Our introduction to Izaak Reich began over dinner with Eben Sadie of Sadie Family Wines. During a conversation about wine glasses, Eben mentioned that the finest he had encountered were made by Izaak Reich. It was a simple but convincing recommendation. We became curious, found the glasses and experienced them for ourselves.
At Rueda Wine Co., our world has always revolved around wine. Through importing, distribution, professional cellaring, investment and brokerage, we connect remarkable wines with the people who will appreciate them. Glassware was never intended to become part of that world. Yet the more time one spends with wine, the clearer it becomes that the glass is the only accessory that truly matters. A well-chosen glass does not distract from the wine. It simply gives its aromas, texture and character the space to be fully enjoyed.
Our introduction to Izaak Reich began over dinner with Eben Sadie of Sadie Family Wines. During a conversation about wine glasses, Eben mentioned that the finest he had encountered were made by Izaak Reich. It was a simple but convincing recommendation. We became curious, found the glasses and experienced them for ourselves. That encounter eventually led us to bring Izaak Reich to South Africa. The story of the glassworks is as special as the glasses themselves. It begins in Staré Hutě, a Czech village whose name means “the old glassworks.” Glassmaking once flourished there, but disappeared from the region around one hundred and fifty years ago. Little remained beyond the name of the village and the traces of its history.
In 2019, Adam Havlíček, owner of the historic Zikmundov farm, discovered documents about the Reich family and the skilled glassmakers who had once worked in the area. This inspired an ambitious idea: to bring glassmaking back to Staré Hutě after an absence of a century and a half. Adam spent the following years visiting glassworks across Europe. He explored modern production methods while thinking carefully about how to preserve the spirit of the region’s past. The new glassworks was named in honour of Izaak Reich, a gifted local glassmaker and the founder of an important glassmaking family.
The aim was not simply to recreate the past, but to carry its traditions into the present. This required a deep understanding of wine as well as glass. Adam invited respected Moravian winemaker Jaromír Gala to help develop shapes that would bring out the best in the wines they loved. Czech artist and designer Rony Plesl then created the first collection, Linden, as a tribute to the glassmakers of Staré Hutě and the Reich family. Aleš Najbrt and his studio developed the brand’s identity around the values of honesty, craftsmanship, quality, and responsible production. The glasses are elegant without feeling delicate or showy. Their beauty comes from their balance, proportions and purpose. Each shape has been designed not simply as something beautiful for the table, but as a way to experience wine more fully. They feel light and balanced in the hand, and quietly striking on the table. Once the wine is poured, the glass allows it to take centre stage.
Rueda Wine Co. currently brings four distinct designs of Izaak Reich glasses to South Africa. Linden No. 1 is a generous red wine glass designed to bring out depth, structure and aroma. Linden No. 2 is a versatile shape suited to both red and white wines. Linden No. 3 offers precision and elegance for white wine. Linden No. 4, the Champagne glass, has become one of our personal favourites. Its shape gives fine Champagne and sparkling wine the space to fully reveal their aroma, texture, and complexity.
The glasses are available to private clients in sets of two or four, while sets of six are offered to the hospitality trade. We also provide our trade clients with a specially designed dishwasher rack at no additional cost, helping the glasses to be washed and handled safely in a professional setting. They can already be experienced at Salsify, FYN and La Colombe, where they have found a natural place in some of South Africa’s most celebrated dining rooms.
We did not set out to become glassware importers. We simply discovered a glass that changed the way we experienced wine. Izaak Reich brings together history, craftsmanship and thoughtful design with a rare sense of simplicity. For us, that is precisely what exceptional glassware should do.
