 Wine
Thieves
By Ken SeligmanEvery
winery has at least one wine thief lurking about. Many wineries
probably have several wine thieves! Okay, it's not as
sinister at it sounds. Actually a wine thief (aka "barrel
thief") is a sampling tube made from clear glass or plastic.
The thief is lowered into the wine container, usually directly
into a barrel, to collect a sample of wine. The taster then
disgorges the wine sample into a wineglass or a shallow
"tastevin" cup for use by the wine taster. The wine
thief is similar to a large turkey baster.
 Many
wineries offer special tours that allow the opportunity to taste
their wines right out of the barrel. Your tour guide will use a
wine thief to draw out your wine sample. Ideally, you will get to
taste your favorite wine at its different stages of production.
This is a winery tour at its best!
Bob Whitlock, of St. Clement Winery in Napa
Valley, uses a glass wine thief for "stealing" right out
of the barrel into your wine glass.
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