It speaks volumes that the first line acquired by Maison3Amis after the purchase of DeVine Corp., a three-decade distributor of luxe European tableware, was Josephinenhütte, the five-year-old German-based maker of lightweight, thin-walled stemware and accessories. The Maison3Amis team (hereafter known as M3A) is helmed by two one-time Baccarat execs, Jim Shreve and Sally Burnside, who appreciate a nonpareil drinking glass, and Mark Brashear, who quickly recognized the allure of the brand. “Our passion for building relationships and our commitment to excellence in service and execution align perfectly with the ethos of Josephinenhütte,” says Brashear. “We were looking for categories and brands that would complement our portfolio. Wine glasses were missing. This is a distinct brand with a small brand mentality, and that struck our curiosity. The product is sexy; the antithesis of vessels we’ve historically used.” His partner Shreve concurs: “We were intrigued by the light nature of the hand-blown glass and collectively identified that Josephinenhütte’s styling was a great opportunity for our business. And the brand has already attracted so much great press, which is very interesting to us. We want to be good brand ambassadors and blow the top off their business in the U.S.” Adds Burnside: “I fell in love with the silhouette, lightness, and hand-feel of the glasses, and it’s a very attractive price, under $200 for a set of two, which is a real price value and a good addition to our portfolio.”
Josephinenhütte CEO Marcus Meyer, along with two of his friends, including sixth-generation glass maestro, Kurt Josef Zalto, started the company in Berlin in 2019. They were fascinated by the former Josephinenhütte glassworks, a factory in the historical region Silesia, which today lies mostly within modern Poland, but also includes parts of Germany and the Czech Republic. “We wanted to bring the name Josephinenhütte back,” says Meyer. “The heritage of the brand and its pursuit of excellence and innovation is what drew me to become part of the company, as well as our mutual aim to create glasses that are functional, sophisticated, and delicate, yet robust.” The original Josephinenhütte factory was founded in 1842 by Count Leopold von Schaffgotsch and named after his beloved wife, Josephine. Their glasses went beyond the boundaries of what was thought possible in glassmaking at the time, creating works of technical sophistication and beauty which made Josephinenhütte one of the most significant producers in Europe. Alas, the stunning award-winning glass ended a century later and fell into complete obscurity.
................................ My aim was to create a glass that enhances the aromas of wine better than any other glass. Each glass is like a sculpture, the result of years of expert craftsmanship and the perfect combination of form and function.
Its unique design with a kink allows the aromas to evolve within the glass so that the wine can develop much more intense and faster. At the same time, the glass is so fine that it feels like you’re holding the wine in your hand.
~ Kurt Josef Zalto
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Enter three friends with a vision (not unlike the three friends of Maison3Amis) who wanted to bring Josephinenhütte back to life, creating glasses that are delicate and light, sophisticated and exquisite, re-establishing the precursor’s high standards. Critical to the rebirth was Zalto, who as a sixth-generation glassmaker is fascinated by the historical art of glassmaking and wished to take the wine glass to the next level “by creating glasses which open up a new dimension in taste through their visionary construction.” The acclaimed glass designer traces his ancestral glass roots to 18th-century Veneto, before his Italian ancestors emigrated to Austria in 1770, and, over the next six generations, created a family name as glass virtuosi. In 2019, Zalto decided to branch out with friends to launch his own line of stemware, which succeeded tremendously, so now they’ve turned their sights to the U.S. and tapped M3A to distribute their collections. “Maison3Amis was the natural choice for our U.S. expansion because of their extensive experience and deep-rooted connections within the luxury and home categories,” Meyer says. “The trio of Mark, Jim, and Sally bring unparalleled expertise and a stellar track record in brand management, ensuring that Josephinenhütte’s entry into the U.S. market is both impactful and seamless. Their passion for building relationships and commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with our own ethos.” Adds Brashear: “We speak the same language, and good chemistry is super important in partnering. They’re highly professional, do what they say, and are passionate about their brand. Our values are aligned. We’re all part of a family, not just outsiders looking in.”
Shreve, who learned the ins and outs of luxury glassware as the one-time CEO of Baccarat, says he understood the Josephinenhütte product immediately. “We have the same design DNA. I appreciate a beautiful drinking vessel. In fact, Mark and I own and enjoy glassware from many producers which we use for different occasions. But with the Josephine glass, we can feel the wine performing. One of the advantages of this glass is it’s non-leaded and we want to embrace the non-leaded movement. This is a beautiful option. Once we saw the line in Frankfurt, we were excited to build the relationship. We all work together really well, and they’re highly motivated because they want to build their base in America.” His partner concurs: “It came together quickly,” says Brashear. “Josephinenhütte has a pretty strong D2C business in the U.S., which is very attractive to us. There’s already a brand appreciation here. We thought we could dovetail on that success and build relationships with our retail network who appreciate handmade products, particularly as many brands have moved production from hand to machine. We want to work with brands at the top of the pyramid, like Josephinenhütte, to gain meaningful market share.”
CEO Meyer has lofty expectations for the brand stateside since it already has a strong presence on the global stage, including top performing countries like Germany, Spain, the U.K., Korea, and Canada. “And now, with our partnership with Maison3Amis, we anticipate significant growth in the United States,” he says. “Our focus on delivering unparalleled quality and innovative design resonates well across worldwide markets. Our aim is to establish Josephinenhütte as a distinguished name in the U.S. luxury home and tabletop category. We expect to see significant market penetration, with our exquisite glassware becoming a sought-after choice for connoisseurs and luxury aficionados. By leveraging Maison3Amis’ innovative approach to brand management, we anticipate enhanced visibility and robust growth in the competitive luxury market.” Meyer is extremely confident because he believes in the glass. “The Josephine glass stands out due to its blend of tradition and innovation. Our award-winning glasses are light, thin-walled, durable, and flexible.” Each glass is hand-made and mouth-blown. “They’re meticulously made by passionate artisans, ensuring each piece is a unique vessel that enhances the sensory wine drinking experience,” he says. “This combination of superior craftsmanship and sensory delight makes our glassware an essential addition for any retailer who offers fine luxury glassware. We’re deeply passionate about reviving and perpetuating the art of fine glassmaking. Our team shares a commitment to excellence and a love for the craft that’s reflected in every piece we create. This collective passion preserves a rich tradition and pushes the boundaries of innovation, ensuring that each glass we produce is a masterful blend of history and modernity.”
His colleague, Zalto, is pleased with the results. “The functionality of the glasses depend on the shape and the balance, as well as the lead-free material,” he says. “Only the best glassmakers are able to achieve this high quality, and even then we need to melt a significant amount of glasses when they don’t fulfill our quality requirements. Looking at all the precision and work that goes into each glass, it saddens me every time to see functionally perfect glasses being melted in the oven again because of little bubbles in the glass. For me, little bubbles are proof of craftsmanship, but in our world this is not accepted anymore.”
................................ With Josephinenhütte stemware, Zalto looks to take the wine glass to the next level. He simplifies matters by creating only four glasses, whose unconventional design – the glass with the kink – allows the rapid development of aromas in the glass. The unusual pinch may take a little getting used to but some of the globe’s leading sommeliers, wine makers, and wine lovers are convinced. “I like that my glasses are changing the wine drinking experience, and if my legacy is changing the wine world with my glasses this would be more than what I could have dreamed of as a little boy in my father’s glassworks,” says Zalto.
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The brand’s portfolio may seem at first like a one-trick pony, but this pony sure can show. The catalog is all about the Josephine Collection – six glasses along with two decanters and a carafe. That precision-minded focus appealed to the M3A team. “We don’t see the limited SKUs as a negative at all,” says Brashear. “On the contrary, we like the streamlined assortments. And it’s all about Josephine, which is an incredible glass to focus on.” That sentiment is echoed by sales exec Burnside. “What sold me from the get-go was the silhouette and the way the glass fits so beautifully in the hand. It’s comfortable and playful. There’s an ease and beauty in this collection.” The glass’ pinched shape and lightness could take some getting used to but, according to Shreve, there’s no doubt that Josephine offers diversity to the M3A portfolio and that “brings an element to our table that we don’t have. It’s more modern and unique than anything else we carry.”
That was Zalto’s raison d’etre. “Designing Josephine was an in-depth and innovative journey,” he says. “For more than 30 years, I have been researching how liquids behave in glass, which laid the foundation for creating a unique glass form which brings out the wine’s aroma in a unique way. By rediscovering the relationship between man and object, I was able to develop a totally new shape inspired by nature and its functional forms. Every living organism’s shape serves a purpose, and this principle guided the design of the Josephine collection.” His objective was to develop a functional shape that optimized the taste of wine but was also beautiful. And that’s where the kink comes in. “The kink is visually striking, but it’s there to allow the wine more movement as it flows back into the glass after every sip,” he says. “The spiral movement helps oxygenate the wine, allowing the flavors to develop faster and more fully. The glass provides the platform for the wine to reveal its full potential. This intricate process ensures that each glass is not just a beautiful piece of art but also a functional tool designed to enhance the wine-tasting experience.”
All boxed sets of two (which contribute 80% of all sales to the company coffers) are $198. Josephine No 1 is the white wine glass; Josephine No 2 is the award-winning universal glass (Vinum magazine calls it “the best glass; no other glass shows the strengths, but also the weaknesses of a wine so clearly”); Josephine No 3 is for reds; JosephineNo 4 is for sparkling wines. There are two water glasses, Josephine No 5 and Josephine No 6, $50 and $55; and two decanters: Josephine Brilliant, $210, and Josephine Magnum, $320. “While our current focus is on our wine and champagne glasses and decanters, we do have plans to broaden our portfolio in the near future,” says Meyer. “Expanding into other types of glassware will ensure the brand’s sustained growth and appeal.” That’s music to the ears of the M3A execs. Says Brashear: “We think we can complement their expertise and help develop new silhouettes.” Adds Shreve: “It’s an asset we can build on. We’ve already shared some future plans and Kurt’s creativity will lead to more drinkware that we think will be well embraced in the U.S. We’re in no rush though. It will all happen when the time feels right.” In the meantime, notes Burnside: “We all have an appreciation for craftsmanship and the savoir-faire that these handcrafted glasses have. It’s a wine glass we love and believe in, and we look forward to selling to our accounts.” Concludes Brashear, “We understand better than most the goal of three people trying to rebirth a brand. We were drawn into that pretty compelling story and the fact that it’s a product that we all love and think the consumer will love offers this brand great promise in the U.S.”