Many of you might know that I have been involved for several years now with the Eisch Family and their 'Unity' Stemware. For those not in the know the Eisch ‘Unity’ mouth-blown wine glass range comprises 5 shapes - “designed to bring the world of wine together”. I have been involved from the ground level, starting with driving across France during a 4 week tour in July 2016, with my rental car full to the roof with different EISCH shapes.
Visiting wineries and winemakers in Bordeaux (Left & Right Banks), Cahors, Languedoc, Provence, Rhône Valley, Beaujolais, Burgundy, Chablis & Champagne. Over 400 different wines were tasted, while I gathered feedback and interpretations from one and all on: aromas, flavours, expression of typicity, winemaking and the voice of each wine.
Then with all of my knowledge I gave my input into the design of the 5 shapes. We must have got something right - as in August 2018 it was such a special moment when the Eisch 'Unity' Bordeaux Glass was 'Ranked No.1'. At the independent ‘Wine Glass Comparative Test’ set up by Joachim A. J. Kaiser an accredited expert in the field of wine.
He hosted a comprehensive wine glass 'comparison' tasting / test: looking at the weight & balance of the glass empty and with wine, shape of bowl, height, stem thickness, base, along with the wines aromas, delivery and translation of different wines, market-price etc…, which was published on his site 'vinositas'.
Then earlier this year - the Unity 'Aromatic' Glass achieved the top award at another glass event. To have these results is very pleasing - all the research and creative-investment has paid off - and the hidden pleasures in wine are for all to enjoy in 'SensisPlus' stemware.
EISCH 'SensisPlus' Stemware - in my opinion are - "the most expressive wine glasses in the world". And everyone that I know whom has tasted their wine or another in a ‘SensisPlus’ glass can easily enjoy the difference. The ‘SensisPlus’ affect is the ultimate universal wine translator - unlocking the hidden personality and making all wine easier to understand and most of all enjoyed. And in real time, the effect on all wine of any age and price happens in seconds. While you are pouring the wine, and while you are tilting the glass to your lips - the ‘SensisPlus’ affect is working and showcasing the wine from the first sip through to the last.
❝ So on this my third visit to Frauenau and while catching up with the Eisch family and their team. Julia and Eberhard Eisch asked if I would record another video on their stemware. So with some wonderful wines provided by the Cecchi Family Winery in Tuscany - Italy, Domaine Jessiaume in Burgundy - France along with the Champagne Houses of Piper-Heidsieck & Charles Heidsieck - we did just that.
We set up the Eisch ‘SensisPlus’ tasting experiences - with a particular emphasis for the video (that will be used for all their sales team, key retail outlets & distributors) on the new ‘Focused’ Eisch Experience I designed. The 'focused' tasting only requires one ‘SensisPlus’ glass and takes no more than 2-minutes. I hosted one at the Glass Factory Showroom with staff and another two tastings in the home of Julia and her family.
Then a very special surprise gift - the Eisch family had made for me my own 'Wine Guy' Unity Glass - which was put to very good use over the evening of good wines, food & plenty of laughter with very special friends.
I was working with the Eisch family at the Glass Factory in Frauenau for the week - and the family kindly arranged with their senior glass-blower for me to design, blow and sculpt a new glass piece to take back to New Zealand.
I have had the opportunity to mouth-blowing glass at Eisch before, so with that came a little more confidence. But not a great deal of experience working with the material or in front of the kilns. As the heat from the kiln which is at 1400°C is intense - once you have enough molten glass on the end of the blow-pipe, you can then mix small amounts of primary coloured glass to meld with the clear molten glass.
Then it is time to blow and stretch the glass to the deserved form and to slowly-but firmly blow the bowl several times over just a short period. Then once happy with your piece - the cooling process is the longest stage - as it can take several hours to finally cool and to able to be handled and have the end cut and polished to remove any sharp edges. An incredibly rewarding art-form, so responsive and alive, plus simply mesmerising to do and watch.
Then before I left Germany - it was time to return to Munich and meet up with two extremely talented and passionate individuals - dedicated to showcasing flavours and lifting everyone’s sensory enjoyment at all levels.
So after two years of planning, it was time for the Eisch 'SensisPlus' Knights to get together in Munich @ Pageou Restaurant. The three of us fighting for quality wine experiences for all - with the Eisch 'SensisPlus' Stemware Range. After two years in the staging of this evening - the result was an incredible 5 hour wine & cuisine sensory degustation at the highest level. No that is not a typo - yes 5 hours of sharing our passion for flavours.
★ Ali Güngörmüs - *(the first & only Turkish Chef with a Michelin Star) - Chef / Owner of the renowned Pageou Restaurant in Munich & Hamburg, plus regularly hosting TV cooking shows. *(Full range of 'SensisPlus' stemware in his restaurants)
★ Tom Rinser - Wine Glass Genius - and the creative mind behind the development of the Eisch 'SensisPlus' technology & passionate wine & food aficionado.
I also took Tom and his wife Annette, plus the senior Sommelier at Pageou through the *new Eisch 'SensisPlus' Focused Experience...the ‘focused’ experience is something anyone can do and understand - it will simply amaze and change your sensory enjoyment of wine for life.
A special thank you to the Eisch Family for another wonderful visit, the unrestricted access to all parts of the creative process and for your unconditional friendship. Plus to Tom for timing all our schedules so we could all be together for an unforgettable evening in Munich with Ali at Pageou. So until next time - 'sip, savour & share the journey...'
To visit the Eisch website: Click Here: www.eisch.de
For more information on the Eisch 'SensisPlus' Stemware Range