How to use a Port tongs & decant a bottle of Vintage Port

[Roy Hersh]

I received a request to demonstrate the basic use of a Port tongs. I uploaded a video my wife took of me showing a very casual style of tonging a Port bottle, with my 5 year old daughter doing the decanting. This is not the formal or wine geek way to do either, but it works and gets the job done. Have a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ubeLgY4vWA

Should anybody like to purchase a pair of the best Port tongs available, please email Gustavo Devesas at: gustavodevesas@gmail.com

He is located in Portugal where these are made and will ship them directly to anywhere in the world. They are much less expensive then you'd think and can work on Port beautifully.

BTW, this works on Bdx or Burg or any other ancient bottles that might be in question or where you want to:
a. put on a bit of a show for friends
b. make sure you can ID the bottle
c. want to keep the cork as a keepsake
d. it is a guaranteed way to remove the cork safely.
e. any or none of the above

Disclaimer: I do not have ANY financial interest in the Port tong sales, as Gustavo is the manager of VinoLogia, the coolest Port bar in the world, with nearly 100 bottles of Port on the back bar at any given moment. If you are traveling to Oporto, it is a MUST visit. I take every single group Tour to see this fantastic place and to meet Gustavo and his father Jean-Philippe!

[Roy Hersh]

Come to think of it, I can't think of a better Father's Day gift for those of you thinking of what your wives can give you (that is tangible).

[Glenn E.]

Great video, Roy!

[Gustavo Devesas]

Dear FTLOP Friends,

To celebrate the coolest video about Port wine in the internet , I'm happy to announce that we at Vinologia will do a special discount of 5% to all the FTLOP friends that are interested on Port Tongs.
If you have any questions please fell always welcome to contact me : gustavodevesas@gmail.com

Greetings from Porto!

Gustavo

[Kris Henderson]

Very cool video. I've never seen Port tongs put to use. I'm very excited to try this myself.

[Roy Hersh]

Kris,

As mentioned here or elsewhere, with a minimum of practice on one or two really cheap full bottles, you can look like a pro. The method I demo in the video is not the Sommelier version, just the easy way to get the quickest and best result. You can use a torch, fireplace, stove top (takes a lot longer) or any other direct open flame source ... I use a few of these, but the charcoal or even a high BTU gas grill will work too.

Order one and dazzle your friends, or at least yourself.

[Paul_B]

Great Video Roy and Taylor....

too make it absolutely idiot proof maybe just mention that the tongs go just below the cork line... it was obvious visually in the video but I don't recall if it was stated..

It also felt like we all met you Roy, at least those of us who haven't yet in person, I mean.

Thanks
Paul

[Andy Velebil]

Dear FTLOP Friends,

To celebrate the coolest video about Port wine in the internet , I'm happy to announce that we at Vinologia will do a special discount of 5% to all the FTLOP friends that are interested on Port Tongs.
If you have any questions please fell always welcome to contact me : gustavodevesas@gmail.com

Greetings from Porto!

Gustavo

Gustavo,
Thanks for offerning the discount to FTLOP members, it is very much appreciated.

For all you thinking about buying some I have two words...DO IT My first pair of Port tongs I bought from Gustavo (at Vinologia) almost 3 years ago, before I had ever set foot on Portuguese soil or met Gustavo in person. I use them quite often to open older bottles of Port and it really is quite easy to do. A must-have item for any Port drinker.

[Roy Hersh]

Agreed, the tongs are a "no brainer" and are not only affordable, but great to have around for all kinds of reasons and purposes.

And THANK YOU Gustavo for a moste generous offer to FTLOP members!



Paul B.,

One day we'll drink some fine bottles of Port together. Yes, you are right. One of my errors was in not mentioning where to specifically place the tongs. I thought it was quite clear in the demonstation, but it would have been smarter to mention it. Thanks!

[Scott Anaya]

Port Thongs = Best wedding present I received :) My buddy overheard me at Christmas one year telling my other wine geek friend that if anone ever was asking what to get me for a present ever in my whole life, be it port thongs. He squirled that beta away for two plus years and ordered them in from England. They work great on any old bottles.

[Andy Velebil]

Scott,
Very nice friend indeed and what a great present...but I assume he didn't get you some underwear and got you TONGS instead

[Paul_B]

Andy,

that humour is becoming a trade mark... I noticed it in a few posts and it always makes me chuckle... keep it up.

/Paul B

[Roy Hersh]

I hate the mental picture of someone walking around wearing a Port thongs. Ouch!

[Todd Pettinger]

Kris,

As mentioned here or elsewhere, with a minimum of practice on one or two really cheap full bottles, you can look like a pro. The method I demo in the video is not the Sommelier version, just the easy way to get the quickest and best result. You can use a torch, fireplace, stove top (takes a lot longer) or any other direct open flame source ... I use a few of these, but the charcoal or even a high BTU gas grill will work too.

Order one and dazzle your friends, or at least yourself.

This is true. Very simple usage. After watching Moses do it once at his house, I was put to work on our four bottles Moses, Sean C and I shared a couple of nights later. I felt like a pro after one or two myself.

Only a couple of other 'disclaimers' I would add myself for first-timers:

1) If your bottle is wax-capped, try getting the tongs well below the wax. I didn't hit any of the wax on the one bottle we had with wax on it, but Moses assured me from experience it is a horrible smell - if you are indoors it may not go away so easily.
2) don't mistakenly squeeze the hot tongs together on the neck with too much force. I almost shattered the neck off a bottle this way, which could have been very ugly because the glass would not have broken cleanly as it did in Roy's video.


Aside from that - great video Roy and Taylor.

Todd

[JacobH]

That’s a cool video, Roy!

Having never tried it, I’m curious, though, as to how this differs from the Sommelier version?

2) don't mistakenly squeeze the hot tongs together on the neck with too much force. I almost shattered the neck off a bottle this way, which could have been very ugly because the glass would not have broken cleanly as it did in Roy's video.

I remembering watch someone do exactly this a few years ago on TV (it was a reality show where people were made to live in an Edwardian House). Quite fun to watch, though a waste of Port! What interested me about that is that they were told to use a wet feather, rather than a cloth, to cool the neck. Although it looked more mysterious, it seemed to increase the probability of it going wrong!

-Jacob

[Roy Hersh]

Todd & Jacob,

The Sommelier way is to put the bottle in a cradle, thereby having it on an angle. After using the tongs in the identical manner, they typically pour ice water from a pitcher over the heated neck to obtain the crack and then continue to pour water (unless the neck actually separates) to ensure that any glass particulate is washed away. It is the cradle that permits for more pomp and circumstance, especially the old ones that have a tilt handle.

Anyway, I've seen it done with an ice cube, an ice cold damp cloth, cold and wet feather, poured ice water etc. It is all good, depends on how much of a show you are looking to put on.

[Todd Pettinger]

Todd & Jacob,

The Sommelier way is to put the bottle in a cradle, thereby having it on an angle. After using the tongs in the identical manner, they typically pour ice water from a pitcher over the heated neck to obtain the crack and then continue to pour water (unless the neck actually separates) to ensure that any glass particulate is washed away. It is the cradle that permits for more pomp and circumstance, especially the old ones that have a tilt handle.

Anyway, I've seen it done with an ice cube, an ice cold damp cloth, cold and wet feather, poured ice water etc. It is all good, depends on how much of a show you are looking to put on.

I've asked my wife and kids for Port Tongs for Father's Day... so WHEN I get them, I will have to figure out the way that will provide the MOST pomp and circumstance... I am DEFINITELY looking to show off!

[Moses Botbol]

Many red wine bottles' necks are too narrow for the tongs.

Do a dry run with the tongs before heating them so you know what has to come off. Tongs will burn right through the license tag, so no worries on removing that.

I prefer the parallel style tongs, not the upright one, but both will do the job.

Buy an acetelene torch, usually about $25.00 from the hardware store. The regular plumber torch does not heat as quick.

I have had the neck shoot up in the air when putting a wet cloth on, so be careful.

Last, but not least... Be careful where you despose of bottle, the bottle is razor sharp and can cut someone easily. We have can collectors who go through our trash and I can see the law suit already...

[Roy Hersh]

I prefer the parallel style tongs, not the upright one, but both will do the job.

How come? I have not heard this before. The only downside I've seen to the upright one's is that the handles are not too long, which I prefer. But otherwise, why do you like the other style better?

[Moses Botbol]

I prefer the parallel style tongs, not the upright one, but both will do the job.

How come? I have not heard this before. The only downside I've seen to the upright one's is that the handles are not too long, which I prefer. But otherwise, why do you like the other style better?

Clamping the bottle from above is a little trickier ( due to the insertion height) and it’s easier to accidentally touch the wax capsule or some other kind of accident.

Both do the job fine, just my personal preference. We used the upright tongs on the ’83 Hoopers/Offley showdown on Saturday.

One thing to keep in mind buying tongs; some are more ornamental than functional. Definitely get the functional kind.