A Courtly Cup


Things done rightly will spare you the sword. We are in the land of courtly kin and manly men, so one must follow the archaic dining ritual to the letter. An excellent wine also requires an optimal glass in order to show the full splendor of its bouquet. Ideally, one serves port in a tulip-shaped stem glass that is wider at the base than at the rim. The stem is short, but just long enough that you can grasp it between your fingers and gently swirl the wine the release its aromas. Your expression should reflect a nonchalance mingled with deep understanding and a hint of satisfaction. Placing wine into a decanter just before serving (but some time after the bottle has been opened) will enliven the wine and assure the proper temperature. The process of decanting serves two purposes that are very important to the 'port ceremony.' If a young port, oxygenation is crucial to extricate its bouquet from the dense liquid, and if a vintage, the liquid is enabled to separate from the sediment. As important as a decanter is the process of handling the bottle. Once the bottle is set down after opening, brusque movements should be avoided so that the wine doesn't muddy.

When Port is served, one must remember to move it around the table in a clockwise direction, that is, from left to right. The origins of this mandate are not entirely clear, but legend holds that the devil always lurks behind the left shoulder. And assuming one is right-handed, they cannot stab their neighbor as the port is being passed.

What follows is a brief list of links to decanters and “courtly cups,” otherwise known as port wine glasses. The first, entitled “Duck Wine Decanter,” is a must see. If you wish to try your humour and play gallant and your dinner party, this may be just the table piece for you. But only if you are a man with some muscle should you dare:

Barrel and Bottles: Duck Wine Decanter

And for basic lead crystal, but impressively refined and shapely given the very low price, we liked the
Esperienze Port Glasses Set of 4

These goblets are true works of art in cobalt blue and lead crystal, and cost as much at $250 for a set of four. But if you can swing it, the Baccarat Orsay in Cobalt Blue are truly splended and will impress your maties and damsels alike.

And because moderation is always desirable, these unique port glasses are priced at a neutral $65, and suggest a host of great taste and decorum. They are the Holmegaard - Aida Glassware by Michael Bang

And, if you have brown leather sofas with studs in a library painted maroon with wood panels, this is the decanter for you: Stuart Shaftsbury Decanter. Even the name bespeaks a rich historicism, and perhaps more than that..........

Cheers!