Cover The Sklo Evolution series proposes a universal wine glass representing Singaporean ingenuity and sommelier expertise (Photo: Sklo)
The Sklo Evolution series proposes a universal wine glass representing Singaporean ingenuity and sommelier expertise (Photo: Sklo)
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Challenging the traditional notion of grape-specific glassware, the Sklo Evolution series proposes a universal wine glass that represents Singaporean ingenuity and sommelier expertise. Here’s their story
The wine world is very much used to sipping on glassware hailing from the hallowed workshops of Europe, but Singapore will soon have a foot in the conversation. Debuting Singapore’s very first 100 per cent designed wine glass, Sklo makes the confident claim to be “the one glass designed for the enjoyment of all wines: red, white and sparkling”. It is a statement that may be as subversive as when screwcaps were first introduced, but it is with good reason, according to Sklo founder Thoo Lee Ming.
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Above Thoo Lee Ming, founder of Sklo, and Gerald Lu, president of the Sommelier Association of Singapore
Thoo Lee Ming, founder of Sklo, and Gerald Lu, president of the Sommelier Association of Singapore
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Having distributed Czech-crafted Kvetna 1794 stemware since 2022, Thoo developed a close relationship with the Sommelier Association of Singapore (SAS), where he met Gerald Lu, president of SAS and award-winning sommelier. What began as innocent trade tastings soon evolved into a daring proposition: to create a tasting stemware designed by sommeliers, for sommeliers, right here in Singapore.
“With 250 registered sommeliers in Singapore today, the thriving community attracts diverse talent from all across Asia,” shares Thoo about his hopes for Singapore to become a base for wine development. The Sklo Evolution series headlines with the flagship Evo 125, a universal glass ideal for the 125ml pour. The other is the Evo 50, a smaller glass suitable for tasting wine and other fine spirits such as cognac, whisky, sherry and sake.
Above The tulip-shaped bowl and thin rim go beyond aesthetics
The tulip-shaped bowl and thin rim go beyond aesthetics
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But what makes it work? Lu tells us that it is all down to careful consideration of “airflow interaction, aromatic encapsulation, and the precise delivery of structural elements to our olfactory senses”. The tulip-shaped bowl and thin rim go beyond aesthetics and showcase a great deal of technical engineering to present best a wine’s structure, aromatics, and clarity of flavours. All this isn’t without years of combined sommelier experience, from studying the nuances of how different glasses interact with varying wines to the principles of existing universal glasses.
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Creating the Sklo Evolution took more than a year as Lu recalls having “sent prototypes back and forth over 30 weeks” as they went through rigorous testing and feedback by members of the SAS. The process included multiple design refinements to arrive at the perfect form; at the fourth phase, Lu recounts “testing 10 nearly identical glass shapes, each varying slightly in weight, height and thinness by mere tenths of a millimetre”. The final trial included rigorous use—washing, cleaning and industry-grade hygiene checks—in real-world setting for over two months before fully commissioning production.
Above Factoring in smaller table sizes in Asia, the Sklo Evolution series caters to the increasing need for a more compact wine base diameter
Factoring in smaller table sizes in Asia, the Sklo Evolution series caters to the increasing need for a more compact wine base diameter
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While the Sklo Evolution is handmade by Kvetna 1794, there is still distinct Singaporean innovation that complements the Czech craftsmanship. Considering regional food and beverage trends pertinent to the Asia region, Thoo factored in smaller table sizes, the increasing need for a more compact wine base diameter, and the growing popularity of certain wine varietals. The design also contemplates Asian spirits that are less prevalent in Europe such as baijiu, huangjiu and sake.
Above The Sklo Evolution is deserving to be on the tables of any wine-loving folk beyond the shores of Singapore
The Sklo Evolution is deserving to be on the tables of any wine-loving folk beyond the shores of Singapore
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So does this mean that one could free up their cabinets filled with variety-specific Riedels or Zaltos? Perhaps not. While Lu believes that “the Evo 125 is one of the best universal tasting glass in the market”, Thoo adds diplomatically that “wine appreciation is highly personal”. In the end, it’d be futile to harp on who’s better; Sklo’s attempt to offer sophisticated yet versatile glassware to cater for a wide spectrum of wine and spirits is respectable. It is certainly a glass that pours with pride, and one deserving to be on the tables of any wine-loving folk beyond the shores of Singapore.
Credits
Images: Sklo
