Port glasses

Size is the first decision. The glasses in this collection run from 8 to 25 cl, and that spread comes from two different uses. A bowl of 13 to 15 cl, such as the Lehmann Grand Reserve or the Royal Leerdam Bouquet, is the classic size for a pour of around 7 cl: the glass then sits just under half full and there is room left over for the aroma. Roomier models of 19 to 25 cl, found at Spiegelau, Schott Zwiesel and RIEDEL, are meant for vintage port and old tawny, where more air makes the difference.

Look at the rim as well. A rim that curves inwards gathers the aromas, which is pleasant with sweet port. A straight, wider rim such as on the Onis N.Y.C. lets the alcohol lift away faster and works better with white port served chilled.

The stem should be long enough to hold without touching the bowl, certainly with white port and port tonic.

Pour about 7 cl, no more. Serve red port and tawny slightly below room temperature, around sixteen degrees. Drink white and rosé port chilled, around eight degrees, often topped up with tonic and ice in a larger glass. Pour a decanted vintage slowly down the side of the glass so the sediment remains in the decanter.

An opened bottle of tawny or ruby keeps for several weeks in the refrigerator, while a vintage keeps for considerably less time. That is a good reason to serve it by the glass rather than putting the bottle on the table.

Port pairs well with blue cheese, walnuts, and dark chocolate, and in winter also works well in hot mixed drinks. Among the Christmas cocktails you will find several recipes in which port is the base, and the overview of cocktail recipes shows which glass goes with which mixed drink.

Most port glasses here are lead-free crystal glass. That material can be drawn thin, which makes the rim finer and lets the wine run better, but it does need attention in the dishwasher. Stand the glasses clear of one another and use a short programme at no more than sixty degrees, and they stay clear.

Models from Pasabahce and Royal Leerdam are made of tempered or soda-lime glass and are noticeably more robust, which suits the trade, where a lot of glasses go through the machine in an evening.

A white film after washing is usually limescale, not wear. A dash of cleaning vinegar in lukewarm water dissolves it. Dry with a linen cloth afterwards and hold the glass by the bowl as you do, not by the stem.

Are you looking for something for sherry? Then sherry glasses are a more logical size, and for limoncello and other digestifs, look under liqueur glasses. Restaurants that serve port by the glass often also need tasting glasses , as their size is quite similar. For decanting a vintage, you can find suitable models under decanters. If you would like to have a name, vintage year, or company logo printed on them, for example for a winery, this can be done through glass printing.