Your frequently asked questions

Our stoneware features a micro-textured interior rich in natural clay minerals. When you pour, this tactile surface maximizes contact with the wine to encourage gentle micro-oxygenation. The result is a subtle rounding out of harsh tannins, giving your wine a noticeably smoother finish on the palate.

Don't believe us? Try this simple experiment.

Grab a standard porcelain mug (or wine glass) and your Cato Cup. Brew a pot of black tea—like English Breakfast—and pour a serving into both. Let them cool and take a sip from each. Notice how the tea from the Cato Cup has a rounder, smoother finish? Black tea is packed with polyphenols, just like wine, making it a great way to taste the clay's softening effect in action.

Any wine you love! But if you really want to taste the difference, try a wine high in natural tannins, like a young Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sangiovese, or Malbec. If you prefer white or skin-contact pours, an oaky Chardonnay or an orange wine works brilliantly.

Because our vessels are completely unglazed, they ask for a simple hosting ritual:

• Rinse Promptly: Wash with hot or boiling water immediately after use. Never leave wine sitting in unglazed ceramic overnight.
• No Soap Allowed: Never use dishwashing liquid, detergents, or dishwashers. Dish soap will sink into the micro-textured clay surface and taint future pours.
• Air Dry Completely: Dry with a clean tea towel or leave it to air-dry completely in an open, well-ventilated space before placing it back in the cupboard.

Admittedly, if you use one of your cups as a tennis ball, it’s probably going to break. But because our stoneware is high-fired and stemless, it’s naturally durable and far less prone to accidental knocks than delicate glass stemware.

We don't! All of our ceramics are 100% unglazed, natural stoneware. Firing our mineral-rich clay at 1,100°C sinters the raw earth into a solid, durable ceramic body while keeping the tactile interior exposed for natural aeration.