“Expert in wine communication, trainer, and enogastronaut. Wine entered my life unexpectedly, suddenly, as often happens with great passions and significant life changes.” This is how Francesco Saverio Russo describes himself, whom he likes to define as “a wine communicator from the vineyard to the glass.” His wineblogroll.com offers a captivating window into the world of wine, narrated in all its nuances: people, territories, experiences, technical enological and agronomic insights, with a secular perspective on the wine world at 360°. Russo is also the creator of the Archè glassware line: “This line was born from the meeting of tradition and innovation, with the aim of returning the act of drinking to a more intimate and conscious level. An Archè glass is much more than a mere vessel: it is a technical instrument born from field experience and ongoing dialogue with producers, sommeliers, and enthusiasts.” Read the full interview.
Starting with the name, Archè: in ancient Greek, it means “origin,” “principle.” Could this be seen as a return to ‘artisanal roots’?
«Absolutely. When I chose the name Archè, I wanted to evoke the idea of ‘origin,’ of a beginning: a return to that authentic and artisanal dimension that represents the heart of wine and the objects that accompany it. The Greek philosopher Empedocles proposed a more complex vision, recognizing the fundamental ‘Archai’ (Arche) of the cosmos in the four elements: water, air, earth, and fire. Few know that in the production of a handcrafted, mouth-blown, hand-finished glass, all four elements are involved. The glass is never just a container; it is a link between the wine and the taster. It is precisely through an artisanal approach that one can give soul back to the object. Archè emerges from the meeting of tradition and innovation, aiming to bring the act of drinking to a more personal and mindful level».
How did the idea of Archè originate?
«Archè was conceived during the first Covid lockdown. For the first time in many years of relentless work, I found myself with entire days ahead with no idea when I might travel again to vineyards and wineries. The project was born from my experiences as a communicator, taster, and trainer in the wine field, and it took shape thanks to collaboration with an Italian excellence like VDglass. The goal was to create glasses that are not only technical tools but also design objects capable of telling a philosophy: balance, elegance, proportion. Archè seeks the highest technical performance combined with elegant forms, with the purpose not of improving the wine itself but of establishing a direct contact between the taster and its content».
How did the project develop?
«Each glass was designed with the support of technical professionals from VDglass and an architecture studio, analyzing convective currents: the core of the project. These currents—generated by the relationship between the bowl and the opening of the glass—favor a gradual evaporation of volatile components: first the ethereal-alcoholic ones, then the finer aromas that circulate within the crystalline chamber. This allows a more natural and graduated perception of the scents, avoiding aggressiveness in young or aromatic wines, and enhancing the elegance and complexity of mature wines. Tests have shown that Archè glasses from 2020, such as Emozioni in Rosso, Suggestioni in Bianco, Orange, and Rosé, protect wines from premature oxidation, leaving the taster full control over oxygenation. The Metodi glass demonstrates extraordinary adaptability with all types of sparkling and frizzante wines; Perpetuum excels with oxidative and very mature traditional method wines; Lieto Fine is perfect for passito, liqueurs, and spirits like grappa, brandy, Cognac, and Armagnac. However, the glass that has impressed us most is the Genio, the ‘universal’ one, so versatile that it performs excellently with any type of wine».
Why choose an Archè glass? What is the added value?
«An Archè glass is much more than a simple vessel: it is a technical tool born from field experience and ongoing dialogue with producers, sommeliers, and enthusiasts. Its added value lies in its versatility and in its ability to accompany different wines, enhancing their aromas and structure without ever overpowering the wine itself. It is a glass characterized by lightness, balance, and durability, but above all by the philosophy it embodies: to give centrality back to the sensory experience. Choosing Archè means choosing a glass designed by those who live wine every day and deeply understand its communicative and tasting needs».
Regarding the name, Archè—like Amistà: a meeting based on taste and elegance. From your point of view, what is the relationship between the two brands? What do they have in common?
«Archè and Amistà share a common vision: the idea that wine is sharing, culture, beauty, identity, and attention to detail. While Archè represents form, design, and the technical instrument, Amistà embodies the content, the pleasure of wine, and its sartorial exaltation—unique, characteristic, emotional, where technique and interpretative sensitivity merge. What unites us is the desire to elevate the enological experience, transforming it into an authentic, elegant meeting that is never artificial. Our relationship developed naturally because both brands speak the same language: that of research, passion, and respect for origin—whether it’s the raw material of the wine or the artisanal gesture of a mouth-blown glass».
Discover more:
archeglass.com