After refilling Claire’s wine glass with whatever their “house” wine is, he has a decanter of his personal Rhenish wine brought out. Rhenish is from the Rhine region of Germany which has a very high alcohol content, which Colum uses as a pain reliever for his physical ailments. It also will go to a girl’s head pretty quickly.
When I first saw the previews of this scene, I was struck by the use of matching wineglasses. Plus, they reminded me of the Simon Pearce Cavendish glassware featured in the movie “Something’s Gotta Give”.
I admit to knowing next to nothing about the use of glassware during the period of the 18th century, but would have assumed if asked that a remote Highland castle (even a fairly wealthy one) would be more likely to use pewter or stoneware, not hand blown glass – particularly matched sets. Not to mention, would the general population (those not seated at the Laird’s table) be drinking wine at all versus ale or beer? A little research brought me to a Christie’s article: “Though numerous forms of wine cups had existed since the classical period, it was the 14th century merchants of Venice that set a new standard of elegance in wine-drinking by combining the skills of the glassblower and designer. The clarity and transparency of their cristallo glass allowed the color of the wine to be fully appreciated.”
By the late 17th century a “more simplified style of balustrade stems consisting of bold, massive “knops” came into fashion, modeled after the furniture of the time.”
An image of the general castle populace eating and drinking.
