Wine Peeps is an independent wine blog dedicated to helping you get the most bang for your buck in wine. We do this through blind tastings of wine from around the world and calculations of 
Wine Word of the Week: Tastevin
By Kori ~ May 10th, 2011.
This week’s Wine Word of the Week is tastevin.
Official definition from Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine:
Tastevins, or wine tasters, as they are known by collectors are wine antiques, are shallow, often dimpled, saucers used for tasting by professionals (and occasionally self-conscious amateurs). Because they were usually used in a cellar, or on purchasing journeys where robust construction was essential, they were almost invariably made of silver….
Layman’s terms from Kori:
A tastevin is a small and shallow cup, sometimes worn on a chain around the neck, which was historically used by wine professionals to taste and evaluate wines. No longer used on a regular basis, today a tastevin is a wine accessory for the true wine geek and collector.
Filed under: Wine Word of the Week
I thought I was a geek, but I’ve never heard of this. Nice post!
Very cool historical view about how wine used to be tasted and evaluated. Often wondered what it would be like to have your child express a desire to be a professional wine, coffee or juice taster. Cool professional choice, geek or not.
Nice post as usual, enjoy the weekly word education.
Dan,
Thanks. Happy to be able to share a new “wine geek” word with you.
CoffeeGuy,
Interesting question to ponder. Our 4 year-old hasn’t expressed a desire to be a professional taster, but she sure loves to “toast” with her milk cup.
Cheers!