Forge de Laguiole, Josephinenhütte and the VDP. Weingut Meyer-Näkel von der Ahr have come together for a cooperation. The three companies are united by a passion for traditional craftsmanship as well as a love of wine and exquisite enjoyment. Together, they now present the “Lost Barrels” sommelier Messer for a good cause. The special edition is limited to 150 pieces. For the handles of the knives, the wood of the first “Lost Barrel” barrel from the Meyer-Näkel winery was used. The Ahr flood destroyed a total of 350 barrels of the winery in the summer of 2021, nine were recovered in the following days. Thanks to the wood, each knife becomes a contemporary historical artefact, which is intended to forever remind us of human cohesion and the new beginning after the Ahr flood. A symbol of confidence and hope!
The Impulse
Josephinenhütte provided the decisive impetus for this special cooperation. The Munich-based company is known for its hand-blown glasses designed by Kurt Josef Zalto. “We were in contact with both partners independently and proposed to carry the message of the “Lost Barrels” further into the world with a special edition of the iconic sommelier knife. It is important to us to set an example for the affected Ahr region,” says Marcus Meyer, CEO of Josephinenhütte. The strictly limited sommelier knife is offered by Josephinenhütte directly via “josephinen.com” for 270 euros per piece. Marcus Meyer and his team donate the entire proceeds to the VDP. Initiative “Der Adler hilft” for the support of the winegrowers affected by the flood on the Ahr.
The history of the “Lost Barrels”
On July 14, 2021, the flood of the century in the Ahr wine region destroyed the winery of the Meyer-Näkel family in Dernau. Overnight, the two sisters Dörte and Meike Näkel lost almost everything for which the family had worked for years. The floods also swept away the entire 2020 vintage. In the days after the flood, the unexpected happened: just a few kilometers from the winery, a barrel of Pinot Noir with the inscription “Meyer-Näkel” was found. Eight other intact barrels were found in the surrounding villages. These “Lost Barrels“ are the only remnants of the 2020 vintage. A total of around 2,600 bottles are currently being allocated via a subscription process – further information can be found under lost-barrels.com. The first barrel has now been dismantled and masterfully processed by the Forge de Laguiole team into the handles of the sommelier knives.
The Knife
“Forge de Laguiole” stands for tradition and zeitgeist, combined with excellent craftsmanship. Each knife is handmade in the in-house forge in the French village of Laguiole. The Sommelier Knife is ergonomic, elegant and functional. The wooden handle made of the long-lost “Lost Barrels” wood gives the knife the finishing touch. Each piece not only represents outstanding craftsmanship, but also tells a story of resilience and new beginnings. It is a symbol of the strength of human nature and the imperishable power of cooperation that created a new future out of ruins.
Editor’s Choice
Are you still looking for the perfect kitchen knife to go with the perfect sommelier knife? Then you shouldn’t miss the St. Antony knife .
