ThePortForum.com

The Port Forum 20th Anniversary event

Dates: Wednesday 23rd June to Sunday 27th June

Location: Porto

Outline: I had the option and decided to split this trip into two parts, which hopefully give all a chance to attend at least a part of it. Due to limited spaces at one to two of the venues used for the first part of the trip, this will be limited to 18 people. For the second part there is space for everyone that has expressed an interest to attend.

Attendees:

First refusal
1. HTWH - hadge
2. MPM - flash_uk
3. JDAW - jdaw1
4. AHB - Alex Bridgeman
5. NAC - nac
6. GEAG - winesecretary
7. MSC - mcoulson
8. PW - PhilW
9. CMAG - Christopher
10. CEM - cem
11. TC - forest26
12. CPR - CPR 1
13. IDJ - idj123
14. ZDR - akzy
15. GEE - Glenn E.
16. MC - M.Charlton
17. AP - Axel P
18. MJRM - Bertie3000

Reserves, in order of first refusal:
19. MJW - Mike J. W.
20. JMK - Justin K
21. BMHR - benread
22. WPS - WS1
23. WHW - Will W.
24. AJM - Alex M
25. RK - /2alph
26. NPM - NigelM
27. JDF - JohnDavidFrance

If you aren’t on the list and now request to join the event, you will be added to the bottom of the reserves list, as the time for the initial expression of interest has ended.

For transparency, since we are a community of friends based around getting together for Port dinners and events, I felt it fair to prioritise the people who organise these events. Since just over 70% of all tastings/events are organised by the same 10 people, the first 10 spots were allocated to these people. Then the rest of the spots were allocated using a formula based on number of tastings/events organised x number of posts on the forum.

Each person attending Part 1 of the trip will be required to bring the following with them:

• A bottle of 1927 vintage port

• A Tappit Hen or Magnum vintage range of 1960 to 1985.

• TBC a contribution to buying some Colheitas

1927 vintage port - I will be requesting information on the provenance of the bottle you are planning to bring. I’m looking for 2 bottles of each shipper of the 1927. I might ask people to trade shippers to make sure we have the best spread of shippers (if they are happy to do so).

Tappit Hen or Magnum – I’m looking for people to be happy to be paired up with someone who has one, we might need a couple of mags (TBC).
Please can you send me what your different options are to bring and if you have anything for adoption (either a trade, money or donating, note on what you would prefer).

If you don’t have one or either, I will be running the adoption process to try and make this as fair as possible plus I have been acquiring numerous bottles for this. Please let me know by private message, email or WhatsApp this information.

For the moment I’m going to just post a draft outline of the itinerary for both parts.
First part for maximum of 18 people.

• Wednesday - Magnum and Tappit Hen dinner at Vinum with an option to watch the fireworks at midnight from the terrace

• Thursday – Colheita lunch Location TBC

• Friday – 1927 dinner at Factory House, I’m looking to make this the highlight 1927 tasting (TBC but most likely black tie dress code).

The second part of the trip, we currently have spaces for 30 people and could fit more if required. The gala dinner could also be an opportunity to bring partners.

• Saturday – Confraria Gala Dinner (black tie dress code)

• Sunday – Brunch if people want before heading off.

We will need to bring bottles of wine and/or Vintage Port for the gala dinner, but I will confirm what these are closer to the time.

Please don’t action this comment until everything and your place is confirmed but as a heads up, everyone attending will need to book and pay for their own flights, hotels, and for all the lunches and dinners that are being organised. For some of these events, there will need funds to be transferred several weeks before we travel.

I will confirm places by messaging you and on this post next to your name. Only once you have this, then you can go ahead book flights etc.

We might have some discounts on a couple of hotels. If I get these, I will post these when I have them.

As we get closer to the event, I will be posting more information.

Very interested thx Harry.

That sounds great - love to join in .....

I'm interested if you end up including non influential members, given I'm a newbie.

Thank you for organising. I am very interested

That sounds great - would love to join

Count me in!

Absolutely, very interested of course.

Thank you for organising. I am very interested.

I'd be interested.

Yes of course!

Should about 50 stars align, I would be interested. A reserve is more realistic.

Yes, absolutely interested!

Definitely interested. Thank you Harry

Yes please.

Yup

I'm definitely interested, but will have to coordinate travel around our 40th Anniversary trip to Tahiti!

The perfect time/place to celebrate the 1927. Put me down please.

Yes please

Yes please.

Glenn E. wrote: ↑21:03 Fri 17 Apr 2026 I'm definitely interested, but will have to coordinate travel around our 40th Anniversary trip to Tahiti!

Surely the most obvious route from Seattle to Tahiti is via Porto?

Hi - been on holiday I’m in and will help Harry organize

Yes please.

Also very interested. Thank you for organising, dear Harry

If there are 22 of us it is going to be ‘Magnum Week’, isn’t it?
‘TPF - Go Large Or Go Home’

Harry, do you have a Gulfstream G5 we can all pile in?

NigelM wrote: ↑21:57 Wed 22 Apr 2026 Harry, do you have a Gulfstream G5 we can all pile in?

I think you're going to need a bigger jet.

Glenn E. wrote: ↑22:03 Wed 22 Apr 2026

NigelM wrote: ↑21:57 Wed 22 Apr 2026 Harry, do you have a Gulfstream G5 we can all pile in?

I think you're going to need a bigger jet.

I think we should travel in a convoy of classic minis, the suspensions rebuilt to take the weight of all the port gold, backed up by a series of erratically driven 1960s coaches. What could possibly go wrong?

I’ll be Noel Coward as I’m probably the only one with a smoking jacket. I nominate Zak for the Michael Caine role.

winesecretary wrote: ↑22:16 Wed 22 Apr 2026 I think we should travel in a convoy of classic minis, the suspensions rebuilt to take the weight of all the port gold, backed up by a series of erratically driven 1960s coaches. What could possibly go wrong?

I’ll be Noel Coward as I’m probably the only one with a smoking jacket. I nominate Zak for the Michael Caine role.

winesecretary wrote: ↑22:16 Wed 22 Apr 2026I’ll be Noel Coward as I’m probably the only one with a smoking jacket. I nominate Zak for the Michael Caine role.

And who is to be Benny Hill?

winesecretary wrote: ↑22:16 Wed 22 Apr 2026 I nominate Zak for the Michael Caine role.

"You were only supposed to pull the bluddy cork out!"

akzy wrote: ↑08:30 Thu 23 Apr 2026

winesecretary wrote: ↑22:16 Wed 22 Apr 2026 I nominate Zak for the Michael Caine role.

"You were only supposed to pull the bluddy cork out!"

Very Good!

I see the vibe for this trip is already perfect happy to help with organising also if needs be. If accomodations are needed in the douro then i'll be able to secure

NigelM wrote: ↑21:57 Wed 22 Apr 2026 Harry, do you have a Gulfstream G5 we can all pile in?

are we using your netjets account?

winesecretary wrote: ↑21:45 Wed 22 Apr 2026 If there are 22 of us it is going to be ‘Magnum Week’, isn’t it?
‘TPF - Go Large Or Go Home’

an interesting theme!

hadge wrote: ↑19:27 Mon 27 Apr 2026

NigelM wrote: ↑21:57 Wed 22 Apr 2026 Harry, do you have a Gulfstream G5 we can all pile in?

are we using your netjets account?

Netloss account maybe

Having made the 10th trip I am certainly interested in being at the 20th event if possible!

Me too! Would like to join as well.

regards

WS1

Yes, please

I have added everyone to the first post.

I will be closing the expression of interest on Sunday 17th May.

I plan to confirm numbers and draft itinerary at the end of the month.

hadge wrote: ↑22:20 Mon 04 May 2026 I have added everyone to the first post.

I will be closing the expression of interest on Sunday 17th May.

I plan to confirm numbers and draft itinerary at the end of the month.

I noticed Mike wasn't on the list of interested people on the first post, assumed this was an oversight (he was the first to reply) so used admin powers to add his name. I hope that's OK. If not, let me know and I'll use admin powers to delete my edit.

Yes please - expression of interest.

Alex Bridgeman wrote: ↑08:50 Tue 05 May 2026

hadge wrote: ↑22:20 Mon 04 May 2026 I have added everyone to the first post.

I will be closing the expression of interest on Sunday 17th May.

I plan to confirm numbers and draft itinerary at the end of the month.

I noticed Mike wasn't on the list of interested people on the first post, assumed this was an oversight (he was the first to reply) so used admin powers to add his name. I hope that's OK. If not, let me know and I'll use admin powers to delete my edit.

Thank you for pointing this out and correcting it.

A copy of the original post.

The Port Forum 20th Anniversary is next year and I’m looking at organising a trip to Porto to celebrate the event.

We are looking at going around the mid to end of June 2027. This event will be over several days, more details to follow.

Currently I’m just looking for an expression of interest from those who would like to attend.

If we are limited on numbers by venues, then I will run a selection process, this will be based on your influence and impact on the forum over the last 10 years.

I will be closing the expression of interest on Sunday 17th May

List of interested people

hadge
flash_uk
mcoulson
NigelM
CPR 1
/2alph
JohnDavidFrance
PhilW
winesecretary
Mike J. W.
Justin K
akzy
idj123
Bertie3000
jdaw1
nac
Glenn E.
cem
Christopher
Alex Bridgeman
forest26
M.Charlton
Axel P
benread
WS1
Will W
Alex M

Yes please: very interested.


Please allow some extra words, to be helpful, and aimed at others. The Portuguese side of the organisation will be difficult. The cliché is herding cats, and it will be.

So let our side not be difficult. Those who accept — as I have done — have therefore sworn obedience to the dictator. This is not and will not pretend to be a democracy, it is a benign dictatorship, and a splendid benign dictatorship at that.

Hence almost all complaints and grumbles are disallowed. Whingers can and should go away.

Almost all? Well, two specific grumbles are permitted, as follows.

• But master, please sir, I beg that a moment of your gracious consideration be given to my request to be allowed to bring my tregnum, my best-condition tregnum, of Dow 1878.

• But master, please sir, I beg that a moment of your gracious consideration be given to my request to be allowed to bring my double-magnum, my best-condition double-magnum, of Kopke 1847.

(Master: please confirm that these grumbles, and those very similar, are unlikely to be punished.)

Other than which, hush and be grateful.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑22:44 Wed 10 Jun 2026
Almost all? Well, two specific grumbles are permitted, as follows.

• But master, please sir, I beg that a moment of your gracious consideration be given to my request to be allowed to bring my tregnum, my best-condition tregnum, of Dow 1878.

• But master, please sir, I beg that a moment of your gracious consideration be given to my request to be allowed to bring my double-magnum, my best-condition double-magnum, of Kopke 1847.

(Master: please confirm that these grumbles, and those very similar, are unlikely to be punished.)

Other than which, hush and be grateful.

I can confirm these two grumbles are unlikely to be punished as they are part of the fun of this event, which is what it is meant to be about.

jdaw1 wrote: ↑22:44 Wed 10 Jun 2026 Yes please: very interested.


Please allow some extra words, to be helpful, and aimed at others. The Portuguese side of the organisation will be difficult. The cliché is herding cats, and it will be.

So let our side not be difficult. Those who accept — as I have done — have therefore sworn obedience to the dictator. This is not and will not pretend to be a democracy, it is a benign dictatorship, and a splendid benign dictatorship at that.

Hence almost all complaints and grumbles are disallowed. Whingers can and should go away.

Almost all? Well, two specific grumbles are permitted, as follows.

• But master, please sir, I beg that a moment of your gracious consideration be given to my request to be allowed to bring my tregnum, my best-condition tregnum, of Dow 1878.

• But master, please sir, I beg that a moment of your gracious consideration be given to my request to be allowed to bring my double-magnum, my best-condition double-magnum, of Kopke 1847.

(Master: please confirm that these grumbles, and those very similar, are unlikely to be punished.)

Other than which, hush and be grateful.

It is posts like this one which remind me of one of my 'biggest' grumbles about the forum hosting platform - its complete lack of any Facebook-esque voting style 'like' function by which I could show my complete agreement for a sentiment in a simple visual way without having to clog up the thread with a response like this!

First post has been updated with the draft event details.

What a splendid way to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

What a young man I was when we first started out on this journey together. Huzzah to us all!