You Need My Favorite Colorful Stemware for Alfresco Entertaining

Estelle colored glass offers a modern take on vintage drinkware in spirited shades. These heirloom glasses are a staple at my signature dinner parties. And, they make the perfect gift for every occasion, big or small.

Curate your own set of mixed glasses for alfresco entertaining. Mixed glassware sets work especially well for hosting because each person has a designated color for ease of use.

What is Estelle Colored Glass?

Daria Smith/Taste of Home

Vintage-inspired, colored drinkware has taken the internet by storm. Sitting around a dinner table at Wild Dunes resort with Estelle founder Stephanie Summerson Hall, I first heard the story of Estelle colored glass.

The History

Growing up, Stephanie spent afternoons antiquing with her grandmother, lovingly named “Big Mama” in Holy Hill, South Carolina, right outside of Charleston. Often, the pair would score vintage glasses in lively hues.

In the South, we love to hunt for beautiful and unique items and display them throughout our homes. Estelle Summerson Williams, Stephanie’s grandmother, displayed family heirlooms and vintage glassware in her china cabinets and had a passion for hosting.

Stephanie was on the hunt for colored drinkware for her own home and couldn’t find anything outside of antique markets and secondhand stores. A modern glassware brand with an extensive array of vibrant colorways ceased to exist. Stephanie was on a mission to put colored glass back on the market and revive a dying art.

Estelle launched in October of 2019 after several years of research on Stephanie’s behalf. Estelle colored glass is handblown in Poland by a 100-plus-year-old glass manufacturer. Stephanie searched relentlessly alongside her industrial designer to locate the right artisan for the job.

The Products

Estelle’s backstory is just as colorful as its products. Shop eight different styles of drinkware, decanters and cake stands in 22 alluring shades. Stephanie never planned to highlight mixed drinkware sets, but they’re a response to passionate customer requests.

One of Estelle’s most popular items, a mixed set of glasses in six different colors, is my go-to for alfresco entertaining. I opted for Ocean Blue, Royal Blue, Lavender, Mint Green, Fuchsia and Coral Peach Pink. Estelle colored glass is always the talk of the table at my dinner parties. Various sources in Stephanie’s day-to-day inspire the colorways. Ocean Blue pays ode to clear, blue oceans in tropical destinations, and Lavender came from an Elie Saab dress.

The glassware set arrives meticulously packaged in a white box with gold embossing, packed with individual styrofoam molds for each cup. Each wine glass stands 9.5 inches tall with a 3.9-inch diameter and holds 16.5 ounces of liquid. In my hand, the glass is the perfect weight.

I handwash my set of six Estelle wine glasses every few days, and they look brand new. The quality is astounding. I’m naturally clumsy and have dropped a glass or two—I’m amazed they didn’t shatter upon immediate contact with the ground.

Yes, there are cheaper options on the market, but the quality of Estelle colored glass doesn’t compare. Each glass is of heirloom quality, intended to be passed down over generations. I’d rather purchase something once and have it forever.

Whether your bar cabinet needs new cocktail glasses or not, this is your sign to spice up your glassware rotation. On display alone, Estelle glasses are the “jewels for your table.”

Pros

• Pretty enough to display when not in use
• Heirloom pieces to pass on to the next generation
• Handblown by skilled artisans in Poland
• A versatile gift for various occasions
• Mismatched set pairs well with most tablescapes
• Differentiated wine glasses
• Vast color selection with 22 colorways

Cons

• Hand wash only
• Pricey (but worth it)

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Why I Love It 

I have a few stemware sets from Anthropologie, but lately, I reach for my Estelle colored glass and nothing else. It pairs wonderfully with my mismatched Spode blue and white china. Universally, Estelle colored glass coordinates seamlessly with most tablescapes.

Mixed stemware sets work especially well for entertaining because each person has a designated color. Estelle is centered on the principle of everyday luxury, made for a casual drink (from sweet tea to an Aperol Spritz) with friends after work.

This one-of-a-kind Charleston grandmother had quite the style. For every celebration, Estelle colored glass is my go-to gift that any kitchen connoisseur or baker would love. Begin a friend’s colored glassware assortment with two coupes or a set of six wine glasses. The beauty of it all, they can mix and match and grow their collection over time. I like to commemorate life’s special moments with the addition of a new shade of Estelle glass to my collection.

For graduates, brides, mothers-to-be, or any gift for a special occasion, Estelle colored glass is the way to go. Express gratitude, celebrate a milestone, say congratulations or let someone know they graced your mind. I know a few individuals with their own unique collections, whether it’s a large matching set or several unique colors or sets of two. The world is your oyster.

But Don’t Take My Word for It! 

Estelle colored glass is the stemware of my dreams, but I’m not the only satisfied customer who shares this sentiment. Snag the perfect gift for a wine lover.

Crystal W. describes Estelle colored glass as elegant and beautiful. “These glasses are so beautiful!! Perfect color for any occasion. They look so classy and are such a great size. Buy them! They are worth the investment! You won’t regret it!!”

Kerryn decided to recently upgrade her wine glasses, “The eclectic colors make a very strong statement and update any place setting! Also having different colors makes it easier at a dinner party not to confuse glasses!”

Hayley D. continues to curate her glassware collection, “Each color is beautiful on its own but I love how they look together! I’ve been wanting these for over a year and they did not disappoint. Love the quality and weight of the glass too.”

Where to Buy Estelle Colored Glass

via merchant

Estelle not only offers eclectic stemware but also cake stands, coupes, decanters, stemless wine glasses, champagne flutes, shot glasses, rocks glasses, regal stemware and martini glasses in 22 colorways. Mix and match and curate several collections.

Estelle colored glass is sold at Anthropologie, West Elm, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Tuckernuck and Lulu and Georgia. Each wine glass averages $30. Opt for a set of two for $85 or a custom mix-and-match six-pack for $185.

Estelle colored glass deserves a home on everyone’s dining table—it’s an interior designer’s dream, so what are you waiting for?

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FAQ

Are Estelle glasses dishwasher safe?

No, do not put Estelle colored glass in the dishwasher. I use hot water, dish soap and a bottle brush.

Where is Estelle colored glass based?

You can find Estelle colored glass in a 70-year-old warehouse space in Stephanie’s hometown of Holly Hill, SC, right outside of Charleston. Estelle herself lived a mere five minutes away.

Where is Estelle colored glass made?

Estelle colored glass is handcrafted by artisans in Poland at a glass manufacturer with an abundant 100-plus-year-old history.