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By Manos Angelakis
For those that appreciate the finest things in life, Waterford®, one of the premier European crystal stemware manufacturers, has created the Connoisseur Gold Collection™. It is a series of ten light, mouth-blown, hand-made, lead-crystal glasses, specifically designed to enhance the particular properties of each variety of wine and to optimize the bouquet and flavor. The appearance is  clean and the shapes are classic. A subtle gold band at the base of the stem is the only marking on the clear crystal.
Waterford has a long history of creating fine crystal stemware for Europe’s luxury tabletop trade. I consider the company to be at the same quality level as Baccarat, Crystallerie Saint Louis, and Val Saint Lambert, the only other surviving European creators of high quality, handmade and hand-cut lead crystal stemware. It was established in 1783 in Waterford, Ireland, by William and George Penrose, and the drinking glasses and decorative objects the company creates have become collector items. It is one of a few companies that do not retire patterns; the same designs introduced in their over 200-year history are available today, as they were 100 years ago. The company’s merger with Wedgwood, towards the end of the 20th century, has made the combined company the world’s leading luxury lifestyle group that encompasses world-class brands Waterford Crystal, Wedgwood, Rosenthal and Royal Doulton.
 The new line was introduced at a lunch on March 29 at Manhattan’s a voce restaurant. There are two grape-specific designs for white wine (Chardonnay and Montrachet), three for red wine (Pinot Noir, Cabernet/Merlot, and Bordeaux Grand Cru), two for Champagne and Sparkling Wine (Flute and Vintage), one for Port that can be also used for Single Malt Whisky or Grappa, one for Cognac or Brandy and a Martini glass.
Packaged in custom made carrying boxes, each box contains one or two glasses. They are priced from $65 to $95 per stem, depending on design. Boxed sets of two are priced from $99 to $149.
My personal favorites are the Champagne flute, with its classic design that beautifully displays the contents of the glass, and the Pinot Noir glass, whose flared shape concentrates the aroma of California’s and Oregon’s Pinot Noir wines as well as Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera etc. based wines from Piedmont and Tuscany, by directing the wine to the proper part of the tongue, enhancing the flavor characteristics of each wine.
© May 2006 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.
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