Use of Port Tongs

[Roy Hersh]

Several questions come to mind as this Forum matures, along with the wisdom of people posting here and the new people who post here nowadays.

a. Have you ever used a Port tongs.

b. What type of tongs do you own?

c. How often do you use your Port tongs in a given year?

d. Have you ever tried your Port tongs on any other type of Port other than vintage .. or another type of wine altogether?


Thanks!

Roy

[Gerwin de Graaf]

Several questions come to mind as this Forum matures, along with the wisdom of people posting here and the new people who post here nowadays.

a. Have you ever used a Port tongs.

b. What type of tongs do you own?

c. How often do you use your Port tongs in a given year?

d. Have you ever tried your Port tongs on any other type of Port other than vintage .. or another type of wine altogether?


Thanks!

Roy

a: Yes
b: one which I can stand up (pic as example of the kind I own)
c: 2-3 times a year
d: I tried it on tawny port (10 yo) and an LBV once for practice purposes.

[John M.]

A. Yes, I own a set.

B. The over the top type. Never had a problem, always have worked well

C. A couple times a year....just for show although I would use the for an older bottle if I thought the cork was an issue.

D. No. But I when I first got them I saved a number of bottles so the teenagers could try them out (filled with water and plugged with used corks--not letting them near my VP!)

[Andy Velebil]

Yes
I own several pairs of various types, including one custom-made one made out of stainless steel

I don't use them as often as in the past. The Durand has largely replaced the need...unless I have company who's never seen it or wants to see a bottle tong'd. Then it's time to get the blow torch out and fire it up

Never used it on other types of wine that I recall. But when I first got them I practiced by filling an old wine bottle up with water, shoving a cork into the neck, then applying the hot tong. Figured if I screwed up better to be on a bottle of water and not an old bottle of VP.

[Eric Ifune]

I have one, a vertical type bought in Portugal.
I used to use it several times a year, but my grill broke down and now I don't have anything which will get hot enough. I guess I need to buy a propane torch or something.
I've only used it on Vintage Ports.

[Andy Velebil]

I have one, a vertical type bought in Portugal.
I used to use it several times a year, but my grill broke down and now I don't have anything which will get hot enough. I guess I need to buy a propane torch or something.
I've only used it on Vintage Ports.

Maybe time for a new grill too...my next trip to Nevada we can break it in

[Tom D.]

Slightly relevant to this topic, Lot # 338 in this month's Chicago Wine Company auction caught my attention. I'll be at their warehouse next week to inspect a couple other lots, in case anyone would like me to check this one out for them.

Link here: http://www.tcwc.com/s.nl/category.123344/.f

No affiliation, just passing it along FWIW.

[Andy Velebil]

Slightly relevant to this topic, Lot # 338 in this month's Chicago Wine Company auction caught my attention. I'll be at their warehouse next week to inspect a couple other lots, in case anyone would like me to check this one out for them.

Link here: http://www.tcwc.com/s.nl/category.123344/.f

No affiliation, just passing it along FWIW.

If you're able to snap a pic please post.

[Tom D.]

If you're able to snap a pic please post.

I'll do that Andy, probably the middle of next week.

[Peter W. Meek]

a) No
b) Both kinds - Horizontal and Vertical (I tend to collect things)
c) Zero
d) No

For one thing, I like to save my most interesting bottles - at least until I run out of space for them.

I just think port tongs look cool.

I haven't had a port cork totally disintegrate (a few have broken into a half dozen pieces, but never into a cloud of crumbs. Lucky I guess, plus lack of exposure - I don't open many VPs, just tawnies.

===off topic===
I also have a "decanting engine", but I have to modify it so I can get a large decanter under the bottle mouth; right now it is limited to decanting into glasses only. Also a collection of cork screws/removers able to deal with a variety of cork conditions. A Durand, a Code 38, a very nice Laguiole with horn scales, several other "waiter's friend" wine keys (many are souvenirs), several Ah-So-style (some modified, some normal), several Rabbit-type, some long-screw types for very difficult corks in sparkling wine bottles, butterfly, straight T-pull, and a couple of electric cork pullers. (Plus the corkscrew on my Swiss-Army knife.)

The Code 38 is my "everyday" carry. I'm never without it - I simply refuse to do things or go places that would require me to leave it behind.

[Eric Ifune]

Maybe time for a new grill too...my next trip to Nevada we can break it in

I'll be awaiting!

[Eric Menchen]

I have a pair of the flat type tongs that I use about once a year on a old bottle of VP. I don't recall using them on anything else, but I have a few older bottles of other wine that might warrant their consideration.

That TCWC lot is interesting, but I really just want the 1987, so I won't be bidding on it.

[Roy Hersh]

I own three pairs but only one is really all that functional. The other two are the old fashioned horizontal kind (tenazes) that are more for looks but certainly can be used, but they're not as effective as the "vertical" one shown in Gerwin's picture above.

[Moses Botbol]

Have a horizontal pair which I prefer to the vertical. Vertical tongs are too easy to touch the wax and that smells just awful. My tongs, and I'd imagine most don't work on dry wines as the neck is too narrow. It's been a while since I used them the last time. It's great if you want to preserve a perfect cork, but I don't collect corks so the Durand does most duty.

[Tom D.]

Per Andy's request, here are a couple pictures of TCWC November auction lot 338. The bottles all looked very clean to me, as did the tongs. Kind of cool actually, but not on my shopping list so I won't be bidding. Again, no affiliation here, just FYI.

[Andy Velebil]

Cool box. Though not exactly up to par with a Vesuvio "foot locker" in quality from the pics. Thanks for the pics

[Moses Botbol]

Cool box. Though not exactly up to par with a Vesuvio "foot locker" in quality from the pics. Thanks for the pics

Very cool and even cooler that they are all Vintages that can be enjoyed today.

[Andy Velebil]

Cool box. Though not exactly up to par with a Vesuvio "foot locker" in quality from the pics. Thanks for the pics

Very cool and even cooler that they are all Vintages that can be enjoyed today.

Yes, would be fun and educational to open all those at once and taste side by side.

[Moses Botbol]

Yes, would be fun and educational to open all those at once and taste side by side.

Only if I am in attendance.

[Tom D.]

Yes, would be fun and educational to open all those at once and taste side by side.

Only if I am in attendance.

Me too. I'm all for education.