Zalto unveils specialist spittoon

Zalto is launching a lead-free crystal spittoon to complement its range of stemware.

The new product is 10cm high with a capacity of 0.5 litres, designed for use by a single person, although the glass manufacturer, based in Austria, is also introducing a slightly larger version with a capacity of 2l.

Explaining the decision to introduce this specialist product, Zalto’s Thomas Zichtl told the drinks business: “Many of the finest wine producers in Austria and Italy are using Zalto to present their wines to the public at either fairs or at their wineries, and while the top wines are served in Zalto glasses at professional tastings, the sampled wine is very often returned into a plastic bucket or some kind of cooler with a lid.”

Continuing he said: “We did not like this ‘Stilbruch’, or clashing with the style, so Zalto thought about an aesthetic solution and the Zalto ‘Restweinkaraffe – as we call our spittoon – was realised, with a big one for the table and small one for professional tasters.”

Speaking more generally about the Zalto range, UK representative for the lead-free stemware Neville Blech from Wine Behind the Label said: “I just love the glasses: I think they are great and great value for what they are and so do my customers… to me Zalto is the Rolls Royce of glasses at the price of a Mercedes.”

He also said that the thinness and lightness of the glasses made the experience of using them “like drinking air”.

Zalto’s total production is currently around 100,000 stems and the products range in weight from 85g for the Champagne flute to 150g for the Burgundy glass.

Earlier this year wine commentator Olly Smith ordered a specially designed Zalto glass with a shorter stem for practicality, which can be purchased through his website, while the standard range is retailed through Around Wine or Bacchus and Comus.

Patrick Schmitt, 23.06.11