Vintage Port Shop Blog
The Comprehensive Guide to Port Wine: How It’s Made and Its Styles
Posted 9 January 2025
by Tony Carter
Port wine, a fortified wine beloved around the globe, is exclusively produced in Portugal’s Douro Valley, a region as historic as it is stunning. Known for its rich flavors, varying levels of sweetness, and diverse styles, port wine is the result of meticulous craftsmanship honed over centuries.
In this guide, we will delve into how port wine is made and explore the details of its distinctive styles, allowing you to fully appreciate the artistry behind this iconic drink.
2022 Vintage Port Declarations
Posted 8 May 2024
by Tony Carter And Dia Grigoriou DipWSET
2022 was a difficult year with exceptionally dry and hot weather in the three months preceding harvest. In July, the highest temperature recorded since 1931 was 47 °C/117 °F in Pinhão. The heat and drought caused small bunches and berries, but rain in mid-September helped later-picked vineyards, and there was minimal raisining of the grapes. Producer and regional differences in yields aside, global production was approximately 10% less than in 2021. The best wines have good structure and are unexpectedly fresh, with a deep colour.
Historic Tasting at the Cockburn Lodge
Posted 21 February 2024
by Vintage Wine and Port
Our MD Tony arranged a tasting of legendary vintages of Cockburn Vintage Port at the Cockburn Lodge In Villa Nova de Gaia. Present were members of the Symington Family (owners of Cockburn) and friends from the Port Forum. The vintages covered were 1912, 1927, 1935, 1947, 1945,1948, 1955, 1960, 1963, 1967 and 1970.
Colheita or Single Harvest Tawny Port. What’s the difference?
Posted 17 October 2023
by Vintage Wine and Port: Ben Read
The world of wine is full of terms that can be confusing if you are not familiar with them. Colheita is one such term – one we are often asked about. So what is a colheita Port? The literal translation of the Portuguese term ‘colheita’ is ‘harvest’. The Portuguese have traditionally used the term ‘colheita’ to describe a Port, aged in wooden barrels for 7+ years, that is solely from a single harvest year – all of the grapes used to make the specific wine were harvested in one single year. Hence the more anglicised term ‘single harvest tawny’ that is also sometimes used to describe certain Port wines.
2019 Vintage Port Declaration
Posted 3 June 2021
by Dia Grigoriou
2019 harvest at Sogevinus vineyards in the Douro
Although 2019 was a good vintage in the Douro, not all shippers declared a classic vintage. Those whose vineyards are situated in favourable aspect sites opted for a classic declaration whilst others focused their potential releases on ports from terroir driven plots. With no general vintage declaration, several major producers have announced single quinta vintage releases instead.