Wine glasses linked to composer Beethoven launched in HK

A wine glass collection made by Austria’s renowned glassware maker Sophienwald, which has links to composer Beethoven, has been officially launched in Hong Kong through Watson’s Wine.

The Phoenix collection launched by Sophienwald is now available in Hong Kong through Watson’s Wine

Named ‘Phoenix’, this is the first collection made by Sophienwald, a company that was first purchased and owned by Carl Stölzle – the husband of Beethoven’s niece – in 19th century.

Consisting of 10 pieces, including red and white wine glasses, a Champagne flute, a water glass accompanied by a decanter and a water jar, the mouth-blown glassware collection is made using lead-free crystal and is dishwasher-proof, according to the company.

Designed for professional sommeliers and wine connoisseurs for a wide range of wines, the ‘Phoenix’ series is ultra thin and lightweight. The design of each piece in the collection is designed to enhance and bring out the flavours and aromas of a wine, the company says.

“Our glasses are our passion,” explained Gerhard Illek, senior partner at Sophienwald. “It starts with the great secret of ingredients: different sands, potash… Based on our designs, wooden molds made of beech wood are created. Molten glass is then blown into these forms to create each individual glass. Years of experience and master craftsmanship is needed to be able to produce such a thin and lightweight wine glass.”

“I fall in love with the glass anew each time I drink high-quality wines from my neighborhood of Wachau in Austria. The thin, slightly sharp edge helps accentuate flavors that you would otherwise not be able to experience. Try Sophienwald, and you will be enchanted,” he continued.

Sophienwald was established in early 18th century by the lordship of ‘Weitra im Forchenwald’ near Neunagelberg, in the border area of Austria and Bohemia.

Since 1867 the glassworks Sophienwald has been owned by the glass empire of the Stölzle family. Its owner, Carl Anton Stölzle, is married to Amalie, the daughter of Beethoven’s brother Nikolaus Johann van Beethoven.