For The Love Of Port

Andy Velebil wrote:Just keep in mind for those that have been to Portugal and used the square stem style ones....these are NOT those. I've used the ones listed and they work well when a very large number of glasses is needed. They do have a thicker glass rim and a rolled edge (IIRC) but are very sturdy and you can throw them all in the dishwasher and not have to worry about breakage. And at the price are a good QPR value for large offlines or parties.

Their merit is, just as Andy says, the excellent Queens Park Rangers value. If you need six glasses, buy something swanky. If you need a hundred, buy something that’s a lot cheaper and only a little worse.

Andy Velebil wrote:

Glenn E. wrote:I managed to acquire a set of 6 of these while I was in Portugal. The story as told to me by the shopkeeper is that the IVdP won't sell them to consumers - only to "professionals" which apparently includes shopkeepers. This particular shopkeeper was more than happy to get a box for me, though.

Glenn,
Those you got have the IVDP Selo on them and were made by the original company that prodcued them, they are now produced by Schott Zwesell (sp?). The newer version, which is the same shape, can be bought all over Oporto and V.n.d.G. now, mainly in 6 packs but I did see some 12 packs. I'm guessing its because of the Selo etched on them that the IVDP only sells them to higher end wine stores. Very cool looking glasses though, as the the Selo seal # is the date of the demarcation IIRC.

No mine are Schott Zweisel glasses - according to Maria Theresa they're the new IVdP standard tasting glass. You can buy the new square-stem glass all over Porto and V.N.d.Gaia without any etching or branding, but the only place I saw that glass with the Selo de Guarantia branded on it available for sale was at AVEPOD. And I looked everywhere, too, because I really wanted some of them. Note that the box they come in is deceiving - it makes it look like the glasses contained have the Selo marking, but they do not. (Or at least none of the ones I found and checked did. They were all plain crystal glasses.) On one occasion, I saw one that was branded but was told it was only for display and not for sale.

Many of the lodges are also selling the new SZ glasses, but with their own logos instead of the Selo de Guarantia. I picked up a pair of those at Ramos Pinto and my parents picked up 2 at Taylors and 2 at Sandeman. The pair I got at Noval are the old style round stem glass.

The shape is not exactly the same as before, but it is very close. You can see the difference if you have one of each sitting next to each other, but probably wouldn't notice if you saw them separately. The new square-stem SZ glass is slightly taller than the old round-stem glass.

And yes you are correct - the number used in the seal is 1756, the year of demarcation.

J. D. A. Wiseman wrote:Ninety-nine Riedels would cost a pretty penny more.

Oh yeah. The best price I've found on the Riedel Vinum is around $16/stem. I only have 5 of them (originally 6, but my fat fingers broke one while drying it). Some day I will probably get a Riedel Sommelier Port glass just to have one, but those are more like $80/stem.

For a big tasting... even the new square stem IVdP glass from Schott Zwiesel is too pricey at $6/stem.

Glenn E. wrote:The shape is not exactly the same as before, but it is very close. You can see the difference if you have one of each sitting next to each other, but probably wouldn't notice if you saw them separately. The new square-stem SZ glass is slightly taller than the old round-stem glass.

Please don’t be shy about posting a side-by-side photo.

Glenn,

I may be a bit confused because I saw the older (non Shott's Zweisel) glasses with the selo in Maria's shop 2 weeks ago. All the SZ have the company name etched on the base of the glass, the old syle don't. Note: both have the square stem.

The orginal company that made the square stems ones was ASO (IIRC) or something like that. They had production issues and many of the stems are slightly twisted where it joins the bowl. Those same design are now made by SZ and other than SZ name etched on the base, there is a small "platform" where the stem mets the bottom of the bowl.

Again, side-by-side photos and we can all be experts! Please?

I'm at work! The glasses are at home! Patience, please!

I'll check to be sure, but I'm pretty sure mine have the Schott Zweisel etched on the base of the glass. It's kind of cool because it is etched on the bottom of the glass backwards so that it is readable through the glass when it's sitting on the table. However, the glass that I'm 100% positive is etched that way is one of the Ramos Pinto glasses that I bought and not one of the IVdP glasses. So I'll check tonight when I'm taking pictures.

As a side note, the two S.Z. Ramos Pinto glasses do not have completely level bases. They both rock very slightly when placed on a flat surface like a table or granite countertop. The older style round stem glasses that I got at Noval also rock slightly, but my Riedels don't.

Actually the original glass that was produced for the IVP (prior to IVDP) was designed by Portuguese architect Alvaro Siza Vieira ... but produced in France and imported to the USA by OHM Design in Brooklyn, NY.

I have a few dozen of the glasses that Glenn has and they are pretty good and look great with the Selo etched on them. I prefer for serious tasting the Riedel Vinum and although the Riedel Sommelier may be about $65 more per stem, they only deliver about $5 worth of extra pleasure for me. I keep a pair but rarely if ever use them. The main difference is the hand blown nature of the glass which provide a very slightly thinner lip.

The glasses that Julian mentioned are very sound for events where a couple of hundred glasses are required, but I would not want to try to seriously evaluate VP from them unless there is no option available. For the price, they work when required.

One of my last favorite Port glasses, based on the narrow aperture, height and narrow bowl with awkward stem is the one produced by Spiegelau.

Andy is correct!

My IVdP branded glasses are NOT also branded by Schott Zwiesel. Only my Ramos Pinto glasses are S.Z. glasses.

I posted 2 pictures in the PORTraits section. This one shows the differences between the glasses the best:



While this one shows the Schott Zwiesel branding on the bottom of the Ramos Pinto glass the best:



Interestingly, I noticed while taking the pictures that the older IVdP branded non-S.Z. glasses are flat and steady on the table... the new S.Z. glass rocks slightly, as does the older design of the Quinta do Noval glass.

Roy Hersh wrote:the Riedel Sommelier may be about $65 more per stem, they only deliver about $5 worth of extra pleasure for me. I keep a pair but rarely if ever use them.

I have one Riedel Sommelier Port Glass. That's my daily Port drinking glass. When that one breaks, I won't replace it. But it's fun to use!

-Dave-

Hopefully another container will be coming soon without broken glasses.

I am up to 50 IDVP's for myself. I found a good way to store them. Take a good cardboard wine box and each slot can hold two glasses! I cut a square piece of cardboard from another box as the layer in between.

The IDVP's are much sturdier than the Riedel's (Vinum). I have no problems loading the dishwasher with IDVP's and have never broken one in there! I've broken 5 Riedel's for every 1 IDVP in regular use. The Riedel's are more elegant and the glass has less ripples in the bowl, but it's IDVP's all the way for me.

Very shortly, those from will have an exclusive offer to buy these IVDP glasses and have them in time for the holidays. Full details will be ready within the next week or two at the most. Please be patient.