Wine Glass is Best in Class

Wine Glass is Best in Class

We’re thrilled to announce that the Denver and Liely Wine Glass has received a Best in Class Trophy at the 2026 Australian Good Design Awards. 

For us, this recognition is an opportunity to reflect on eight years of research and development, the thinking that guided the design and the people who helped bring it to life.

About the Australian Good Design Awards

Established in 1958, the Australian Good Design Awards recognise outstanding design from Australia and around the world, from architecture and engineering to the objects we use every day. This year’s theme, Design that Leads, celebrates the role of design in questioning established approaches and creating positive change.

An independent jury of more than 100 Australian and international design experts evaluates entries against three core criteria: Good Design, Design Innovation and Design Impact. Together, these consider how well a design is resolved, what it contributes and the difference it makes.

Behind the design

Wine glassware has traditionally been shaped by varietal-specific forms and aesthetic conventions. We saw an opportunity to reconsider that approach: to develop a single glass that could enhance a broad range of wines while allowing the drinker to influence how each wine expressed itself.

The theory centred on the relationship between the glass, the movement of wine and the sensory experience. The bowl’s proportions, curvature and opening influence how aromas are captured and presented. The way wine moves within it affects aeration, while the rim influences how it reaches the palate. These relationships became the foundation of the design.

Denver’s background in mechanical engineering and industrial design informed our exploration of fluid dynamics: how liquid moves and interacts with the surfaces around it. We wanted to use that understanding to make aeration more responsive to the person holding the glass, while creating space for wine to open naturally within the bowl.

The aim was to bring greater control and versatility to wine appreciation. A glass that could respond to different wines and different preferences, reduce reliance on separate decanting and remain intuitive to use.

Achieving that required the technical thinking to translate into an elegant, balanced object. Every decision about performance also had consequences for weight, strength, proportion and the feel of the glass in hand.

Turning theory into something you can hold

Over eight years, that thinking was tested through prototypes, tastings and continued refinement.

Early versions revealed inconsistencies in fin formation, interruptions to the swirl, structural weaknesses in the stem and variations in rim thickness. Each required further development. Testing examined aeration consistency, palate delivery, pour accuracy and structural integrity, supported by custom jigs, lightbox inspections and repeatable measuring methods. 

Alongside this work came input from producers including Penfolds, Château Pichon Baron, Château Biac, Château Guadet, Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, Vignobles Hermouet and Jane Eyre Wines.

Their knowledge helped connect the engineering with the experience of drinking wine. Extensive consumer testing brought another essential perspective, ensuring that the glass’s performance translated into practical, everyday use.

The challenge was to bring all of this together consistently in hand-blown crystal. Small refinements mattered, both individually and in how they affected the whole.

What the jury recognised

In awarding the Wine Glass Best in the Product Design Housewares and Objects category, the jury commented:

“The Jury recognises the Denver and Liely Wine Glass as a beautifully refined product that successfully balances aesthetics and function, demonstrating a significant level of consideration in every aspect. The design feels highly technical in its detailing while maintaining a light and elegant overall execution, with extensive testing and endorsement from respected winemakers reinforcing the strength and credibility of the outcome. The Jury was impressed by the true innovation progressing the wine industry through elevated design featuring integration of fluid dynamics. The Jury congratulates the team on this achievement.”

The jury’s recognition of technical detail alongside lightness and elegance means a great deal to us. That balance took years of work. The engineering needed to deliver a meaningful improvement in the experience, while the finished glass needed to feel comfortable and natural to use.

Their acknowledgement of the testing and winemaker involvement also reflects how the project developed. Technical understanding, craftsmanship and the experience of people who make and enjoy wine all helped shape the final design.

To everyone who shared their knowledge, challenged a prototype, contributed to a refinement or made the Wine Glass part of their table, thank you.

This award recognises a finished glass. For us, it also recognises the eight years of curiosity, collaboration and care behind it.