port tongs, rare instrument for opening a bottle of vintage port so old that the cork is likely to crumble under the impact of a corkscrew. The specially shaped tongs are heated in a flame and applied to the neck of the bottle, which is then immediately cooled with a cold, damp cloth. The sudden temperature change should result in a clean break. Tongs can be used on other venerable bottles.
© Jancis Robinson and Oxford University Press 1994, 1999, 2006, 2015
