Serendipity is one of the life’s truly great phenomena. Whether these moments are put before us as part of a grand design, or pure luck, the creative potential of open-mindedly grasping the un-planned can be huge.

During a wine show in Oslo earlier this year we were seeking out Austrian white wines (forget the anti-freeze scandal; these are some of the most exciting wines in the world today). We happened upon the stall of a newbie Austrian wine glass company, and immediately rushed off to get a few bottles of Cloof wine with the intention of selecting the glasses that best suit our wines.

One wouldn’t dream of listening to a symphony being performed live in a tiny room, so why drink a great wine from a thimble. The point of the matter isn’t the size of the bowl alone. Its shape is important, and so is the actual glass used.

This is why crystal is important, rather than cheap, clunky glasses. Crystal glasses have a vibrational quality, which ironically makes them more durable than ‘el cheapos’. But, with Riedel glasses selling for R200 (each) - and more - it’s an experience reserved for a small elite.

This may seem a little off-the-wall, but one can’t help imagining the wine’s aroma clunking off the sides of a basic glass, eventually surrendering in despair. In a good glass, the wine’s aroma is amplified by the particular shape of the bowl as it bounces harmoniously off the crystal.

We have established a direct link with one of the finest crystal glass manufacturers in Austria, cutting out the middlemen, so that all wine drinkers can have the best possible experience when drinking our wines.