Expert: Paul Wagner - 11/20/2008

Question
QUESTION: My father, a second generation Italian-American, described to me a vessel from which his grandfather daily drank his wine. It was made of glass, round, with a drinking point described as being like that of the mouth piece of a trumpet. My father has wished the vessel to be part of his inheritance. Alas, no one knows what became of it. Any ideas what this vessel may have been?

ANSWER: Hi Bonnie

I think I know what your dad means...it's a kind of decanter that has a spout on it.  You can use the spout to pour the wine out, but in the old days it was used a bit like a bota bag--you simply drink the wine as it streamed directly out of the glass decanter.  

I have seen these everywhere, but and was able to find  a few links on-line right now...these are from ebay.

Here is a Spanish version called a Porron:

http://cgi.ebay.com/PORRON-WINE-DECANTER-PITCHER-HAND-BLOWN-GLASS-FRM-SPAIN_W0QQ

And here is a more traditional Italian one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Italian-Wine-Decanter-Green-Glass-With-Ice-Chamber_W0QQitemZ

Paul Wagner



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much. I showed the pictures to my dad and he said that decanter his grandfather used had no spout. My guess is that my great-grandfather drank directly from the mouth of the decanter and pursed his lips inside the rim. Any further ideas/thought?

Answer
Hi  Bonnie

YOU might look at what is called a "botijo" in Spanish--it's ceramic, not glass, but pretty much fits the description your father provided.

Here's a link to a very elaborate one...but they can be made of ceramic or glass:

http://www.prevailingwinds.com/Spanish_Botijo_p/14205.htm

Paul Wagner