more present in the moment.”
Furthermore, the sommelier was especially impressed by the digestif tumblers. “Absolutely fantastic,” he says, referring in particular to the virtues of the shape. The tumblers taper conically upwards and narrow significantly here. “This means that the alcohol doesn’t hit your nose immediately,” he explains. Unlike the shape of many other shot glasses, this makes it possible to discern the aromas better.
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