Buying bulk wine out of a barrel in Venice

As of the fall of 2014, there were still the Vino Scfuso shops in Venice. That trip I utilized the one in Campo Santa Margarita, but have been to others on past trips. They aren't really what I would call barrels, but large plastic containers. If you google Vino Scfuso shops Venice, you should be able to get approximate locations.

Yes, they are still here.

They were the last I looked.

While staying in an apartment in Cannaregio this past September, we used such a wine shop on Calle de Fumo near the Fondemente Nove vaporetto stop. One thing to keep in mind, much of the bulk wine sold in these shops is not of the highest quality. The proprietor of the shop we used told us that most of his bulk wine was purchased by local restaurant chefs for cooking, and while it was perfectly drinkable, it would not be his first choice.

Alessandro Schezzini is a great fan of bulk wine. To quote, "When I visit my mother, if I brought a bottle of wine, she would say, 'What's a matter you, Alessandro, you no lova your momma anymore?' She expects bulk wine in a container, the old fashioned way. In Alessandro's opinion, bottled wine is "fake", manipulated so that the taste is consistent year to year and travels well. Of course that means the bulk wine is inconsistent and does not travel well. But it also means that it is "honest" wine, at least in his book.

I loved those shops! The wine was cheap, and to me, it was very good. But, I am not a wine afficionado.

Hey to all from Venezia,
We searched high and low and found Vinaria Nave De Ori, Rio Terra San Leanrdo, just down from C Del Pistor, 50 yards from Pistor Square. Close to Campiello Agusto Picutti
30121 Venice. West of the square. Leaving the train station go left and go over Canale Di Cannaregio, it's about 150 yards on the other side of the canal. He had containers there.
The other place we found (Enoteca Wine Shop, Aziende Agricole Di Roberto Berti, Rio Tera' Farsetti, Cannaregio 1847/A 30121, Venezia 39 333 345 8811) very near by sells wine and wonderful "Cicchetti, really good fresh snacks at a bar" you bring your own container and the red was fabulous. You can leave with your own container.
Ciao!

Alessandro,
Thanks for the funny funny story about your mama!
Ciao

Kermit Lynch, a Berkeley wine merchant had an interesting story back in the late 1970s about a old Italian wine maker somewhere on the road to Monterrey. (Kermit specialized in importing up-priced European wines). Kermit told of buying a no-name wine from this road side wine maker and found it very good at a low price. He returned at a later date and bought a few more bottles only to be disappointed. He discovered that the old wine maker bottled wine out of the barrel on demand. The "good" wine apparently was bottled when the barrel was full. the "bad" wine was bottle when the barrel was somewhat empty resulting in oxidation.

Moral to Kermit's story is to buy bulk wine from a full barrel.