“I’ll be pouring some excellent Cab Francs today.”
Whatever happened to “We’re tasting some excellent Cab Francs today?” Everyone seems to be pouring everywhere these days. Am I the only person who thinks that this sounds strange? What would the equivalent be with chocolate chip cookies? “I’ll be placing some excellent chocolate chip cookies today?”
Perhaps it’s the “me” part – I’ll be pouring – that seems odd. It’s a little like when a waiter says “my marzipan is really delicious” or “I’ve got some amazing Chimichangas.” I’m sure you do. Or maybe it’s just that the term pouring seems to imply vast amounts of liquids gushing forth as in “it’s not just raining, it’s pouring!”
Pouring wine rapidly and in huge volumes doesn’t seem to be strange at all on the internet; in fact it’s de rigueur. A quick browse around most wine sites reveals wine being poured in ways that would put NASA velocity tests to shame. Is the subject really so boring that it needs to be tarted up by pushing the limits of fluid mechanics? Are the stock photo people really that bored? Was a stunt sommelier employed for any of these shots? Do I hear Eric Burdon and War playing Spill the Wine somewhere?
Obviously there are a lot of unanswered questions here, so before I really scare myself and become Andy Rooney, the candidates for the most Extreme Pour of 2007 (in no apparent order) are:
Kapture Group Inc.
Not a wine site, but the Kapture Group sells equipment to help capture moments of vinous mayhem like the typhoon in a glass pictured here.
New York Times
Eric Asimov’s blog is called The Pour so it should come as no surprise that they have a strong entry. A real study of contrasts here as a heavy rope of wine appears to be breaking the surface of an otherwise tranquil glass. Sediment be damned – get it in the glass!
Nat Decants
Is that a giant red wine Cobra threatening Natalie MacLean’s wholesome head? Watch out Natalie!
67 Wine
Not a lot of action here but a lot of wine. Do still waters run deep? The half-full half-empty debate certainly has no room here. No! Fill it to the brim! Let it be known that the people of 67 Wine are not stingy!
Dining on the Vine
Given the apparent lack of gravity, I would call this site Dining on the Moon instead of Dining on the Vine. Is that a bottle or a hose? Waiter, please bring me the 1990 La Tâche and a mop!
Royal Doulton
The quintessential British tableware maker weighs in with a classic Poseidon Adventure pour. Either that or they’re introducing a line of Chablis coloured baby Baboons in crystal.
Please Vote:
{democracy:8}
Win a Shiny New Spittoon!
To enter, simply leave a comment below. A winner will be selected Monday December 17th at random. You don't have to write anything clever. A simple "nice spittoon" will do.
Comments
nice spittoon? I like to spit on winery floors.* Especially when they have no appropriate place to spit.
*Learned to do this in the Loire, where it’s proper.
Very nice spittoon. love to have it in my office!
Dining on the Vine has it going away for sheer drama and over the top silliness. But I am more intrigued by the NY Times, given the size, volume and sheer “tonnage” of the incoming pour. That’s a fire hose doing the service.
Poor me, I pored over the websites with pouring pictures that you showcased and now I need to taste something. Trouble is, unless I use a straw I cannot taste it without pouring first!! So, I will be pouring tonight but going straight to the drinking part without giving the pour any attention-it is just a means to an end!
Nat is natty!
The New York Times image is the only one that actually makes the wine look like something I would not want to drink. As for the others … it’s just sad that a great beverage is tossed about so carelessly or ridiculously over poured. Sigh. Oh, by the way, nice spittoon
nice spittoon
Is that one of those spittoons made in Italy?
WE HAVE A WINNER!
The Jim who wrote: “Pouring is part of the wine experience and as such needs respected.”
was chosen by the random number generator at random.org
Thank you everyone that took the time to enter and especially to the more thoughtful and funny comments.
Aeration is one thing but that’s just plain wasteful!!!
It is sad to see something as humble as wine transform into comercial excitment: “Dining on the Vine”.
Sorry I missed your deadline but not the chance to share my comments about the liquid I love.
Sorry, used up my clever quotations trying to wine that thing with the Rabbit.