French goldsmith Puiforcat has stepped into the world of wine with a collection crafted in collaboration with the 2004 world’s best sommelier, Enrico Bernardo, and designer Michael Anastassiades.
The Puiforcat “Sommelier” collection.
Wine and metal don’t go together easily. But Enrico Bernardo and Michael Anastassiades have found an innovative way of uniting the two contrasting substances in a new collection of glasses and accessories for Puiforcat. In fact, the Sommelier range brings wine and metal together by keeping them apart, mounting glass recipients on metal bases. Here, the stem of the traditional wine glass has been removed, after Enrico Bernardo observed that many people pick up wine glasses more easily by the base of the bowl rather than the stem.
Puiforcat “Sommelier” decanter.
Puiforcat “Sommelier” red wine glass.
Puiforcat “Sommelier” champagne glass.
The Puiforcat “Sommelier” six-bottle ice bucket.
Each glass has a discreet ridge for a subtle way of measuring the correct quantity of wine to serve. Plus, the vertical angle of attack of the traditional stem glass becomes horizontal here, transporting wine to other regions of the mouth. The glasses have conical-shaped bottoms to slow down the oxidation process. The liqueur glasses have a tulip-shaped neck, preventing the ethers from evaporating, and the dessert wine glasses have a very narrow shape.
The range includes two red wine glasses, two white wine glasses, two dessert wine glasses, two champagne glasses, two liqueur glasses, a water beaker, a decanter, a coaster, a bottle holder, a champagne bucket and a six-bottle ice bucket.
The Puiforcat “Sommelier” decanter. Photos: Puiforcat.
Puiforcat was founded in Paris in 1820 by Émile Puiforcat and his two cousins. Jean Puiforcat, a member of the family’s fourth generation, brought the company to the forefront of contemporary gold- and silver-work. His father, Louis-Victor Puiforcat, had already moved the firm into high-end goldsmithing at the end of the 19th century, by recreating 18th-century masterpieces from his personal collection. These can today be seen in the Louvre museum in Paris, France.
Puiforcat regularly works with renowned designers like Patrick Jouin and Gabrielle Pezzini.
For more information, visit www.puiforcat.com