Masters and enjoyers of the ruby elixir, hello to you all. I'm John David France and I hail from Lancashire, England.
Although probably in the younger demographic of the port wine audience (36 tomorrow) I am an avid learner and taster. I've skirted round joining the forum long enough, so here we go as i'd like to meet many of you and join some tasting events.
I'll be back out in the douro in May 2025 also if any of you happen to be there
In the meantime, tis the season of drinking! I'd love to know what you are all opening this festive period!
Welcome aboard John, and bonus mark awarded for signing off your first post with initials. Now Julian only needs to know which of left- or right-handed you are! Look forward to meeting at a tasting soon.
A pleasure to have you commit and join. My parents live in Lancashire (although I'm actually a proud Yorkshire man.. Living in the south) so often find myself over there. I'll drop you a message and perhaps a small tasting could be in order up there?
Zak.
I myself am based in the Douro, but lots of UK-based members visit often. There are also plenty of UK tastings for you to join, of course, and we had an online tasting event a few days ago that was quite fun and we're looking it making it a semi-regular thing, so there's also that.
Hi John, and welcome. We love anyone who loves Port joining the Port Forum.
If you want to meet up with Miguel or Will when you’re in the Douro - or any of the other Port Forum members who might be there at the time - do use the Travel forum or the Organising Tastings forum if you want to arrange to meet for a tasting / lunch / dinner / coffee.
And if you ever have to be in London with an evening free, do let us know. It has happened that someone visiting London has been used as an excuse to arrange a tasting…
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.
2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
Guys this is perfect! I love a London trip so i'm always game for that. Miguel, it would be great to meet up in the valley! Just to clarify, you're not Miguel from Casa Cimera by any chance?
I will certainly look at a northern tasting session for sure if there are enough of us up here!
JohnDavidFrance wrote: ↑12:08 Sun 08 Dec 2024
Guys this is perfect! I love a London trip so i'm always game for that. Miguel, it would be great to meet up in the valley! Just to clarify, you're not Miguel from Casa Cimera by any chance?
I will certainly look at a northern tasting session for sure if there are enough of us up here!
JohnDavidFrance wrote: ↑12:42 Sat 07 Dec 2024
I'll be back out in the douro in May 2025 also if any of you happen to be there
Welcome, John!
I'm currently planning a trip to Portugal in that time frame, but have not yet settled on dates. It will be a private tour, but I usually arrive a day or two early to get adjusted to the time zone and might be able to get together with you in Porto if you're there.
The tour is currently looking like it will be May 18-25, so my "pre tour" days will probably be May 16-17 if those tour dates hold true.
JohnDavidFrance wrote: ↑12:42 Sat 07 Dec 2024
I'll be back out in the douro in May 2025 also if any of you happen to be there
Welcome, John!
I'm currently planning a trip to Portugal in that time frame, but have not yet settled on dates. It will be a private tour, but I usually arrive a day or two early to get adjusted to the time zone and might be able to get together with you in Porto if you're there.
The tour is currently looking like it will be May 18-25, so my "pre tour" days will probably be May 16-17 if those tour dates hold true.
Ah excellent! I'll see if i can make the dates work as my flights are not booked yet. Out of curiosity, were is your tour heading?
And any TPF tastings i can join i will certainly be there, i seem to have a stock of 1970 wines right now, though that may reduce a little over xmas
JohnDavidFrance wrote: ↑21:16 Thu 12 Dec 2024
Ah excellent! I'll see if i can make the dates work as my flights are not booked yet. Out of curiosity, were is your tour heading?
That is unknown to me at present. A friend is working with Roy Hersh to set up a tour for some of her WA winemaker friends, so it will no doubt be similar to past FTLOP tours but with perhaps a bit more time spent on non-Port activities.
A "normal" FTLOP tour spends Sunday afternoon/evening and all day Monday in Porto, then heads up into the Douro valley for Tuesday through Friday, then works its way back to Porto for a final dinner on Saturday evening. The final visit on Saturday morning before heading back to Porto is usually pretty spectacular.
Hard to say when I'll have dates... I'm sure my friend is having a lot of "fun" trying to coordinate with everyone's schedules!
JohnDavidFrance wrote: ↑21:16 Thu 12 Dec 2024
Ah excellent! I'll see if i can make the dates work as my flights are not booked yet. Out of curiosity, were is your tour heading?
That is unknown to me at present. A friend is working with Roy Hersh to set up a tour for some of her WA winemaker friends, so it will no doubt be similar to past FTLOP tours but with perhaps a bit more time spent on non-Port activities.
A "normal" FTLOP tour spends Sunday afternoon/evening and all day Monday in Porto, then heads up into the Douro valley for Tuesday through Friday, then works its way back to Porto for a final dinner on Saturday evening. The final visit on Saturday morning before heading back to Porto is usually pretty spectacular.
Hard to say when I'll have dates... I'm sure my friend is having a lot of "fun" trying to coordinate with everyone's schedules!
Ah yes I know Roy (not personally) from For The Love of Port, he's helped me identify a few obscure bottles i've had. I'll have to drop him a message, I believe he's just done a tour to Madeira.
Do many people attend the regalia in June by the way, I wondered if it was a loved event or just a quirk for port lovers?
Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑00:01 Sun 08 Dec 2024
Hi John, and welcome. We love anyone who loves Port joining the Port Forum.
If you want to meet up with Miguel or Will when you’re in the Douro - or any of the other Port Forum members who might be there at the time - do use the Travel forum or the Organising Tastings forum if you want to arrange to meet for a tasting / lunch / dinner / coffee.
And if you ever have to be in London with an evening free, do let us know. It has happened that someone visiting London has been used as an excuse to arrange a tasting…
A hearty welcome, John. Indeed, Miguel is in the Douro and I am in Lisbon. Should you find yourself heading this way, do give me a heads up.
