Winemaster

discover the true taste

www.dartington.co.uk

with Joe Wadsack

Dartington Crystal Torrington Devon EX38 7AN England
t 01805 626262 f 01805 626263 e info@dartington.co.uk
professional wine consultant
 contents Winemaster an introduction with joe wadsack

To enhance your enjoyment and understanding of wine, Dartington Crystal created

The Wine Master collection. Each individual glass is designed for a specific style Joe Wadsack won the coveted International Wine
or variety of wine to enhance the tasting experience.
and Spirit Communicator of the Year Award in 2005.
These benefits have been recognised and endorsed by Joe Wadsack one of Having first studied wine making in Bordeaux, he
todays leading professional wine tasters and presenters. We hope this booklet spent several years working as a wine buyer and
will help you get the most from your glasses and the wine you enjoy in them.
expert consultant for several leading retail chains
before embarking on his own broadcasting and
An introduction with Joe Wadsack 1 writing career.
What makes a good glass 2
How to taste 3
Taste The basics 4 Joes enthusiasm for wine is truly infectious and his straight talking
Buying, Storing & Serving 5 style made him an ideal choice as the Dartington consultant for
Wine Master and other wine related glassware. He also has a great
The Collection palate, this enabled him to become the youngest ever International
White Wine 6 Senior Wine Judge at The Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
Chardonnay 7
Burgundy 8 Having talked to wine enthusiasts and tasted wines all over the
Champagne 9 world I am very aware of how a well made glass can really bring
Grand Cru 10
the aromas and tastes of wine alive. There are many alternatives
Shiraz 11
12 out there but I feel that Wine Master offers everything I want in a
Merlot
Bordeaux 13 wine glass for my home. With enough variety to do the job, each
Chefs Taster 14 chosen shape has been tailored to enhance your drinking pleasure.
Ros 15 A wine glass should be a thing of ultimate function, balanced and
Wine Cooler 16 beauty. The Wine Master range has all of these things, and I am
Carafe 17 delighted to help explain what they do and how they work.
Brandy 18
Port 19
Sherry 20
Dessert Wine 21
Water Glass 22
Caring for your crystal 23
Solo wine tumblers 24

Tasting Notes 26
1
 what makes a good wine glass?
Discovering the true flavour and character of any wine starts with a good glass.
Experts agree that Wine Master glasses have everything it takes to deliver the best tasting experience!
how to taste

A fine smooth rim lets

the wine flow easily onto the
lips and tongue to enhance
tasting experience. Fine pure crystal allows
the wines true colour and
condition to be clearly
seen and appreciated.

Bowl shapes specifically

designed (for shape,
proportions and capacity) Wine is part of everyday life. Look You should be hit by a range of amazing
Pour the wine into the glass so that it is a smells a wine can have. Any unpleasant
that work in harmony with Get bogged down in the
third full and tilt it against a light background smells usually means youre not likely to enjoy
the characterstics of the so-called mystique and youll so you can see the range of colours in the drinking it. The nice aromas are good clues
style of wine that the glass probably miss the point. Its up wine. Look at the rim of the liquid not the to the flavours in the wine. Remembering the
to you what you think of a wine middle. It should be clear and bright and not different flavours and smells will help you
is matched to. cloudy or hazy. The appearance of the wine compare different wines.
- no one is right or wrong will tell you about the likely flavour, weight
Tall elegant stems allow in deciding what a wine tastes and age. Wine from very sunny climates tend Slurp
the glass to be held without like. Take a little time to pay to have rich vibrant colours. As a wine ages, Now you are ready to taste. Make sure you
attention to what youre tasting whites gather deeper golden hues which can take a decent slurp into your mouth enough
warming or obscuring also indicate oaky or sweet flavours. Young to properly coat the tongue and all areas of
Balance the subtle the liquid. and I will guarantee you will reds often have a purple tinge which darkens the mouth. Swirl and chew the liquid around
combination of foot, enjoy your wine more. to brick red with age. your mouth and then suck some air through
the wine before you swallow it. This sipping
stem and bowl that Swirl and Sniff and slurping ensures the wines flavours
always feels good to Its important to give the wine in the glass reach all the various taste sensors in the
handle with differing a good old swirl to help release its aroma. mouth.While this is all going on, think about
Then stick your nose into the glass close to the taste and textures you are picking up.
amounts of wine. the liquid and take one or more good sniffs. Then you can make the final decision did
you like it or not?
2 3

Acidity
A natural part of any grape juice; the acids in
red wine provide bite and give whites their
tangy freshness. There are dozens of different
kinds of acids and their resulting taste
sensations. The sensors that detect acids are
at the side of the tongue. A lack of acidity can
make a wine too soft or flabby.
Sweetness
Where there is fruit there is always sugar.
Sweeter fruit flavours are detected on the tip
of the tongue and, just like acids, there are lots
of them. Fruit flavours are often used in
describing how a wine tastes lemon,
gooseberry or apples in whites; blackcurrant
and blackberry for reds. The balance of fruit
and acidity is the backbone to a wines structure
and taste.
Alcohol
The degree to which the sugar has been
converted to alcohol during the wine making
will affect the level of alcohol present. Alcohol
influences the aromas and flavours detected
and is usually linked to the richness or power
that a wine has.
Other Flavours
While acid, fruit and alcohol are distinct flavours,
there are many other sensations from the wine
and its production process. Bitter tannins from
the grape skins and stems, or the oak barrels
used in storing are just some of the factors that
can add elements of flavour.
4 5
taste the basics
Wine is a very simple and natural product. Although
the taste characteristics of wine can be very varied
and complex, the basic elements that make a wine
taste how it tastes are the same. The only thing that
varies is the balance of these elements due to different
grapes, growing regions and production methods.
buying, storing & serving
In order to maximise
your enjoyment of wine
drinking, its worth
learning a few important
tips to ensure that the
wine arrives in the glass
in top condition.
Buying
Firstly, you should make sure that the bottle is in good condition
and, where possible, that it has been stored in reasonable
condition prior to your purchase. It shouldnt have any signs of
leakage around the neck, nor should the wine level fall below the
capsule when the bottle is placed upright. Dented screwcaps
are to be avoided too. If you are buying the wine to keep for a
reasonable amount of time (more than a year), then ask if there
is any of the wine stored elsewhere, where the wine hasnt been
subjected to bright lights and temperature variation. These two
things along with vibration and very low humidity cause the most
damage to wine in storage.
Storing
If you have checked that the wine is in good condition, then
ensure that it continues to be kept in the correct environment.
Do NOT put it in a rack in the kitchen. This is the worst possible
place for wine storage. Extremes of temperature, noise, humidity,
and light variation all happen in the kitchen on a daily basis. The
clichd cupboard under the stairs is actually the next best place
to a proper cellar, as long as it is radiator free and the wine is
out of the light.
Serving
White wine is often served too cold. With the exception of dessert
wine and fizz, white wine should be served at a temperature
slightly warmer than a typical refridgerator. I remove the wine
from the fridge where it should have been placed at least a few
hours before. I then remove the closure and leave it on the side
for 5 minutes. This seems to help the aroma of the wine.
For red wines, it pays to own a decent carafe or decanter. Most
wines will benefit from being aired in one for between 5 minutes
and half an hour, depending on how young and intense the wine
is. Few wines throw a sediment these days unless the wine has
significant age, like a port for example. It is essential to have a
decanter for those occasions too. Merely pulling the cork from
a wine and letting it breathe is not enough. In fact wine breathes
better if poured into the glass ten minutes before drinking, if a
decanter is not available.
I decant youthful top end oaked whites too. There is no reason
why whites shouldnt benefit from decanting as much as reds.
Red wines should be served one or two degrees cooler than the
temperature of the room. Red wine that is too warm is possibly
the biggest wine sin of all.
 white wine
An all-purpose white wine glass
designed to accentuate the elegant
focused aromas, and fresh incisive
flavours of crisp unoaked white wines.
Grape varieties that work particularly
well in this glass are Sauvignon Blanc,
Riesling, in both its dry and sweet forms,
and other cool climate whites, such as
Soave or Pinot Grigio.
The tall bowl helps to accentuate the
lighter, more fruity and floral aromas,
while the elegantly curved lip heightens
the perception of acidity and freshness
in the wine.
Height Capacity
215mm 35cl
6 7
chardonnay
The perfect glass from which to enjoy
the worlds most popular grape variety.
In truth, it works particularly well on all
rich, creamy whites that have had some
barrel fermentation or oak treatment
Although New World Chardonnay is by
far and away the most popular example
of this style, many other commonly
oaked varieties would benefit from being
served in this wonderful glass.
Tasting is improved through its shorter
bowl shape. By reducing the distance
of the drinkers nose to the liquid, while
still having sufficient volume for the
wines vapours to mingle, it helps
integrate all the wines fruity aromas
with the spicy characters of the oak.
The wide lip also gives the impression
of softening the wine, reducing its acidic
characters. Other successful matches
with this glass include Viognier, Semillon,
Gewrztraminer and Rhne-styled
white wines.
Height Capacity
190mm 40cl
 burgundy
The Burgundy glass, for those lovers
of this style, is a most important glass
to own.
Drinking great Pinot Noir from anywhere
in the world out of an unsuitable glass
will result in missing out on many of the
more subtle aromatic nuances and
textural pleasures of this truly great wine
style. The large, wide bowl is essential
to allow the complex aromas of the
wine to harmonise.
A wide lip also helps to rein in the
typically high acidity and to accentuate
the creamy texture of the wine. Italian
red wine lovers will need this glass too,
if the great reds of Piemonte, namely
Barolo and Barbaresco, rate high on
the list. Nebbiolo, the grape variety
responsible for these great red wines,
is similar in many ways to Pinot Noir
and hence needs a similar glass.
Height Capacity
230mm 65cl
8 9
champagne
Champagne and sparkling wines vary
greatly in style. Therefore, the
communication of the sensory qualities
needs to be as neutral as possible so
that the glass does not favour one style
of champagne over another.
This classic flute is modelled on an
elongated professional tasting glass,
so that it displays all of the wines facets
to the full. The fine crystal bowl shows
off the visual fireworks that a glass of
champagne provides, and a narrow lip
helps keep the thread of bubbles flowing.
A long slender stem makes this perfectly
balanced glass a delight to hold and
keeps warm hands well away from
the wine.
Height Capacity
235mm 20cl
 grand cru
The Grand Cru is designed with the fine
wine enthusiast in mind.
The extra large bowl and carefully
shaped lip were specifically created
to improve the characteristics of mature
fine wines. Whether it is a classic
classed-growth Bordeaux or a fully
mature Reserva Rioja, this stem allows
the full complexity of the wine to sing.
The flared lip delivers the wine to the
sides of the tongue, which promotes
a gentle rounding of the often slightly
attenuated and lean finish of mature
red wine.
The Grand Cru allows fine wine to
be enjoyed on its own, or with food.
They are the true hi-fi of the wine
glass world articulating every nuance
of fine wine. A must have for lovers
of aged wine.
Height Capacity
250mm 83cl
10
shiraz
Designed specifically to enhance the
sensory qualities of the worlds most
popular red grape variety, the Shiraz glass
is a pleasure to use.
Shiraz, or Syrah as it is also known, has
qualities that do not vary, irrespective of
where it is grown. Whether a humble cool
climate Syrah from South of France or a
sought-after blockbuster Shiraz from the
McLaren Vale in Australia, they all share
similar traits. Namely, a pure fresh briar
fruit quality which is accentuated by the
tall bowl, and soft fruity texture that is
enhanced by the narrower lip design.
By bringing the fruit forward in the wine,
fine Syrah and Shiraz alike can be enjoyed
slightly younger if served in this glass.
Other wines that work well in this stem
include the fashionable Mourvdre variety,
Malbec (the national variety of Argentina),
and the often tough variety Pinotage from
South Africa.
Height Capacity
240mm 55cl
11
 merlot
The Merlot glass was created to match
the popularity of this widely grown grape
variety. The Merlot based wines of
California and Chile, and increasingly
the rest of the New World, are quite
different in structure to the classic Merlot
dominant wines of France and Italy.
New World Merlot tends to be higher
in alcohol, and lower in acidity than its
classic European counterparts, and
justifies its own unique glass design.
The bowl shape helps release the warm
aromatic tones of the wine, while the
sharply tapered lip increases the
impression of freshness and youth in
the wine, making the most of the acidity
in the wine and improving its balance.
During tasting trials, we discovered that
this glass works superbly with Iberian
wines based on the Tempranillo grape,
plus Southern Rhne reds made from
Grenache. So fans of Rioja or
Chteauneuf du Pape will also
appreciate using this glass.
Height Capacity
205mm 51cl
12
bordeaux
Within the Wine Master collection the
Bordeaux glass is perhaps the hardest
working. It has to be able to enhance the
qualities from a blend of many different
grape varieties simultaneously.
In effect, this particular stem will work for
any Cabernet Sauvignon of Cabernet
Franc dominant wine or blend; from the
red wines of the Loire, to the Cabernet
Shiraz of South Australia.
Cabernet has a degree of firmness and
structure that requires plenty of aeration,
while providing one of the most haunting
and subtle aromas that the wine world
has to offer. The moderately tall bowl
focuses the classic black fruit aromas of
Cabernet, while the straight, wide rim
helps to soften the typically rigid tannins
of the variety.
Tuscan wines, such as Chianti and
Brunello di Montalcino, also excel with
this glass. A very good all-round dinner
stem, and possibly the most versatile of
the Wine Master range.
Height Capacity
235mm 60cl
13
chefs taster
For the serious wine enthusiast, or, like
me, the tasting professional, there is a
strong need for an extremely analytical
glass that shows all facets of all wines -
warts and all.
There are several reasons for this.
Most importantly, before committing to
purchasing several bottles of wine, a
good tasting glass will give a frank
appraisal of the wine, and will highlight
any faults that the wine may have.
Secondly, if you are serious about learning
wine you will need a set of tasting glasses
that most clearly demonstrate the
differences between one wine and
another, to give you that all important
edge in blind wine tastings. It is this glass,
the Wine Master Chefs Taster that
convinced me not only of the quality of
Dartington Crystal, but the functional
performance of the glasses. This is the
only tasting glass that I now use in
analytical assessments of both red and
white wines submitted to me from
all over the world, every working day of
my life.
Height Capacity
210mm 38cl
14
ros
The fastest growing category of wine
drinker is the Ros enthusiast.
About time too! The worlds best Ross
are not only some of the finest wines
with or without food, but they also offer
some of the most extraordinary value
for money available today. The great
Ross of Southern France and Northern
Spain rarely cost much more than a
regular bottle of branded Australian
Shiraz.
The off dry Ross of California and the
dry but richly fruity Ross of Australia
will also benefit from this cleverly
designed glass. A slightly smaller bowl
capacity concentrates the subtle
flavours but is still large enough to enjoy
and swirl the wine to gain maximum
aroma. The splayed lip also accentuates
the rich mineral texture of Frances finest
Ross, while intensifying the fruit
character of New World examples.
As the latest introduction to the
collection I am sure it will be a successful
addition to the Wine Master family.
Height Capacity
175mm 24cl
15
 wine cooler
This generously proportioned wine
cooler is designed to surround the bottle
with ice and water to ensure wine is
kept cool before and during the
enjoyment of it.
The design incorporates two lips, which
make for easy carrying and emptying.
Serving Tips
The best way to cool wine is to put
them in ice and water (for some reason
people often forget the water) for ten
minutes. The cooler is a perfect vessel
for this. To warm them, tepid water will
be just as effective.
Avoid serving red wines too warm (at
centrally heated room temperature,
some very classy wines can taste like
alcoholic soup) and dont over-chill dry
whites; youll hide their flavour
Height
215mm
16
carafe
This elegant yet simple carafe is designed
to serve all types of wine from young to
old. The dimple base helps aeration and
provides a useful handhold when pouring.
Its bulbous profile allows a standard size
bottle of wine to breathe properly before
serving, whilst the long crystal neck
ensures the wine is poured smoothly and
cleanly into the glass.
Decanting
Almost any still wine will benefit from
decanting. As a rule, the wines which are
most likely to benefit are young reds and
older, tougher wines. A young wine will
improve from the extra aeration from
decanting, whilst any deposits in an older
wine will be eliminated.
Always decant wine one to four hours
prior to serving depending on its origin
and age. First remove the capsule and
wipe the neck with a cloth, then remove
the cork and wipe again with a cloth.
Finally pour the wine into the carafe.
Height Capacity
270mm 75cl
17
 brandy
The deep bowl and flat base of this
classic glass enables the spirit to be
swirled and warmed in the hands to
release its bouquet and brings alive the
complex aromas and flavours of all
kinds of brandy from fine old Cognac
to Armagnac, Marc de Bourgogne and
Calvados, not to mention the brandies
produced outside France in the
countries ranging from Spain to
Australia. It will also bring out the best
in a fine malt whisky if one is served as
an alternative to brandy at the end of
a meal.
There is a tradition whereby the measure
of brandy is judged by pouring the spirit
into the glass while it is laying on its
side. When the liquid reaches the rim,
the measure is deemed sufficiently
generous. The generosity of this glass
is such that many hosts may prefer to
pour rather less or better still, allow their
guests to serve themselves.
Height Capacity
165mm 82cl
18
port
The Port glass brings alive the complex
plummy-spicy flavours of Vintage and
Tawny Ports. Both bottle aged Vintage
port and wood-aged Tawny varieties
exhibit intensely rich but subtly different
flavours.
While it is usual to serve port in smaller
glasses, this Wine Master stem allows
a generous amount to be poured and
then for the wine to be properly nosed
and appreciated.
Tannic Vintage Port will benefit from
being served rather warmer than Tawny,
which has lost its tannin during the long
period spent in the barrel. Any port that
is well aged will have thrown a heavy
sediment. It is important therefore to
decant them carefully before serving.
Unfortunately once opened port rarely
keeps. To enjoy it at its best your port
should be finished up within two or
three weeks.
Height Capacity
160mm 16cl
19
 sherry
Sherry is only truly made in Andalucia
in Southern Spain and there is a wide
variety to explore.
This generous modern, yet classic glass
is conceived to compliment the wide
range of flavours to be found in dry and
drier fortified wine. Recalling the
traditional Copita glass used in Jerez,
it will bring out the refreshingly savoury
flavour of Fino sherry, the salty tang of
Manzanilla and the nutty, raisiny
character of old Amontillado and dry
Oloroso. Similarly, it will be ideal for a
steely dry Sercial Madeira or the slightly
softer, more lime-and-orange-peel-taste
of Verdelho.
The pale styles, both dry and sweet are
best served lightly chilled. Once opened
most sherry will not keep more than a
week or two, so if you are unable to
finish a full bottle in a fortnight, try to
buy a half.
Height Capacity
190mm 14cl
20
dessert wine
The Dessert Wine glass has been
designed to release the complex intensity
and luscious flavours of wines such as
Sauternes and Barsac, Vouvray Moelleux
from the Loire; Auslese, Beerenauslese
and Trockenbeerenauslese wines from
Germany and the intense late harvest
and ice wines from Austria and Canada.
Dessert wines, as their name suggests,
are more usually served at the end of a
meal, but there is no reason to be
hidebound by this convention.
Sauternes, for example is traditionally
enjoyed in France both with Foie Gras
and with Roquefort cheese. Elsewhere,
it and other similar late harvest wines
are similarly delicious with any blue
cheese, from Gorgonzola to Stilton.
Dessert wines are also delicious sipped
by themselves as an aperitif or instead
of a liqueur. When serving them with
dessert, bear in mind that the fruitiest
wines the Rieslings and the Muscats
will go best with fruit based dishes, while
creamier puddings will particularly suit
the less overtly fruity style of Sauternes
and Vouvray.
Height Capacity
180mm 26cl
21
 water glass
Like wine, water deserves to be drunk
from a glass fit for the purpose. Fine crystal
enhances the purity and clarity of still or
sparkling water, and the classic lines of
caring for your crystal
this footed glass look good too.

Water is a useful cleanser of the palate

when wine tasting, and is a refreshing
compliment to wine with a meal. So with
an appreciation of wine comes a natural
appreciation of water!
Wash crystal using warm water and a soft
A French connoisseur once defined the cloth. Rinse with clear warm water.
difference between the two liquids by
saying that water was what he drank when Dry with a soft cloth holding glasses by
he didnt want to be distracted by flavour. the bowl. Avoid twisting stems during
washing and drying.

Stand or store stemware right side up

to avoid damage to rims.

For dishwasher cleaning use a low

temperature cycle and a quality brand
of detergent.

Height Capacity
150mm 30cl

22 23
solo wine tumblers
Can a glass without a stem still be good
for wine? Well if the glass is carefully
designed and well made then why not?
Tumblers have always been a practical
and popular choice for drinking and by
shaping them to complement our
favourite wines, Dartington now offers
a new and original tasting experience.

The shape and proportion of the glass

bowl is the main element that enhances
any tasting. Solo wine tumblers use the
same classic bowl shapes as Wine
Master, but exchange the elegance of
a foot and stem, for the practicality and
versatility of tumblers.

The special concave bump in the base

of Solo tumblers even lets the glass sit
in the hand for swirling and tasting
without over-warming. They easily fit
into the dishwasher and take up less
room on the table or in the cupboard.
So for an informal but serious way to
enjoy your wine I think Solo tumblers
have a great deal to offer.

Chardonnay White Wine Burgundy Shiraz Brandy Carafe Water Glasses

Height Capacity Height Capacity Height Capacity Height Capacity Height Capacity Height Capacity Set of 4 colours
90mm 50cl 110mm 40cl 120mm 67cl 135mm 54cl 100mm 58cl 225mm 75cl turquoise green amethyst blue

Height Capacity
125mm 37cl

Solo Wine Tumblers have been designed in a range of shapes to meet most wine drinkers needs.
These classic shapes can be matched to their namesake style or variety but are suited to many other
wines that share similar characteristics.
The convenience of Solo tumblers is completed with a handy size carafe that works for wine or can
be used for water. As a finishing touch to the table, there is a set of water glasses in four cool colours.
Solo glasses not only work for wine, they make a really practical choice.

24 25
 tasting notes tasting notes

Name & Vintage Appearance Nose Palate Name & Vintage Appearance Nose Palate

26 27
 tasting notes

Name & Vintage Appearance Nose Palate

DiskArt 1988

DiskArt

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