For The Love Of Port

Since Roy seems to be stuck overseas (poor man), I thought I should ask my question in Roy-style. I hate those small little things that they give you in restaurants and I rarely pour enough for one of those big 22 ounce cabernet aircraft carriers. I use a small tulip style glass with a short stem that looks a bit like a Reidel Vinum port glass, but with a slightly shorter and fatter bowl. How's 'bout youse?

In a related thread I did a simple taste test with three different glasses. I'm very happy with my IVDP glasses and found that there were problems with a bigger glass. Some day I want to try those inexpensive glasses Glenn mentioned in another thread to decide if I should order a bunch for tastings.

That sounds like the old IVDP glass, Jay. I have a couple of those branded by Noval and they're fine.

I also have a few of the new IVDP glasses, both produced by Schott Zwiesel and by someone else. I like those, too, but find the square stem to be a bit strange.

The INAO glasses that I got from Marjorie Lumm in California are nice and sturdy, but they have a rolled lip and so aren't the greatest quality. Still, at $2.65 each in case quantities (3 dozen) they're hard to beat for tastings.

My favorite glasses are my Riedel Vinums. They're far too expensive to buy in the quantities necessary for Port tastings, but for an "everyday" glass they're perfect. I also have one each of the Riedel Sommelier (the hand blown ones) Vintage Port and Tawny Port glasses, but they seem too fragile to use for anything but really special occasions.

Glenn E. wrote:My favorite glasses are my Riedel Vinums.

Same here. I'm very happy with the Riedel Vinum. I had a Sommelier, but it was fragile and actually I like the thicker vinum better. For me this is the perfect Port glass, the right weight and the right rim.
-Dave-

I like the IDVP glass. There are a hand positions designed into the stem & base. The glass is sturdier than the the Riedel.

Moses Botbol wrote:I like the IDVP glass. There are a hand positions designed into the stem & base. The glass is sturdier than the the Riedel.

I like it too. I'm just astounded that there isn't someone in the US that is importing these in bulk and reselling them.

I am reminded once again that my likes and dislikes, fads and fancies, enthusiasms and must-haves are not the rule in the universe at large.

Peter W. Meek wrote: I like it too. I'm just astounded that there isn't someone in the US that is importing these in bulk and reselling them.

I am reminded once again that my likes and dislikes, fads and fancies, enthusiasms and must-haves are not the rule in the universe at large.

Well, there were some rogue sellers, but they sold them all

I was told they were to start importing them at $12 a stem retail. That is a far cry from the FTLOP special.

They're not inexpensive, but nothing beats a good Riedel Vinum.

There's a local restaurant supplier here who sells very solid, reasonably thin lipped but sturdy Port glasses (perfect for large tasting needs) that are sold by 4 dz./case at $4.33

I use the Spiegelau Vino Grande Degustation-Chianti (I think that has been discontinued now), because that has a lot of similarities to the Riedel Vinum vintage port glass. The advantage of Spiegelau (owned by Riedel by the way) is that the glasses are far less expensive (especially over here in The Netherlands, about half the price of Riedel) than Riedel, but they still are very fine wine/port glasses

Peter W. Meek wrote:I am reminded once again that my likes and dislikes, fads and fancies, enthusiasms and must-haves are not the rule in the universe at large.

Peter: you probably know, I suspect, that this is part of your pleasure in these things, that the rest of the universe is largely oblivious to them. I have experienced more than once a distinct disappointment to find an esoteric pleasure that I thought was uniquely my own (at least within some local perimeter -- say on this side of the Atlantic) trumpeted in some publication, like a food magazine or an article on food.

Favorite glass is a grape jelly jar with Scooby-Doo and Shaggy on it ........if it weren't for those meddling kids.......

I've got Riedels which are very nice and the best I've got. (Never put in the dishwasher) Good for just a few, but not a crowd.

I've had the Crate & Barrell ones but very thin and fragile and I've broken most over the past few years (Dishwasher, but none broke in there).

I'm tempted to try the $2.65 ones, what can I lose at that price.

Has anyone seen the "port glasses" with the built in glass straw? (they sort of look like fat separators). These rather amuse me.

I have used and still occasionally use a standard red glass balloon glass--I can just get a better sense of the aroma with it than a standard port glass.

John M. wrote:Has anyone seen the "port glasses" with the built in glass straw? (they sort of look like fat separators). These rather amuse me.

Otherwise known as the headless cats.

While I love the Rediel one's, I've broken so many of them in the past I've all but stopped using them. My daily use ones now are the IVDP ones. I have no issues with the square cut stem with the finger notch, as I some people do. They also are very durable and as an overall glass seem to work very well.

John M. wrote:Favorite glass is a grape jelly jar with Scooby-Doo and Shaggy on it

I frequently use a similar glass (a tapered tumbler of about 10 oz) for my everyday wine drinking. I rarely use it as a port glass, though. Mine have no cheerful characters -- simply the name of my favorite restaurant. (At one time they included one with take-out wine orders.)

Has anyone seen the "port glasses" with the built in glass straw? (they sort of look like fat separators). These rather amuse me.

Eva ordered me a pair of those. One arrived broken. After trying the remaining one, we never even bothered to tell the seller that one had arrived in shards. The unbroken one sits in a display cabinet, eliciting questions from guests. Our explanation (with shrugged shoulders) is that perhaps there are port drinkers somewhere who don't like the smell of port.

I personally prefer the IVDP Schott glasses ...the Riedel's are clumsy and break easily.
I agree with Glenn about the cheap glasses sold by Marjorie Lumm. I purchased 144 for a tasting, and although each one looks like it's hand made (inconsistent in the quality control department) they are the right size and shape ..perfect for a large Port tasting!

So speaketh the Port glass expert Sean C. He DEFINITELY knows his Port glasses.

Speaking of which, the IVDP Schott glass was offered to me today by an email from a Canadian firm that was charging $15/glass. All I could do was to and hit DELETE.

Roy Hersh wrote:So speaketh the Port glass expert Sean C. He DEFINITELY knows his Port glasses.

Speaking of which, the IVDP Schott glass was offered to me today by an email from a Canadian firm that was charging $15/glass. All I could do was to and hit DELETE.

Port Club has them "on sale" for $109.50 a six-pack including worldwide shipping which is slightly higher. I've noted high prices there before, especially the port tongs.

SEAN C. wrote:...the Riedel's are clumsy and break easily.

I've only ever broken one, and I can't really blame Riedel for that particular instance. It was more me being a bonehead than the glass being fragile.

I use my Riedels daily. Granted, I hand wash them, but that's more to avoid having to run the dishwasher daily than avoiding the dishwasher for the sake of the glass. They seem plenty sturdy to me.

I've never broken one of the IVDP glasses, whether made by Schott or the previous manufacturer, but I haven't had good luck with the bases on them. I'd say probably half of my IVDP glasses don't have a level base. They're not off by much - if you're using a tablecloth you might not notice - but on a hard surface like a wood or glass topped table they rock ever so slightly.

Glenn,

I am with ya. I've never broken a Riedel Port glass either ... unless knocking it off the counter or table. But never in normal use and I DO put them in the dishwasher and have never lost one that way. My wife on the other hand, has a distinct knack for breaking my Riedel Vinum Port glasses and the Syrah glass too. But she is no longer allowed to wedge them into the dishwasher or remove them. I am happy to do that, to prevent her from breaking 'em. Follow the simple rule: do not wash or handle glasses after drinking ,unless 100% sober. That saves a lot in replacement costs.

Follow the simple rule: do not wash or handle glasses after drinking ,unless 100% sober. That saves a lot in replacement costs.

I lost two this way--same friend about a minute apart----needless to say I have the same rule. Only lost one other than being knocked over, just broke while I was polishing without much pressure at all.