While I extend my procrastination streak gather together my notes in anticipation of (finally) getting around to writing up my most recent wine jaunts, I figured I’d get a jump on the wine product roundup for May (part of my monthly attempt to put some wine product samples through the wringer).

image: amazon.com

First up this month is the Premium version of Bacchus Break, a set of two stemless, flexible – and presumably unbreakable – wine glasses made from silicone (about $18). The product tag line, appropriately, is “because drunk people drop shit.” And, indeed, we do.

I love the concept of this sort of product; ideal for casual parties (especially outdoor gatherings), I’ll take a properly (tulip) shaped wine glass made of just about any inert material over a standard-shaped glass or cup, any day. The Bacchus Break glasses provide that, once their silicone-rubbery-smell dissipates (which, for me, took several days). Light, and flexible to a fault, you’re not going to be able to break these things; and the Premium set includes an expandable bag for holding wine, something of which I’m also a big fan (because they’re so much more cooler-friendly than bag-in-box or glass packaging).

The flexibility comes at a cost; two costs, actually. First, the rim of the glasses is a bit thicker than is ideal for wine imbibing. Second, the glasses seem almost too flexible; they don’t feel sturdy in the hand, and require a gently touch (lest you grab it too forcefully and create a sort of juice-box-squeeze mess). In my experience, the similar Govino products perform slightly better; they are more apt to break if you step on them, but have a nice balance between flexibility, rigidity, and size (the new 10oz is a particularly good choice for bubbles, by the way).

Next up, something for your reading pleasure…

Given my experience with the Furmint USA project, one could argue that I’ve now garnered a deeper knowledge of the Tokaj wine region than your average wine scribe. Which is why I’m happy to recommend Tokaj: People and Vineyards ($50, and worth it) a recent guide to the area written by Dániel Kézdy.

While the English translation is, I suspect, not entirely perfect, the prose captures the essence of what some of the best producers in the region are about, in terms of their wines, vineyards, and overall winemaking philosophies and approaches (the photos by Ferenc Dancsecs perform the same impressive feat, visually).

The best summation I could give for Tokaj is that I wish I’d had read it before doing such extensive work with many of the people and brands highlighted in the book. Overall, it’s informative, accurate, and just plain gorgeous.

Cheers!