<img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> was just a joke, merci. I like wine myself very much and would never waste it. I also keep some wine bottles at home to store olive oil. I had the chance to taste different wines in whole around the mediterranean. I have been in France and I know how serious you Francs are about it. I did not mean to hurt you sorry.

I was once served Porto by a wine expert in Hyatt Regency. He heated the neck of the bottle a bit and then blew it off with a SWORD! It was a nice show and Porto was delicious.

By the way we keep a 1983 Sandeman at my mothers house waiting to be opened when my youngest sister gets married. (I say at least 10 more years) <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Here in the Thrace region you can still buy wine in soil jugs. On the camping trips to Gallipoli we wrap the jug with wet cloth and leave it under the sun. It becomes cool and goes well around the camp fire with some apples or cheese.

Cheers

Burak
Istanbul

Or an antique Ottoman dagger?

I haven't seen a real working one for along while. A nice cleaver would also do the job. There had been ones made for combat!

Burak

Don't worry ! I knew you were kidding (could not be otherwise <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />).

But I never heard about opening Port bottles the way you described. Amazing .... I will have to ask around .....

I won't try it with my old Port bottles (almost as old as I am ...).
I open one, from time to time, when I have good friends, who like Port wine, around me.
Once open, a bottle of Port MUST be emptied at the end of the dinner. Otherwise, it will become oxidized the next day and taste quite differently.
So if we are not enough to drink it at the aperitif, we finish the bottle at the end of the meal, along some Roquefort cheese.

Alain

(Geezzz.... now, I'm hungry ..... and drooling on my desk .... <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />: )

Just to butt into the conversation... When about 6 yo I saw movie adaptation of the Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado". In one of the scenes main character was poping bottles with his sword. I tried the same thing but not to a bottle of wine, but to a bottle of soda, not with a sword but with a finish knife (finka). Lets just say that 10 stiches, good beating and 2 hour later I gained great respect for proper bottle opening procedures. Still my roomate is Portugese and everytime he goes home he brings enough port and wine to keep me happy.

Matt