I’m really enjoying the upsurge in artistic, yet functional wine accessories. From corkscrews, to decanters, to stemware, form is becoming as important as function. Recently, Patrick Vacanti contacted me with exciting news about his new, innovative wine glass. The Vacanti Spirale wine glass is designed to capture sediment and solids in a specially designed reservoir at the bottom of the glass. If you enjoy aged, unfiltered, or rustic wines, but don’t care for that gritty last sip, this could be the glass of you.
Patrick and his wife spent five years developing this glass. After sending out more than 600 samples out for review and feedback, and two patents, they recently launched sales of the Vacanti Spirale wine glass on Kickstarter, or via the Vacanti Wine Glasses website.
My pair of Vacanti Spirale glasses arrived in an unassuming brown cardboard shipping box. Yet, when I opened that box, I was greeted by a beautiful, burgundy-red package declaring my two wine glasses were waiting inside. Opening this product box, I was impressed to find my glasses tightly nestled in dense foam packing, keeping them safe and secure.
Each glass is hand-crafted, giving them a unique, individual feel. Like an individual bottle of wine, each Vacanti Spirale wine glass is distinctive; similar to others in the batch, but uniquely different. When I lifted the glasses out of their traveling nest, I was amazed at how sturdy and strong they felt. They are quite hefty, thicker than most wine glasses I’ve handled. However, they maintain an elegant flair due to their attractive design.
Beyond the aesthetic appeal, however, is the functionality. We put the Vicanti Spirale wine glasses to the test at a special occasion dinner at home. To accompany our grilled Rib Eye, baked potato (with all the trimmings, of course), and fresh green salad, I opened a bottle I’ve been holding awhile, for just such an occasion: 2007 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley.
Once poured, the red wine makes the Spirale reservoir much more visible at the bottom of the bowl. The design of the glass makes swirling and sniffing a breeze, and efficiently delivers the delightful juice from the glass into the lucky recipient’s palate. As the wine rests in the glass between sips, any sediment in the glass settles to the bottom where it is captured by the swirls in the Spirale reservoir. When the inevitable sadness descends as the wine runs out, rather than ruin that last sip with a mouthful of gritty muck, the sediment remains in the reservoir. Genius!
An excellent addition to the stemware collection for any serious wine-o, the Vicanti Spirale wine glass is as artistic as it is functional. If you enjoy unfiltered or aged wines, but abhor the sediment, pick up a pair of Vicanti Spirale wine glasses and give them a whirl!
* The Vacanti Spirale wine glasses I received were submitted as samples for review. No other compensation was provided. All reviews, comments, and opinions are my own.
Appetite for Wine 