In the world of fine wine, the glass matters as much as the wine itself. In fact, the shape and design of a glass can significantly enhance the sensory wine-tasting experience. Introducing Josephinenhütte, an iconic glassware brand with a deep respect for craftsmanship and tradition. Helmed by sixth-generation glass designer Kurt Zalto, Josephinenhütte has redefined the art of stemware with its JOSEPHINE series, creating artful and highly functional wine glasses that can be found on the tables of some of the world’s best restaurants.
Josephinenhütte’s origins date back to 1842, when it was a Silesian glass factory in Central Europe renowned for its innovative designs. Today, Zalto has breathed new life into the brand, blending centuries of glassmaking tradition with modern aesthetics and cutting-edge functionality. With a mission to enhance the wine-tasting experience, Josephinenhütte’s glasses are meticulously crafted to improve how wine is aerated, presented and enjoyed. In the exclusive interview below, Zalto shares the vision, craftsmanship and artistry behind these remarkable pieces of stemware.
AZF: Please share the story behind the Josephinenhütte brand—
KZ: Josephinenhütte is a brand that is very close to my heart, as it represents a blend of tradition, innovation and a deep respect for craftsmanship. My passion for the art of glassmaking, which forms the foundation of Josephinenhütte, has been with me throughout my life. As a child, I often spent time in my father’s glassworks, and I quickly learned how the design of a wine glass plays a vital role in enhancing the wine-drinking experience. And as a sixth generation glass designer, I always knew I wanted to create a glass that redefines the very idea of what a wine glass could be. I have always had a passion in following my family’s legacy in creating a glass unlike any other. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the glassmaking world for many years, but with Josephinenhütte, we have taken inspiration from the traditions of glassmakers.
Josephinenhütte, established in 1842, was a revered Silesian glass factory known for its innovative designs and exquisite beauty. Widely recognized in Europe and the New World, it stood as a testament to remarkable artistry. However, the company closed down.
Today, along with two friends who share my deep appreciation for authentic craftsmanship, I have had the privilege of bringing the spirit of the former Josephinenhütte back to life. This inspiration led me to introduce a new dimension to glassmaking through my designs, marked by distinctive shapes and functionality. Josephinenhütte’s legacy gave me a platform to do that—one that respects the art of glassmaking, while allowing me the freedom to push the boundaries of form and function.
The Josephinenhütte stemware, particularly the JOSEPHINE series, are the culmination of years of exploration and research. I’ve always believed that a wine glass is more than just a vessel—it is an instrument that has the potential to elevate the experience of wine itself. In designing the JOSEPHINE stemware, I wanted to create something that was not just beautiful to look at but also functionally transformative. I wanted to design a glass that could enhance the taste of wine by allowing it to breathe and develop in a way that was previously not possible with conventional glassware.
The inspiration behind the JOSEPHINE series comes from a deep desire to rethink and redefine what a wine glass can truly be. For years, I’ve been passionate about improving the way wine interacts with the glass. Traditional wine glasses, while beautiful, often limit the full potential of wine’s aromas and flavors. I wanted to create a glass that not only elevates the drinking experience but also feels more natural and intuitive in the hand.
The design is delicate, yet durable. The unique curve in the glass allows the wine to move in a way that promotes aeration, enhancing its complexity. The result is a glass that’s incredibly fine, almost ethereal in its weight, but with a purpose: it creates an entirely new sensory experience. It’s about aligning the form with the natural movement of the wine, so you can almost feel the wine in your hand.
Josephinenhütte is more than a brand—it’s a vision. It’s about creating objects that blend art with purpose. We’re using centuries of glassmaking tradition to craft something truly modern, something that enhances the experience visually and sensorily. It’s a real privilege to be part of this journey, shaping the future of glassware with every piece we create. This blend of heritage and innovation has allowed Josephinenhütte to maintain its esteemed position in the stemware industry, creating timeless pieces that are cherished by wine collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
AZF: Josephinenhütte is renowned for its craftsmanship. What is the meticulous process behind designing the perfect wine glass?
KZ: The beginning of the JOSEPHINE design process is mostly rooted in my personal never-ending quest for perfection. I am constantly fueled by an unshakeable passion for the art of glassmaking and a strong dedication to creating stemware that heightens the pleasure of enjoying wine. Nature plays a pivotal role in inspiring my work. However, a particularly important part of product realization is the special way our products are manufactured.
Making mouth-blown glass is a lengthy process that requires great skill and experience on the part of the glassblower. Firstly, the glass is mixed with its various ingredients. I have a special mixture made for the Josephinenhütte. Then comes the melting process, where the furnace and the glass mixture are heated and cooled to ensure that there are no bubbles or impurities.
While constantly turning the blowpipe, the glassmaker skillfully blows the hot, liquid glass into the two-part beechwood mold. This creates the fine, wafer-thin goblet—the bowl—of the wine glass. The stem is then pulled out of the goblet with tongs and a liquid glass mass is applied, from which the base plate is rotated using special wooden tongs. The glass then goes back into a slightly heated oven so that it can cool down very slowly.
The next day, the finishing of the glass begins. The blasting of the top of the dome, the grinding of the rim and, of course, the polishing of the glass—all of this is done entirely by hand. Any glass that does not meet the highest precision requirements and the defined feather-light weight is melted down again and recycled. Depending on the furnace, four to six glass blowers are involved in the actual glass production process of the JOSEPHINE collection.
Together with our team, from designer to artisans, we share a commitment to excellence and a love for the craft that is reflected in every piece we create. This collective passion preserves a rich tradition and pushes the boundaries of innovation, ensuring that the process is in effect.
AZF: Josephinenhütte glasses are known for enhancing the wine-drinking experience. How does the shape of a glass impact the aromatic profile and taste of wine?
KZ: I learned that understanding the shape of a wine glass plays a crucial role in how the wine interacts with the air, how the aromas are concentrated and how the flavors are perceived on the palate. Wine is a complex liquid, full of volatile compounds that we experience through sight, smell and taste. The glass is an essential tool in maximizing that experience.
At Josephinenhütte, we’ve carefully designed our glasses to optimize these aspects. The unique curvature and the proportions of the bowl are specifically engineered to guide the wine towards the center of the glass in a way that encourages the aromas to rise and concentrate. The size of the opening, the angle of the rim and the overall balance between the bowl and stem are all key factors in how the wine is aerated and presented to the drinker.
In our JOSEPHINE series, for example, the design is deliberately minimalist yet highly functional. The glass is incredibly thin, which allows the wine to come into contact with the air more efficiently. When you swirl the wine, a part of it rises at the edge of the glass, where the curvature causes it to break, then flow back in a spiral motion. This movement introduces a significant amount of oxygen to the wine, enhancing its aromas and allowing it to evolve more fully in the glass.
The spiral effect is subtle, but it’s transformative. It helps release the wine’s bouquet more gently and evenly, ensuring that you’re able to smell and taste all the subtle layers that might otherwise go unnoticed. This is particularly important with wines that are complex or have aging potential. The way the wine is handled by the glass allows it to open up and express itself at its best.
In terms of taste, the delicate thinness of the glass enhances the sensation of the wine, almost as though you’re holding the wine in your hand. This brings a new level of intimacy to the experience, allowing you to connect with the wine more directly, both in terms of taste and tactile sensation. The refined balance of the glass means that the wine is experienced as it was intended by the winemaker, without interference from a thick or overly bulky glass.
Ultimately, the goal of our designs at Josephinenhütte is to create glasses that not only look beautiful but actively enhance the sensory experience of wine which we refer to as The Shape of Taste. We want the glass to be an extension of the wine itself—allowing it to unfold, breathe, and reach its full potential. In doing so, we bring the drinker closer to the essence of the wine, turning each sip into something truly remarkable
AZF: Can you tell us about the artistic elements of your glass designs?
KZ: Visually, I am drawn to simplicity and elegance. I believe that beauty emerges when we strip away the unnecessary, leaving only what is essential. This is why I prefer clean, flowing lines and a minimalistic approach. The glass should be graceful, almost weightless, and not overshadow the wine it holds. The aesthetic choices are deliberate: the thinness of the glass, the gentle curve of the bowl, the slender stem—all designed to create a visual balance that feels natural and harmonious.
In the JOSEPHINE series, for example, the glass is extremely thin—almost wafer-like—yet surprisingly strong. This design allows the glass to interact with the wine in the most subtle ways, offering the drinker a tactile experience that is as much about sensation as it is about sight. The thinness of the glass also enhances its transparency, which not only highlights the clarity and color of the wine but allows the wine itself to take center stage. I want the drinker to be aware of the wine’s beauty even before taking a sip.
In essence, every design choice is a careful balance of aesthetics and functionality. The glass should be visually captivating, drawing you in, but it must also perform in such a way that it enhances the wine, allowing its aromas and flavors to unfold as naturally as possible. This is the artistic philosophy that underpins my work—an ongoing search for a design that is both beautiful and purpose-driven, where every curve and proportion is intentional and serves the experience of the wine itself.
The elegant, almost sculptural bend at the top of the glass serves a very specific function. When you swirl the wine, it rises slightly at the edge and is drawn back in a spiral motion. This movement introduces oxygen to the wine, allowing it to breathe and release its full aromatic profile. The curvature is designed to create this subtle but critical dynamic, combining both form and function. It’s an artistic flourish that also elevates the experience of tasting the wine by ensuring it’s fully oxygenated.
Another key element of the design is the overall proportions of the glass. A carefully shaped bowl not only concentrates the aromas but also directs them toward the nose, allowing the drinker to inhale the full bouquet of the wine. The glass’s balance—between the bowl and stem—feels intuitive and comfortable in the hand, enhancing the overall tactile experience. It should feel as if the glass becomes an extension of your senses.
In addition, I focus on how the glass interacts with light. The transparency and delicacy of the material allow the light to pass through, highlighting the color and clarity of the wine. There’s a visual elegance to this, of course, but there’s also a function in it—how the glass allows you to appreciate the wine’s character even before tasting it.
AZF: How do Josephinenhütte glasses balance durability with the delicate artistry and thinness required for premium wine glasses?
KZ: Balancing durability with the delicate artistry and thinness that define a luxury wine glass is one of the most challenging—and rewarding—aspects of my design process. While it’s true that the beauty of a fine wine glass lies in its lightness and the way it feels almost weightless in the hand, it’s equally important that the glass is robust enough to be practical and functional. At Josephinenhütte, we’ve developed a careful balance between these two qualities—thinness and strength—by using advanced glassblowing techniques and highly skilled artisans.
First, the material we use plays a crucial role. We employ a high-quality, lead-free glass composition that’s incredibly strong yet allows for the creation of thin, almost translucent walls. This material gives the glass a certain resilience, so it doesn’t easily crack or shatter, despite its delicate appearance. The strength of the glass comes from the way it’s crafted. The skill of the glassmaker is central to ensuring that each piece retains its lightness while still being structurally sound.
In terms of technique, our glasses are mouth-blown and hand-finished by highly skilled artisans. This means that we can control the thickness and shape of each glass with great precision. The thinness of the glass is not the result of a compromise in durability, but rather a sign of the careful craftsmanship that goes into every piece. We ensure that the walls are uniformly thin, which distributes the glass’s strength evenly, avoiding any weak spots. It’s this expertise that allows us to create glasses that feel delicate yet perform exceptionally well.
The key is in the balance of proportions. The bowl is delicately shaped, yet its curvature and the way the rim is crafted help maintain its structural integrity. The thinness of the glass amplifies the sensation of holding the wine, but the craftsmanship ensures that it can withstand the handling it will naturally go through—whether that’s gentle swirling or the occasional bump.
Finally, we approach durability with a long-term perspective. The way we produce the glass allows it to be surprisingly resistant to wear. Even with extended use, the clarity, thinness and overall appearance of the glass remain pristine, maintaining its beauty and functionality over time. The delicate nature of the glass is balanced with an enduring strength that ensures the glass can continue to perform beautifully for years to come.
AZF: What advice would you give someone just starting to explore wine about selecting the right glass to complement different wines?
KZ: If you’re just starting to explore wine, choosing the right glass can seem like a small detail, but it actually plays a significant role in enhancing your experience. For beginners, I always recommend starting with an all-purpose wine glass. Our JOSEPHINE No 2 Universal glass has a slightly tapered bowl that works well for most types of wine—whether red, white or rosé. It helps concentrate the aromas and allows the wine to breathe without being too specific for one style.
Additionally, it’s important to ensure that glass is transparent—it’s crucial. A glass that’s crystal clear (without any decoration or thickness in the bowl) is best because it allows you to fully appreciate the color and clarity of the wine. It also helps you connect with the visual aspect of wine, which is a big part of the overall experience.
Ultimately, the right glass will elevate your experience, but don’t overthink it. As you try different wines, you will begin to appreciate the subtle differences between glass shapes and materials. Start with a few key types and experiment with how they influence the aroma and taste. Trust your senses and let the glass become a part of your personal wine journey.
While a wine glass is just one element of enjoying wine, it can enhance your enjoyment by allowing the wine to express its full character. Start with a versatile, well-crafted glass, and as you explore more, pay attention to how the shape and design influence what you taste and smell. And most importantly, enjoy the journey of discovery—each wine and glass pairing will reveal something new!
Learn more at josephinen.com.
Photos courtesy Josephinenhütte
