I got a Josephinenhutte No. 2 glass last year and was hooked immediately. Now I want more glasses that are similarly thin and lightweight. The No. 2s are expensive, however, so I’m looking for something comparable but less expensive. I’ve found discussions of other “thin” and lightweight glasses - but the comparisons made are to glasses I’ve never tried. Anyone out there know what a J No. 2 feels like and know of a less expensive glass that’s comparable?
I think the shape of those stems are pretty unique. But I find Glasvin’s to be great and at a reasonable price when compared to similar glassware producers.
I’m personally not a fan of the Josephine Hutte glasses simply due to the “bulge” shape of their glass. This isn’t an attack on their quality/customer support/etc, just not for me. However, you will find LOTS of great posts about glassware all over this site including in Commerce Corner and old Berserker Day posts. Some of the best are:
Zaltos, Glassvin, Grassl, Gabriel Glas, Jancis Robinson, and probably a few others I’ve left out.
I have Zalto universals and Grassl Versatiles. I love them both. The Grassl’s are our everyday glass and we use the Zalto’s for special occasions.
Having said that, I am a Chef who is working to open my own restaurant and after lots of looking around and costing out options I bought 3 cases of Spieglau Definitions series. They are clearly Zalto copies. I think they are very good copies, but they are still copies. They were about 1/3 of the price.
I think if you want the Josephine’s, nothing else is quite like them. If you want similar quality, delicacy, lightweight and thinness then Grassl and Zalto are both in the same league, but not significantly less $$. IMHO the only thing that comes close at a considerable discount is the Spieglau Definitions.
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Tough to stay that thin and go down in price. Zalto is closest (Kurt being the guy there too), but you’re not saving much.
Honestly my only knock on the Js is how tough it can be to clean the very bottom.
I don’t have great experience with other glassware, but I’ll echo recommendation for Spiegelau Definition series as an affordable alternative to the big names listed above. A lot of people note they have a special set of stemware for themselves and a set of more durable stemware for company. We just use the Spiegelau Definition Universal and/or Bordeaux glasses for everything. I haven’t seen it in a while, but depending on your location, there have been sales for these at under $25/glass in the US.
My go-to recently has been “Gilt.com.” They currently have the Champagne glass from the Spiegelau Definition series at $39 a pair and good prices on the others in the line. It isn’t free shipping, but they do run promotions periodically on free shipping (for short periods) or payment for unlimited shipment over a period of time. I should note that one package arrived with a broken glass (I think the newer boxes ship with less stuffing inside), and Gilt gave me a credit, which I used to re-order the same item.
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Alec,
I ate at Charlie Bird in NYC last week, they had Speiglau’s that were Zalto knock offs. I suspect they were the Definitions that you mention. I thought they were very nice. I just looked up what the Universals cost ($32/glass) vs. the Glasvin Universals ($40/glass). If I’m running a restaurant, I’m saving the couple of bucks per glass all day long. At home, I’m pretty happy with my GV’s. But that said, I’d be okay with the Speiglau’s too.
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Between tbe Zalto and the Josephinen I would think it’s a matter of taste in style. I have both and enjoy both when we have a small or larger group we use the Josephinen for myself and my wife so we can tell which are our glasses. People put their glass down all over and forget At least I know which is mine. I guess the point I am making is u may have two manufacturers at your disposal Keep the zalto for personal use. They do make a difference with many wines. Select the other for groups The above recommendations have a good QPR look nice and are good for most situations
The Riedel Winewings series has a somewhat comparable shape to the Josephinenhutte glasses. I have no personal experience those glasses, but you might be able to find info here or on their website as to glass thickness, weight, etc.
For quality to price I would go Glasvin every time. Don’t think you can go Kane until, hopefully, next BD (?) but this is for me as close to the Zalto universal as can get. I have both and in some ways like the Glasvin better.
As for the Josephinenjutte No. 2, am a big admirer as well. Just don’t think there is much out there that is similar for less price.
My advice is go on Glasvin site and look around. Then ask David any questions and he will advise you as well as anyone out there!!
And just to add onto the GV plug, there seem to be deals every so often that get you a bit of a price break.
I use both the Josephine and the Sensory. The Sensory is the same price point as the Josephine
I got the Josephine No 3 and while I really like it and use it often, I feel it’s almost too light. I wish it had a heavier base and stem with the same bulb thickness it already comes with. Price was $114 with shipping.
Last Berserker Day I got 2 Grassl 1855 glasses for $116 and IMO it’s a much better weighted base/stem with a super thin bulb, and overall my favorite one (I haven’t tried Zalto or Glasvin),
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That’s very interesting. I was in NY about 10 years ago and Charlie Bird was pretty well known for being a non michelin place that proudly served wine with Zaltos. I think it was part of their brand to be very hip and easy going but still have certain high end touches. Im a bit surprised they switched over given that they seemed to really hang their hat on the Zalto train.
But yea that was pretty much our calculation too. The overall experience with the Spiegelau definitions was 99% of Zalto’s/grassl/etc. And I found them for approx $22 per stem. And given their manufacturing size, I felt confident that they weren’t likely to have the same backlog issues/high demand that have occurred with Zaltos and even Grassl. I personally would have probably preferred Grassl Versatile glasses, but given that they are nearly twice as much and they are currently unavailable anyways, it just wasn’t a hill I was willing to die on.
I personally too will just add that nearly everyone here will come to mention their own glassware, but truthfully most of it is REALLY excellent, but also very similar in price. The Spiegelau’s are HEAD AND SHOULDERS the best choice considering QPR.
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I’m pretty sure that the pandemic changed things for Charlie Bird. I remember going pre-COVID and being blown away when I experienced zaltos for the first time. But over the course of time, they broke, and during the pandemic they were harder to replace. At one point they were all (or mostly) using Josephine Huittes. Now you know you’re going to get a good glass there, but it will most likely not be a zalto. I was talking to the Somm about it when I was there last week and she said she’s new to the gig, but the stemware is now a mish mosh of brands.
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I do remember someone on berserkers explaining that the zaltos are no longer all made in Austria since the sale of the company. Other people have mentioned to me that quality is not the same. I have had mine a long time so I cannot remark to this point. I have very little problem with breakage I hand wash and dry. Drying is important to help keep that dark lip from forming. If the style does not bother one I would opt for tbe Josephine
I think only the Josephinen are hand wash only. I gave up handwashing when we got a Bosch DW. Occasional the rim needs to be “dried”with a damp polishing cloth. There is a buffing machine you buy for the truly obssesive.
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Buffing machine interest. What’s the brand. I think I just got in the habit of washing by hand Gives me something else to do in retirement especial when we have 18 plus glasses. I should have put two dishwashers in the kitchen
Paging @Robert_Dentice re: the wine glass buffing machine.
https://www.cpishine.com/products/stemshine/stemshine-pro-gp5.html
Careful, it comes with a Cali Prop 65 warning.
Guess I am ok in.nevada
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