Porto, October 10th till 14th

[Rummy]

Will be traveling to Porto with my wife, arriving on the 10th of October in the late afternoon and leaving by train on the 14th at 14:40.

Been to Porto several times and visited many of the lodges. Are there any port/wine-related activities that anyone can recommend? Maybe some special Portforum members exclusives ?

Also very willing to meet up if anyone is in the area, can bring a bottle(s).

Cheers!

[Alex Bridgeman]

I won't be in the area in October, but which lodges have you not visited yet? Maybe we can help with suggestions of which ones to go to.

I'm also trying a black glass blind tasting at the Quevedo tasting room on my next trip - that might be a bit of fun!

[Rummy]

I won't be in the area in October, but which lodges have you not visited yet? Maybe we can help with suggestions of which ones to go to.

I'm also trying a black glass blind tasting at the Quevedo tasting room on my next trip - that might be a bit of fun!

Hi Alex,

Might visit Quevedo then, someone was quite happy with their recent 72 release, would be nice if they have it by the glass.

We've been to Graham (best experience), Burmester, Kopke, Cálem, Sandeman, Fonseca and Ferreira (in VNDG). I never knew Niepoort had a lodge there so we'll probably visit that at least.

All suggestions are welcome.

[M.Charlton]

I won't be in the area in October, but which lodges have you not visited yet? Maybe we can help with suggestions of which ones to go to.

I'm also trying a black glass blind tasting at the Quevedo tasting room on my next trip - that might be a bit of fun!

Hi Alex,

Might visit Quevedo then, someone was quite happy with their recent 72 release, would be nice if they have it by the glass.

We've been to Graham (best experience), Burmester, Kopke, Cálem, Sandeman, Fonseca and Ferreira (in VNDG). I never knew Niepoort had a lodge there so we'll probably visit that at least.

All suggestions are welcome.

FWIW I highly recommend visiting the Niepoort cellars. I went there a couple of years ago with some friends to do one their tastings (lineup below - excl. some samples from barrel). Very sound bunch in there. They looked after us really well and the tour was spot on too.

[Rummy]

FWIW I highly recommend visiting the Niepoort cellars. I went there a couple of years ago with some friends to do one their tastings (lineup below - excl. some samples from barrel). Very sound bunch in there. They looked after us really well and the tour was spot on too.

Looks like a great lineup, definetely interested. Do you remember which tasting you booked, or which of the current tastings looks most similar?
https://www.niepoort.pt/en/experiences/ ... gaia-porto

[rich_n]

I won't be in the area in October, but which lodges have you not visited yet? Maybe we can help with suggestions of which ones to go to.

I'm also trying a black glass blind tasting at the Quevedo tasting room on my next trip - that might be a bit of fun!

Hi Alex,

Might visit Quevedo then, someone was quite happy with their recent 72 release, would be nice if they have it by the glass.

We've been to Graham (best experience), Burmester, Kopke, Cálem, Sandeman, Fonseca and Ferreira (in VNDG). I never knew Niepoort had a lodge there so we'll probably visit that at least.

All suggestions are welcome.

I can recommend Churchill who have a lodge halfway up the hill toward Graham. It's got a good view and they were very generous with their pours. Great wines too, including some more unusual options such as 2 different crusted options to compare.

(Staff were great too, very helpful including replacing a glass of one of the vintages that wasn't right).

[M.Charlton]

FWIW I highly recommend visiting the Niepoort cellars. I went there a couple of years ago with some friends to do one their tastings (lineup below - excl. some samples from barrel). Very sound bunch in there. They looked after us really well and the tour was spot on too.

Looks like a great lineup, definetely interested. Do you remember which tasting you booked, or which of the current tastings looks most similar?
https://www.niepoort.pt/en/experiences/ ... gaia-porto

The Masterclass.

[Alex Bridgeman]

We've been to Graham (best experience), Burmester, Kopke, Cálem, Sandeman, Fonseca and Ferreira (in VNDG). I never knew Niepoort had a lodge there so we'll probably visit that at least.

All suggestions are welcome.

Well definitely Niepoort, that’s a really special visit. I also love the tour around Ramos Pinto’s big house on the waterfront (and the wines available by the glass in the tasting room). Cockburn is also a good visit (just above Niepoort) and Poças are worth the walk up the hill.

I’m guessing your visit to Kopke was to their tasting room on the waterfront. It’s now possible to visit the cellars just opposite the Niepoort Lodge.

And, of course, there’s Garrafeira Nacional on Rua das Flores with their wines by the glass…

[Rummy]

Thank you for the replies up till now. I've contacted Niepoort for he masterclass and will be visiting a few more of your suggestions to explore the btg options.

[Mike J. W.]

The suggestions you've received are very good, but I would highly recommend Pocas. They have great Colheitas and TWAIOA. They also brought out a 1994 LBV which was simply excellent.

Edit: I see Alex already recommended Pocas, so I second that motion.

[Rummy]

The suggestions you've received are very good, but I would highly recommend Pocas. They have great Colheitas and TWAIOA. They also brought out a 1994 LBV which was simply excellent.

Edit: I see Alex already recommended Pocas, so I second that motion.

Will definitely add that to my list then. Also booked a diner at Casa de Chá da Boa Nova: so most of the trip is planned by now .

[MigSU]

Would love to join you for a glass but I think I'm fully booked (by work commitments) that week.

[Rummy]

Would love to join you for a glass but I think I'm fully booked (by work commitments) that week.

That's too bad. Please do let me know if anything changes.

[MigSU]

Would love to join you for a glass but I think I'm fully booked (by work commitments) that week.

That's too bad. Please do let me know if anything changes.

Will do. Things are in constant flux, anyway, so what's true today might very well change tomorrow.

[Rummy]

Had a fun trip, visited some houses:

Niepoort:
The masterclass was well-organised, private and with enough variation, but I was expecting a bit more: maybe a barrel sample or a rarity to try. Nevertheless I really enjoyed the tour and tasting Lara gave us. The prices of the bottles in their shop were quite a bit higher than elsewhere in Porto, which I found a bit odd.

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Cockburn:
Just tried two ports, the vintage 2007 and quinta dos canais 2007. Nice atmosphere, friendly people, but the 2007 canais is a very disappointing port: no depth, no fruitiness, no complexity, maybe this had been open too long.

Pocas:
We entered about 30 minutes after opening. Stood there for a good 5-10 minutes with some other people. No one showed up, a menu showed some very basic tastings, we eventually left disappointed. Maybe we should have called in advance?

Quevedo:
Entrance to the lodge was a bit odd. Two people were standing outside trying to persuade people for a tasting, and a promise of fado music later that evening. I usually would have walked past this place, without a second doubt. However I was determined to try the 72 colheita, so gave it a shot. Ordered the 72 and a 30yo white; had a good talk with the manager who joined us for a drink, and offered a taste of the 50yo white for free. Very good experience, would definitely recommend.

Bonus, Garrafeira Nacional:
Located in the worst street in Porto, this wine shop offers some nice wines by the glass. Had a Barros 82 and a glass of Pera Manca. The store is quiet and the employees are not pushy at all, in sharp contrast with the chaos that sadly defines the rua das flores.

Bonus 2, Casa de cha da boa nova:
A great restaurant just outside of Porto. The 21 course dinner is a very enjoyable experience, and the wine complements the food very well, Quinta das Bágeiras makes a very decent white wine. The Noval 2017 though, should probably be replaced by a younger more powerful vintage.

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[MigSU]

The prices of the bottles in their shop were quite a bit higher than elsewhere in Porto, which I found a bit odd.

This is something that always incenses me. I always think "Mate, you know we all have internet, right? We know what this costs". But then I understand that it's to try to capitalise on that 'tourist high' you get when you're on holiday. It's pretty terrible, but it is what it is.


Also: I love Quinta das Bágeiras. Both their whites and their reds are fantastic, especially with 10/15 years in the bottle. I'm now plowing through the 2010s to 2015s like a ravenous piranha.

[Rummy]

This is something that always incenses me. I always think "Mate, you know we all have internet, right? We know what this costs". But then I understand that it's to try to capitalise on that 'tourist high' you get when you're on holiday. It's pretty terrible, but it is what it is.

Yeah, it is what it is. Picked up a bottle of Battuta and a Redoma reserva anyway, guess my visits to Champagne gave me some false expectations.

Also: I love Quinta das Bágeiras. Both their whites and their reds are fantastic, especially with 10/15 years in the bottle. I'm now plowing through the 2010s to 2015s like a ravenous piranha.

Was very surpised to see their price range, will definitely order some bottles in the near future.