Vintage Wine & Port Blog
Guide to how the different styles of Port are made
Posted 9 January 2025
by Vintage Wine and Port
Port wine, a globally cherished fortified wine, originates exclusively from Portugal's Douro Valley. Renowned for its rich history, intricate production, and diverse styles, port wine offers a unique and unforgettable experience for connoisseurs and casual wine lovers alike.
In this guide, we’ll explore the process of making Port wine, from the vineyard to the bottle, and examine its various styles to deepen your appreciation of 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.
Learn About Italian Wines
Posted 25 September 2023
by Vintage Wine and Port
Italy is a country that has a formidable tradition and history of winemaking. Indeed, it is known that vines used for Italian wine production have been growing in this region for over 4000 years. The constant influx of conquerors and travellers over the centuries constantly added to the existing base of knowledge and allowed Italian wine growing to develop into the highly regarded craft that it is today. The Ancient Greeks referred to southern Italy as Enotria, meaning “land of the vine”, and with the tremendous quality and variety of Italian wines on call today, Italy remains one of the most exciting wine regions of the world.