Where to drink port, and how?

[EwenCummins]

Hello,

Now I realise this may be the world's dumbest question....But where and how to drink port by the glass?

Lying down, yes obviously...

Standing up, yes, equally obvious....

But where can I buy a reasonable selection by the glass in:
- London?
- Yorkshire or there't't'about't'ts?

Yours,

Purple Dipper.

[LGTrotter]

Dear Mr Dipper,

I understand there is an outfit named 'The port Forum' which regularly serves port by the glass in London. Admittedly it is only on particular nights and is usually accompanied by a couple of dozen other glasses of port.

Your obedient servant,

Mr Trotter.

[LGTrotter]

Furthermore I would say that my own experience of port by the glass in the provinces has been terrible. Restaurants generally believe that port stored in a half empty bottle will keep for around two years. They also seem incapable of decanting it. If you see them open a fresh bottle it may be worth a punt but if they profer you something in an already open bottle forget it.

There is a wine shop near me which has one of those things which looks like an old fashioned cigarette machine with wine bottles in it upside down which dish out the wine a glass at a time, if you can find one of those nearby they seem OK, but they seem to flatten the taste a bit. London will probably be full of them.

[flash_uk]

In London you'll find some decent offerings by the glass at some of the Davy's wine bars, the various El Vino establishments, and also, The Sign of the Don usually has a few.

[djewesbury]

(El Vino has unfortunately closed recently.)

You should have a look at a thread somewhere here entitled Restaurant Wine List of the Week, or something similar. Branches of the Hotel du Vin chain often have port by the glass: I believe there's one in Yorkshire somewhere though I forget exactly where.

[flash_uk]

(El Vino has unfortunately closed recently.)

Really?? I know it was taken over by Davy's, but I don't think it has closed...

[djewesbury]

(El Vino has unfortunately closed recently.)

Really?? I know it was taken over by Davy's, but I don't think it has closed...

I think the branches are closed for now - went past the one on Ludgate Hill, next to the Black Friar, and it was shut...