Vintage Domaine Henri Maire Sommelier Tastevin
Vintage Domaine Henri Maire Sommelier Tastevin
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$68.00 USD
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Vintage Sommelier Tastevin
- vintage likely from 1940-1970
- from a historic wine estate in the Jura region of eastern France
- a tastevin is a shallow silver tasting cup traditionally used by winemakers and sommeliers
- 3.5" diameter x 0.75" tall
What is a Tastevin?
Before electricity, wine cellars (especially in places like Burgundy) were dark, damp, and lit only by candlelight. A regular glass didn’t work well in those conditions—you couldn’t clearly see the wine’s color or clarity.
The tastevin was designed specifically to solve that problem.
Its design features:
• Shallow bowl → easy to swirl and observe
• Highly polished silver interior → reflects even minimal light
• Dimples, ridges, and facets → break up and bounce light around the wine
All of this made it possible to judge:
• color (is it bright, dull, cloudy?)
• clarity (any sediment or faults?)
• general condition of the wine
How it was used:
A cellar master or sommelier would:
1. Dip or pour a small amount of wine into the tastevin
2. Hold it at an angle near a candle or dim light
3. Tilt and swirl it gently to catch the reflections
4. Visually inspect the wine before tasting
5. Then sip directly from the tastevin
Because it’s shallow, you’re not drinking from it like a cup—it’s more of a quick, controlled tasting.
