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News archives 2008.
 All articles older than 1 to 3 months are entered in News archives. We start with a title list with accompanying dates. You will find the full articles by linking the titles.

05/07/08. Croft Pink (2): a reply by Adrian Bridge.
    . Mail Bridge 19/06/08.
    . Mail infoportwine 20/06/08.
    . Mail Bridge 20/06/08.
05/07/08. Vintages 2006 (2).
05/07/08. New shop IVDP in Oporto.
05/07/08. Lots of news from the Museu do Douro.
05/07/08. IVDP events calendar as of July 2008.
05/07/08. Revista de Vinhos no. 223, June 2008.
05/07/08. Competition with special jury.
05/07/08. Concurso Nacional de Vinhos Engarrafados 2008 - Santarém.
05/07/08. Sélections Mondiales des Vins 2008 - Québec.
 05/07/08. Concurso de Vinhos ACIC 2008 - Coïmbra, Portugal.
05/07/08. San Francisco International Wine Competition 2008.
05/07/08. IWC 2008 (2) - Trophy’s.
07/06/08. The first rosé “Port Wine”.   
07/06/08. New design Cockburn’s.
07/06/08. Sogevinus starts shop in Gaia.
07/06/08. Sales numbers January - March 2008.
07/06/08. IVDP events calendar as of June 2008.
07/06/08. Revista de Vinhos no. 222, May 2008.
07/06/08. Master of Port in France.
07/06/08. International Wine Challenge 2008.
07/06/08. International Wine and Spirit Competition 2008.
07/06/08. Decanter World Wine Awards 2008.
07/06/08. Les Citadelles du Vin 2008 - Bourg-sur-Gironde.
07/06/08. Critics Challenge 2008 - San Diego.
03/05/08. Fladgate sells Delaforce to Real Companhia Velha.
03/05/08. Not many 2006 Vintages.
03/05/08. Sales numbers entire 2007 (2).
03/05/08. IVDP events calendar as of May 2008.
03/05/08. National Women’s Wine Competition 2008 - Californië.
03/05/08. Monde Selection 2008 - Belgium.
03/05/08. Wine Masters Challenge 2008 - Estoril.
03/05/08. Vinitaly 2008.
03/05/08. Challenge International du Vin 2008 - Bordeaux, with extra prize Sandeman.
03/05/08. Dallas Morning News Wine Competition 2008.
03/05/08. Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2008.
03/05/08. San Diego International Wine Competition 2008.
03/05/08. Revista de Vinhos no. 221, April 2008.
05/04/08. Vila Nova de Gaia one large building excavation.
05/04/08. Wine centre Q. Nova in Pinhão station.
05/04/08. Two Ports at Grand Jury Europeen.
05/04/08. Diário de Notícias chooses eight top quintas. 
05/04/08. Update Links pages.
05/04/08. Website The Vintage Port Site renewed.
05/04/08. New website Sandeman.
05/04/08. Sales numbers entire 2007.
05/04/08. IVDP events calendar as of April 2008.
05/04/08. Ferreira is Portuguese taste of the year.
05/04/08. Korea Wine Challenge 2008.
05/04/08. Vinalies Internationales 2008 - Paris.
05/04/08. Essência do Vinho 2008 - Oporto.
05/04/08. Bacchus 2008 - Madrid.
05/04/08. Revista de Vinhos no. 220, March 2008.
01/03/08. New life for Van Zellers & C°.
01/03/08. Great changes at the Casa do Douro.
    . Three shippers buy 14,500 pipas of Port Wine from the CdoD.
    . IVDP terminates Cadastro-contract with the CdoD.
    . CdoD wants to sell 51% of its RCV shares.
    . Plans Berardo in the Douro, CdoD wants to participate.  
01/03/08. Q. de Roriz breaks with Symington.
01/03/08. Revista de Vinhos: “The Best of the Year 2007”.
01/03/08. Top lists Wine Enthusiast.
01/03/08. Top 100 of blueWine.
01/03/08. Portuguese Tourism Prizes 2008.
01/03/08. Sales numbers January - November 2007.
01/03/08. IVDP events calendar as of March 2008.
 01/03/08. Wine & Spirit Design Award for Symington.
01/03/08. Berliner Wein Trophy 2008.
01/03/08. Florida State Fair International Wine and Grape Juice Comp. 2008.
01/03/08. Revista de Vinhos no. 218, January 2008.
01/03/08. Revista de Vinhos no. 219, February 2008.  
Croft Pink (2): a reply by Adrian Bridge.
05/07/08. On  June 7th we published our judgment of the first rosé “Port Wine”, the Croft Pink of The Fladgate Partnership (see here).
On June 19th Adrian Bridge, the general manager of TFP, reacted to that article in an extensive e-mail (see here).
On  June 20th we answered him (see here) and on the same day Mr Bridge finished the discussion (see here). 
We hope to make the information about this rosé Port Wine a little more complete with the integral publication of this exchange of ideas.   

Mail Bridge 19/06/08.
            Dear Mr and Mrs Gerdingh

I was very interested to read your article in the latest edition of Port Wine News regarding Croft Pink Port.  Thank you for raising some important points.  I thought that you and your readers would like to hear my views on some of your comments.

The first thing I should say is that we have been very positively surprised by the favourable reaction to Croft Pink from trade, press and consumers.  The response in The Netherlands has been exceptionally enthusiastic.  We have also received a lot of support from many of our competitors and we know that some of them are actively considering launching similar products after the next harvest.

As you rightly point out, our objectives in introducing Croft Pink included the extension of port consumption into the warmer months and the recruitment of new consumers to the category.  So far Pink is achieving both these objectives.  However, I do not agree with your assumption that Pink will not appeal to consumers who already love Port.  So far our experience indicates the contrary.   A great many journalists, retailers and consumers who understand and appreciate the traditional Port styles also love Pink.  They understand that it is a different style of Port, intended for more relaxed and informal consumption, but is nevertheless a legitimate and above all enjoyable expression of the category.

Of course there will always be traditionalists who are suspicious of new trends and developments.   We only need to recall the initial reaction to Late Bottled Vintage,  when Taylor's launched it, which many people said would destroy Vintage Port given Taylor's reputation, whereas in reality it helped to revitalise it and broaden its appeal.    We can ask ourselves whether the quality end of the Port category would be as succesful today if it had never been invented.

This brings me to  another important point.   As a new style Pink has stimulated lively interest and debate.  As Port lovers and supporters I am sure that, like us, you welcome developments which heighten awareness of the Port category.  In today's cluttered and complex wine world, it is increasingly important that we find reasons for consumers - particularly new consumers - to take an interest in Port.   We need to ensure that Port stays relevant while preserving its heritage and traditions.

As a very 'traditional', long established and family-owned Port producer, focused on the classic premium styles, we are the last people who would want to damage the core values and heritage of the Port category.   It is vital that these are protected and we appreciate the work that you and others are doing to communicate them to the consumer.    However we do need to keep moving the category forward and ensure that it is never perceived as tired and old fashioned.

The IVDP understands this and has been very supportive of the Croft Pink project.  However the Board of the IVDP was also very clear that it would not authorise any product that did not represent real quality. We worked hard on our trials and fully shared our results with the IVDP so that they could understand what we were trying to achieve and be assured that we were producing a high quality product - this will provide the benchmark for future producers of this style of Port.   There was, in our view, absolutely no question of a 'demolition of standards' but a recognition that the outstanding grapes of the Douro Valley are capable of expressing themselves in many different and interesting ways, from the magnificent depth and power of a classic Vintage Port to the fresh and crisp berry fruit characters of Croft Pink.

Among these various expressions of the Douro grapes are, of course, the Douro table wines.  And here I would like to make a correction, if I may.  We have certainly never criticised our colleagues who produce table wines.  On the contrary we have often said that the Douro is capable of producing exceptional still wines. Indeed, our company distributes in Portugal the table wines of one of the best Douro producers.  What we have said is that our company does not, at the moment, have any plans to diversify into this area.  We believe that our efforts are more effectively directed at our core busines of Port.  We firmly believe, as I am sure you do, that Port has a great future and deserves focus and dedication as one of the world's great classic wines.  We feel that Port and Douro Table wines are talking to different niches of the market and that the former should not carry the weight of promoting the latter.  We certainly feel uncomfortable with the message being received in some places that Douro producers have 'given up on Port' and only see a future for our valley in table wine which is why we have been vigorous in our support of Port.

Finally, yes, we do take pride in what we do.  Whether we are superior or not, is not for us to judge.  However I can assure you that we remain completely focused, as a family run business, on doing everything, from the vineyard to the bottle, in a dedicated, enthusiastic and professional manner.

This of course includes making Croft Pink, and I would encourage any of your readers who have not done so to give it a try and make up their own minds.  Port is serious - but it can also be fun!

Keep up the good work.

Yours sincerely

Adrian Bridge, Managing Director The Fladgate Partnership, 19/06/08.   


Mail infoportwine 20/06/08. 
Dear Mr Bridge,

Thanks for your reply. We hope that you will allow us to publish it integrally on our site on July 5th.

With regard to our judgement we would like to state that this was not made as "traditionalists", but based on our observation that Croft Pink does not show any Port characteristics in smell and taste. This could never be said about the LBV. Even people who do not appreciate White Ports admit that these whites show these characteristics very well.
But let us agree to disagree.

We are happy that you do not wish to criticise your colleagues who also produce Douro table wines. We will have seen the wrong quotes on this issue.

With best regards,

Elly and Herman Gerdingh, 20/06/08.


Mail Bridge 20/06/08.
Dear Mr & Mrs Gerdingh

I am happy that you publish my reply in full.

I do not expect to always agree with everyone and I very much respect your view.  I am passionate about Port and its future which I am known to vigorously defend.  My message does not always conform to what everyone would like.  As a trade there has always been a tendency to follow each other, sometimes without always thinking about strategy.  I am told that six new rosé Port projects are in development!

I hope that you will be my guest for lunch when you are next in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Kind regards

Adrian

Adrian Bridge, Managing Director The Fladgate Partnership, 20/06/08.


Vintages 2006 (2).
05/07/08. On  May 3rd we wrote that not many Vintages of the year 2006 were announced yet (see here). Now we are able to report that Quinta de Roriz has also declared a Vintage 2006 which will be marketed in October of this year.

New shop IVDP in Oporto.
05/07/08. On March 1st, 2007 the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto closed its shop at the airport in Oporto. Now only the shop at the Lisbon airport remains and of course the shops in its Solares.
Recently a shop has been opened in the IVDP premises at the Rua Ferreira Borges no. 27 in Oporto. This is not the official head quarters but the largest establishment of the institute.
This shop is open from Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 19.00.

It is special that the IVDP will also organize guided tours through its laboratories and the department of the permanent tasting panel (Câmara de Provadores). The entry price for this tour is however not yet known.

Lots of news from the Museu do Douro. 05/07/08.

  1. Recently the new website www.museudodouro.pt was published. The site was not available for (too) long as it was being renewed. There is (for now?) only a Portuguese version.
  2. A new temporary exhibition was organized in the room behind the Solar do Vinho do Porto of the IVDP in the Rua da Ferreirinha in Peso da Régua. Entitled Memória da Terra e do Vinho (memory of the earth and the wine) attention is paid to o Território (the territory), a História (the history), a Vinha (the vineyard), o Vinho (the wine), do Douro para o Mundo (of the Douro for the world) and Imagens do Vinho (images of the wine). The exhibition is open from May 18th from Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 to 12.30 and from 14.00 to 18.00 uur.
  3. The definitive museum in the former winery of Real Companhia Velha will be inaugurated on December 14th this year (see also Round trip 9c.).
  4. The Museu do Douro will really be a museum of the entire region with a chain of eleven annexes. The places and the themes of these annexes are:

-         Favaios: do Pão e do Vinho (of the bread and the wine).

-         Lamego: da Gastronomia (of the gastronomy).

-         Barca de Alva: do Caminho de Ferro (of the railway).

-         Vila Real: da Electricidade (of the electricity).

-         Vila Nova de Foz Côa: da Amêndoa (of the almond).

-         Resende: do Arrais e da Cereja (of the sailor of a Rabelo and the cherry).

-         São João da Pesqueira: do Vinho (of the wine).

-         Freixo de Espada à Cinta: da Seda (of the silk).

-         Vila Nova de Foz Côa: do Somagre (a plant formerly used to tan skins).

-         Mesão Frio: de Barqueiros (of the bargemen).

-         Tabuaço: o Museu do Imaginário (the museum of the imaginary).


IVDP events calendar as of July 2008.
05/07/08. The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto has planned the following events in Belgium and the United States:

Belgium:
. September 4th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Kortrijk/Courtrai.
. September 11th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Brugge/Bruges.
. September 18th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Antwerpen/Anvers.
. September 25th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Dendermonde.
. October 2nd - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Louvain/Leuven.
. October 8th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Hotelschool, Lokeren.
. October 9th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, St Niklaas.
. October 16th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Charleroi.
. October 20th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Hotelschool, Bruxelles/Brussel.
. October 21st - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Hotelschool, Bruxelles/Brussel.
. October 23rd - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Liège/Luik.
. October 27th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Bruxelles/Brussel.
. October 28th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Bruxelles/Brussel.
. October 30th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Huy.
. October 31st - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - School de Mons, Bergen/Mons.
. November 6th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Cigars club, Moeskroen/Mouscron.
. November 14th - Port Wine, Chocolate, cigars - Hotelschool, Liège/Luik.

United States:
. October 15th - Seminar in Hotel school EUA, 2nd round - Newbury Colleges, Brookline, Massachusetts.
. October 16th - Two seminars in Hotel school EUA, 2nd round - Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.
. October 22nd - Seminar in Hotel school EUA, 2nd round - Connecticut Culinary Institute, Hartford University, Connecticut.
. October 23rd - Seminar in Hotel school EUA, 2nd round - Astor Centre, New York.

See also: http://www.ivdp.pt/eventos.asp 
Revista de Vinhos no. 223, June 2008.
05/07/08. The June issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains the following  information on Port Wine:

New product:
The Messias Dry Old White received 16.5 points from the editorial staff on a score chart from 0 to 20. This wine is more than 10 years old. It belongs to the new category of Aged Whites or Vinhos do Porto Branco com Indicação de Idade de 10 Anos.

Douro tourism 2:
The article by Samuel Alemão in the last issue (see here) seems to have hurt. In the box with readers letters Ana Magarida Morgado of The Fladgate Partnership and Paulo Outeiro, outgoing president of the Rota do Vinho do Porto, reacted. However they cannot remove the fact that the large houses in the Douro do not open their quintas (excepted a single one) and that this makes tourism not yet fully developed.

Quinta do Vale Meão:
João Afonso describes the rich history of this 81 hectares quinta in de Douro Superior, ever owned by Dona Ferreirinha and in 1952 the place where Fernando Nicolau de Almeida made the first Barca Velha table wine. The tasting notes are only of Douro wines.

Competition with special jury.
05/07/08. Most jury members of wine competitions are wine writers or wine producers. However a competition will now be organized in Santa Rosa, California with only professional wine buyers of supermarkets, specialty wine shops, restaurants and airlines as jury members. As far as we know this will be the first one of its kind in the world. So, competitors will not only be judged, but also receive a chance for sale contacts. We are curious if this formula will have extra appeal to the market. 
All of the above is with regards to the U.S. Professional Wine Buyers Competition & Tasting which will be organized by Wine Competition Management LLC from October 13th to 14th . This private company also organizes the National Women’s Wine Competition and the International Green Wine Competition.  
See: http://www.prowinebuyerscomp.info/ 

Concurso Nacional de Vinhos Engarrafados 2008 - Santarém.
05/07/08. During the second Concurso Nacional de Vinhos Engarrafados in Santarém, Portugal from May 13th to 16th Prestígio Awards were granted to the following Port products:
-         Offley LBV 2003.
-         Ramos Pinto Quinta de Ervamoira Vintage 2005.
-         Vallegre Q. de Valle Longo Vintage 2005.
-         Taylor’s LBV 2002.
-         Messias 20 Years Old Tawny.
-         Messias Vintage 2005.
-         Vallegre Vista Allegre Vintage 2005.
-         Ferreira Vintage 2000.
-         Caves Vale do Rodo Vintage 2004.
-         Taylor’s Q. de Terra Feita Vintage 2005.
The competition contained 653 entries.
For more information and the other awards see: http://cnema.pt/xms/files/Imprensa/2008/CNVE2008/PremiadosCNVE2008.pdf 

Sélections Mondiales des Vins 2008 - Québec.
05/07/08. During the fifteenth Sélections Mondiales des Vins in Québec, Canada from May 30th to June 5th  two of the seven Grand Gold Medals were awarded to the following Port products:
-         Krohn Colheita 1987.
-         Romariz Colheita 1963.
The competition contained 2,131 entries.
For more information and the other medals see:http://smvcanada.ca/resultats.aspx  

Concurso de Vinhos ACIC 2008 - Coïmbra, Portugal.
05/07/08. During the tenth Concurso de Vinhos ACIC in Coïmbra, Portugal from June 4th to 5th gold medals were awarded to the following Port products: 
-   Caves Vale do Rodo Reccua 10 Years Old Tawny (Cooperativa Peso da Régua, Tabuaço en Armamar).
-   Gran Cruz 30 Years Old Tawny.
-   Quinta do Estanho 20 Years Old Tawny.   
-   Quinta do Estanho 30 Years Old Tawny.   
-   Quinta do Estanho Vintage 1996.
For more information see: http://www.acic.pt/ 

San Francisco International Wine Competition 2008.
05/07/08. During the SF International Wine Competition from June 13th to 15th bronze medals were awarded to the following real Port products:
-         Osborne LBV 2001.
-         Sandeman Vau Vintage 2000.
-         Sandeman 20 Years Old Tawny.
-         Smith Woodhouse 20 Years Old Tawny.
For more information see: http://www.sfwinecomp.com/results.html 

IWC 2008 (2) - Trophy’s.
05/07/08. O June 7th we published the gold medal winners of the International Wine Challenge (see here). The following of them won a Trophy:
-         The Tawny Port Trophy: Ramos Pinto 30 Years Old Tawny.
-         The Colheita Port Trophy: Burmester Colheita 1989.
-         The Crusted Port Trophy: Dow’s Crusted Bottled 2002.
-         The LBV Port Trophy: Graham’s LBV 2003.
-         The Vintage Port Trophy : Taylor’s/Marks & Spencer Vintage 1994.
For more information see: http://www.internationalwinechallenge.com/trophies.aspx

The first rosé “Port Wine”.
07/06/08. A fierce discussion bursted out on internet forums immediately after the first press reports, at the end of January, about the launch of a rosé Port Wine by The Fladgate Partnership (TFP). We could add little to this before we laid hands on the product ourselves. Unfortunately we had to wait a long time for it, but now it has arrived.

Generally the first reactions of lovers and professionals were devastating: sugar water, not a hint of Port, a women’s drink, too much alcohol, etc.

The first idea for this rosé Port came from Adrian Bridge, general manager of TFP. The marketing aim was to produce a new Port style that would attract new consumers, probably women. An other goal is to free Port Wine from its winter character. This was successful with the Aged Tawnies, but the company wants more.

The team of winemaker David Guimaraes has worked on the development of the product during three years.

The grapes for this rosé are the same as for the Ruby types and are all from Quinta da Roêda (Croft) near Pinhão.
Obviously contact with the skins was limited in the production process to get less colour. The cold fermentation (15° C) took seven days, almost twice the time normally used for Port. Decanting was also done cooled.
An alcohol percentage of 19.5% and a sugar level of 94 gms, just like the Ruby types, was chosen after many tests. There was no cask maturing.
Besides the blend for Croft Pink, TFP made a blend composed by Marks & Spencer marketed by this English supermarket concern with its own name.
The production volume is substantial: 40,000 boxes of 9 litres or 480,000 bottles of 0.75 litres.

The IVDP (Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto) accompanied the project during a year. According to its president Jorge Monteiro, the project was accepted because the institute sees innovation as necessary. That is why the current rules were interpreted flexibly.

Drinks Branding Group Dare that designed the bottle and accompanied the advertising and marketing campaign, saw the presentation of Croft Pink.
England was the first market where the rosé Port was available. Later the product will be rolled out in other important countries.
The period of Valentine’s Day, February 14th , was chosen as the launching moment for both versions as a useful leg up to the summer and to not cannibalise winter sales.
However, Marks & Spencer marketed its version earlier than TFP/Croft and thus generated much of the first publicity.

We came to the following review:
Type: no special indication, so it is a Standard Port like the Ruby, Tawny and White with a IVDP rating of 5.
Price: 11.95 Euros, directly from importer to consumer, postage costs excluded. For comparison: recently we paid in shops of a large Dutch drinks chain 12.49 Euros for a Dow’s LBV 2000 and 15,99 for a Dow's 10 Years Old Tawny (both IVDP rating 8).
To serve: chilled or over ice.
Presentation: good and beautiful (see photographs).
Colour: nice full rosé.
Smell: fresh, a little prickling, a bit fruity, not a hint of Port characteristics. 
Taste: very sweet, lightly prickling, no Port characteristics.
Generally: Of course we have judged it chilled. If you do not follow the instructions, you have no reason to complain. 
This Croft Pink is especially a marketing concept and less a winegrower’s product. Some producers will be jealous of it, but as serious consumers it does not cheer us up. 
Maybe this rosé deserves some 80 points as an “alcopop”. But as a Port Wine the judgement has to be even less than the IVDP rating of 5 (about equivalent with a Parker rating of 70).

It is impossible to trivialize this project.
The IVDP accompanied it during a year, TFP is a serious company, worked on it during three years and produced 360,000 litres of this rosé Port Wine.
On the other hand the producers of this product may aim too easy at the especially summery popularity of rosé table wines and at the success of other popular drinks.
Croft Pink is not an option for consumers who already love Port. Moreover we do not believe that it will be successful with the younger, female Port drinker as TFP hope. At the most this will happen with the younger, female NOT Port drinker who will not easily be won for the real Port Wine by this.
We do not exclude that the product will be a success, but consider it improbable that it will still be asked for after five years.

Finally this introduction has two amazing aspects:

  1. The IVDP breaks the current rules without any discussion in the right institutions. The type does not exist in these rules and the colour does not exist either. The trick is that they call it a light Ruby, but that one actually already existed, namely the light red Standard Tawny. We do not hope that this is a license for further demolition of the quality standards in the Port industry.
  2. Time after time the TFP people criticise their colleagues who also produce Douro table wines and they count themselves superior with their Special Category Ports. But this Pink Port, as wine as well as Port, stays far behind these abused table wines. We wish TFP a lot of success, even with Croft Pink, but why do they have to behave themselves so annoying and unprofessionally?  

    Sources: Decanter of 28/01/08, Diário de Notícias of 04/04/08, Sol Confidential of 23/02/08, Forum FTLOP, www.croftpink.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




New design Cockburn’s.
07/06/08. In July Fortune Brands/Beam Global will market a complete new design for Cockburn’s in the UK. This action is part of an investment in the brand of 2 million pounds. Cockburn’s is the largest Port brand in the UK.

Beam has included ‘at a glance’ tasting notes on the Cockburn’s labelling as well as food-matching tips to encourage consumers to ‘experiment beyond the cheese board’.
Cockburn’s Light White Port and the 10 and 20 Years Old Tawny’s will be packaged in 50 cl clear bottles (see photograph).

Janice Moorfield, Cockburn’s brand manager, said about these changes:
“This radical new look breaks with category conventions.”
“The new packaging will be appreciated by Cockburn’s core consumers and also appeal to men aged 35+ who are interested in exploring the delights of food and wine-matching and seeking a new, premium drinking experience.” 
(Source: www.just-drinks.com of 23/05/08.)







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Sogevinus starts shop in Gaia.
07/06/08. Late April, the holding of Cálem, Burmester, Gilberts, Barros and Kopke, the Spanish Sogevinus, has started a shop with its own products such as Ports, Douro table wines, Brandy’s, Aguardente’s and olive oils. The address is Avenida Ramos Pinto 280 following the Avenida Diago Leite at the river quay in Vila Nova de Gaia. 
Of course many of the sold wines can be tasted, like the Barros Colheita 1968, Kopke Colheita 1976, Cálem LBV 1997 Tradicional, Burmester 30 Years Old Tawny and Gilberts Vintage 1999.

Sales numbers January - March 2008.
07/06/08. The most important sales numbers increased over the entire year 2007 (see here). However the numbers of the first quarter in 2008 are negative. Anyway, this was also the case in the first quarter in 2007 (see here). The latest numbers (export + Portugal) of the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto are as follows: 

-         the volume of all Port sold decreased by 6.5%.
-         the revenue of all Port sold decreased by 3.8%.

-         the volume of the Special Categories sold was unchanged.
-         the revenue of the Special Categories sold decreased by 1.7%.

The complete information can be found at: http://www.ivdp.pt/pagina.asp?idioma=0&codPag=73&codSeccao=6&  

IVDP events calendar as of June 2008.
07/06/08. At the moment no events have been planned by the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto.

Revista de Vinhos no. 222, May 2008.
07/06/08. The May issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains the following information on Port Wine:

New product:
The Krohn Colheita 1983 got 18 points from the editorial staff on a score chart of 0 to 20.

Douro tourism:
Samuel Alemão describes the general situation of tourism in the Douro region. He quotes Olga Martins, manager of Lavradores de Feitoria: “There are many people with good intentions, but nothing is done.” And Cristiano van Zeller says in the article: “90% of the Douro is closed. Tourism here lacks quality and this will only improve when the large houses in the region open the doors.”

LBV tasting:
The RdeV tasting panel judged 37 LBV’s of different years. João Paulo Martins confirms the good price/quality ratio, increasing demand in the world.
The winners are the Burmester 2003 and the Poças 2002 both with 17 points.
At the bottom of the list we find the Andresen 2003 and the Quinta da Peça 1999 both with 15 points and the Magelhães 2001 with 14.5 points.

Quinta de la Rosa:
Samuel Alemão describes this company west of Pinhão (see Round trip 14.1h.). He rates the tourist activities with 15 points on a score chart to 20.

Master of Port in France.
07/06/08. Romain Iltis from the Elzas has won the thirteenth edition of the Concours for the best French sommelier in the field of Port Wine in Paris on April 28th . Romain is 26 years old and has been working as a sommelier in restaurant Verte Vallée in Munster for three years. In 2007 he finished second in the concours for the best young sommelier.
Pascal Leonetti won the second prize and Philippe Troussard the third prize.

The concours is organized by the Syndicat des Grandes Marques de Porto (SGMP) in France with the support of the Union de la Sommellerie Francaise and het Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto. The SGMP consists of Andresen, Ferreira, Graham’s, Gran Cruz, Niepoort, Ramos Pinto, Rozès, Sandeman, Quinta do Noval and Taylor’s.

On June 12th the prizes are presented by the Portuguese ambassador Antonio Monteiro at the Embassy in Paris.  

International Wine Challenge 2008.
07/06/08. During the International Wine Challenge of William Reed Business Media in association with  the magazine Wine & Spirit the following gold medals were awarded to Port products:
-         Graham’s LBV 2003.
-         Graham’s Crusted 2002.
-         Dow’s Crusted 2002.
-         Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira Vintage 2005.
-         Dow’s Vintage 1985.
-         Warre’s Vintage 1985.
-         Smith Woodhouse Quinta da Madelena Vintage 1996.
-         Sandeman 30 Years Old Tawny.
-         Sandeman LBV 2000.
-         Kopke Vintage 2005.
-         Burmester Colheita 1989.
-         Ramos Pinto 30 Years Old Tawny.
-         Churchill Quinta da Gricha Vintage 2006.
-         Marks and Spencer - Taylor’s Vintage 1994.
-         Mentzendorff & Co - Taylor’s Vintage 2002.
The competition contained over 9,000 entries.
The Trophy winners will be announced on June 16th . 
For more information and the many other awards see: http://www.internationalwinechallenge.com/ and choose Style: Fortified and Country: Portugal.

International Wine and Spirit Competition 2008.
07/06/08. During  the International Wine and Spirit Competition the following Best of Class Gold Awards were granted to Port products:
-         Late Bottled Vintage 1995: Smith Woodhouse Bottle Matured LBV 1995. 
-         Late Bottled Vintage 2003: Graham’s LBV 2003.
-         Single Quinta Vintage 1996: Smith Woodhouse Quinta da Madalena Vintage 1996.
-         Single Quinta Vintage 1998: Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas 1998.
-         Single Quinta Vintage 1999 : Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos 1999.
The Product Trophies will be announced on September 30th . 
The entry numbers for this competition are not yet known because the southern hemisphere deadlines not yet have expired. 
For more information and the many other awards see: http://www.iwsc.net/Awards/Award_Search.ehtml?top=Awards&arg0=Fortified%20Wines&bottom=Award%20Search  and choose Country: Portugal.

Decanter World Wine Awards 2008.
07/06/08. During the Decanter World Wine Awards competition the following Regional Trophies were awarded to Port products:
-         Non Vintage Port Trophy Under 10 pounds: Graham’s Reserve Ruby.
-         Non Vintage Port Trophy Over 10 pounds : Sandeman 30 Years Old Tawny.
-         Vintage Port Trophy Over 10 pounds: Quinta do Vesúvio Vintage 1994.
The competition contained 9,219 entries.
For more information and the many other awards see: http://www.decanter.com/worldwineawards/2008/results.php and choose Search by location: Portugal and Port.

Les Citadelles du Vin 2008 - Bourg-sur-Gironde.
07/06/08. During the ninth Citadelles du Vin in Bourg-sur-Gironde near Bordeaux from May 17th to 18th a Trophee Excellence was awarded to the Romariz LBV 2003.
The competition contained 1,107 entries.
For more information see: http://www.citadellesduvin.com/search_palmares.php and choose Europa: Portugal and Apellation: DOC Porto.

Critics Challenge 2008 - San Diego.
 07/06/08. During the fifth Critics Challenge International Wine Competition in San Diego from May 24th to 25th Critics Platinum Awards were granted to the following Port products:
 -         Dow's Vintage 1994.
-         Quinta do Vesúvio Vintage 2005.
-         Sandeman 20 Years Old Tawny.          
The competition contained nearly 1,700 entries.
For more information and the other awards see: http://www.winereviewonline.com/critics_challenge_medals_ABC.cfm 

Fladgate sells Delaforce to Real Companhia Velha.
03/05/08. On December 31st, 2007 The Fladgate Partnership (TFP) sold the Port Wine brand Delaforce to Real Companhia Velha (RCV). RCV only acquired the trademark. The stocks and other properties remain in possession of TFP. TFP has firmed a production contract with RCV to continue delivering Port Wine to Delaforce.

Delaforce was one of the TFP brands (Taylor, Fonseca, Croft) for seven years. In September 2001 TFP bought the Croft and Delaforce Port Wine activities (together operating under the name CD Vintners) from Diageo (see our News item of 09/09/01).

Adrian Bridge, TFP’s managing director, wrote us the following regarding the philosophy behind this deal:

“Delaforce is a leader in Germany and is very strong in Holland.  These are both commodity markets and despite Delaforce having a premium over its rivals in Germany the pressure on margins is tough due to listing fees.  Like all markets this is best overcome by a focus on the market and the end customer and I believe that Delaforce is in a different market segment to our other brands of Taylor, Fonseca and Croft.  As such it requires special focus from someone better equipped in this area which RCV is.

“I believe that one of the key issues for the Port industry is that there are too many brands.  Those people who talk about the recent consolidations and worry about the top five companies controlling 80% of the industry miss the point.  Production might have consolidated but the number of brands have not.  I see the future as Port brands being experts in some key markets as there are few brands that are truly global these days - our Taylor's brand is one of the few.  RCV has a focus on Germany and can therefore do a better job than us with Delaforce.  Our team is now able to focus our energy on three brands not four - concentration of effort will yield results. You only need to look at the growth of our company in special category Ports to see that not diversifying into table wine has been a good strategy until now.”

Not many 2006 Vintages.
03/05/08. In 2006 the harvest was of variable quality. The Symington group started picking on September 11th. On September 13th, 21st, 23rd and 24th it rained. Dry winds fortunately limited the damage. 

But it takes more for a broad declared Vintage. The wines not only have to be good, but they must have the quality to be able to mature and improve over the decades. Also of large significance are the economy and market situation.

Inventories by João Paulo Martins and on The Port Forum temporarily give the following  meager results:

-         Sogrape (Ferreira, Offley, Sandeman) and The Fladgate Partnership (Taylor, Fonseca, Croft) will not declare a Vintage.

-         All samples of Sogevinus (Cálem, Burmester, Gilbert’s, Barros, Kopke) have been approved by the IVDP, but until now the decision to produce has only been taken for the Kopke Quinta de S. Luíz.

-         The Symington Family Estates will declare the Q. do Vesúvio and the Dow’s Q. da Senhora da Ribeira for direct sale and the Dow’s Q. do Bomfim, Graham’s Q. dos Malvedos and Warre’s Q. da Cavadinha for some years of storage. For comparison: at the moment the Malvedos 1998 and the Bomfim and Cavadinha of 1995 are on the marktet.

-         Cockburn’s Q. da Gricha.

-         Q. do Portal.

Sources:
João Paulo Martins: Público/Fugas d.d. 19/04/08 and
http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=1507&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 

Sales numbers entire 2007 (2).
03/05/08. On April 5th we already published the most important sales numbers over 2007 (see here). Now we give a survey of the numbers for the most important countries:

The top eight in volume for all Port sold were:

  1. France 27.3%; - 0.3%.
  2. The Netherlands 15.6%; + 4.9%.
  3. Portugal 13.6%; - 1.9%.
  4. Belgium 12.3%; + 2.6%.
  5. UK 11%; + 1.3%.
  6. USA 4.2%; - 5.5%.
  7. Germany 4%; + 38.3%.
  8. Canada 2.3%; + 8.2%.

The top eight in revenue for all Port sold were:

  1. France 22.1%; + 2.7%.
  2. Portugal 15.3%; - 4%.
  3. The Netherlands 12.6%; + 6.2%.
  4. UK 12.3%; + 0.4%.
  5. Belgium 10.3%; + 2.6%.
  6. USA 7.3%; - 14.5%.
  7. Canada 4.5%; + 8.7%.
  8. Germany 3.4%; + 29.1%.

The top nine in volume for the Special Categories/Premium Ports were:

  1. UK 33.47%; + 2.4%.
  2. USA 13.2%; - 7.7%.
  3. France 12.64%; + 30%.
  4. Portugal 10.17%; - 0.6%.
  5. Canada 8.42%; + 9.3%.
  6. The Netherlands 6.93%; + 14.6%.
  7. Belgium 3.38%; + 0.8%.
  8. Denmark 2.29%; + 8.1%.
  9. Germany 2.22%; + 24.3%.

The top nine in revenue for the Special Categories/Premium Ports were:

  1. UK 24.23%; + 1.3%.
  2. USA 15.59%; - 15.7%.
  3. Portugal 14.02%; - 3.2%.
  4. France 10.85%; + 32.5%.
  5. Canada 10.21%; + 9.2%.
  6. The Netherlands 6.68%; + 16%.
  7. Belgium 3.78%; + 10.1%.
  8. Denmark 2.78%; + 15.9%.
  9. Germany 1.96%; + 21.3%.

For more information see: http://www.ivdp.pt/pagina.asp?codPag=73&codSeccao=6&idioma=0 

IVDP events calendar as of May 2008.
03/05/08. The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto has planned the following events in England and The Netherlands:

England:
. May 20th-22nd - LIWF 2008 - London.

The Netherlands:
. May 14th - Association of Dutch Wine Clubs - Capelle a/d IJssel.
. May 19th - Dutch Waiters Association.

National Women’s Wine Competition 2008 - Californië.
03/05/08. During the second edition of the National Women’s Wine Competition in Santa Rosa, Californië, USA from March 16th to 19th a Gold Best of Class Award was granted to the Quinta do Vesúvio Vintage 2001.
The competition contained over 1,900 entries.
For more information and the other medals see: http://www.nwwc.info/pdf/2008_NWWC_Winners.pdf 
No Port Wine products are (yet?) mentioned in the results of the Women Winemakers Challenge, a competition within the competition.

Monde Selection 2008 - Belgium.
03/05/08. Monde Sélection in Wauthier-Braine, België organized its  Concours International des Vins 2008 in Brussels from March 27th to 29th. The Krohn Colheita 1983 won a Grand gold medal.
The competition contained over 400 entries.
For more information and the other medals see: http://www.monde-selection.com/en/International_Wine_Contest/Results_2008/International_Wine_Contest_Results_2008.asp  

Wine Masters Challenge 2008 - Estoril.
03/05/08. During the tenth Wine Masters Challenge in Estoril, Portugal from March 27th to 30th the following gold medals were granted to Port Wine products:
-  Gran Cruz 40 Years Old Tawny.
-  Gran Cruz Reserve.
-  Quinta da Pedra Alta Reserve (Jorge E.B. Pinto Leal).
-  Cálem Colheita 1990.
-  Kopke 40 Years Old Tawny.
The competition contained 4,003 entries.
For more information and the other medals see: http://www.winemasters.pt/sitei/wmc2008med.htm 

Vinitaly 2008.
03/05/08. During the 42nd International Wine Competition Vinitaly in Verona, Italy from April 3rd to 7th  Special Mentions were awarded to the following two Port Wines in de category Liqueur Wines:
-         Rozès LBV 2000.
-         Caves Vale do Douro Réccua 10 Years Old Tawny.
The competition contained 3,669 entries.
For more information see: http://www.vinitaly.it/concorsoenologico/cei/pdf/gbclassificheCEN2008.pdf 

Challenge International du Vin 2008 - Bordeaux, with extra prize Sandeman.
03/05/08. During the 32nd Challenge International du Vin in Bourg-sur-Gironde/Bordeaux on April 12th gold medals were awarded to the following Port Wine products:
-         Sandeman 40 Years Old Tawny.
-         Barão de Vilar 10 Years Old Tawny.
-         Poças Vintage 2005.
-         Barão de Vilar 20 Years Old Tawny.
-         Sandeman 30 Years Old Tawny.
The competition contained 5,129 entries.
For more information and the other medals see: http://www.challengeduvin.com/search_palmares.php and choose Europa: Portugal and Appellation: DOC. Porto.

Additionally the Sandeman 40 Years Old Tawny won the 2008 Press Club Prize. This year, the Bordeaux Press Club brought together a group of wine journalists from France, Great Britain, Portugal and Spain to taste a selection of sweet wines having won gold medals and ended up choosing the aforementioned Sandeman.  

Dallas Morning News Wine Competition 2008.
03/05/08. On April 16th the results were published of the 24th Dallas Morning News Wine Competition organized in Dallas, USA. Gold medals went in their respective categories to the following Port Wine products from Portugal:
-         Dow’s Reserve.
-         Sandeman Vau Vintage 2000.
-         Presidential 20 Years Old Tawny.
The competition contained 3,500 entries.
For more information and the other medals see: https://www.dallaswinecomp.com/comp2008/2008Awards.doc 

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2008.
03/05/08. During the 15th Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Bordeaux from April 18th to 20th gold medals were awarded to the following Port Wine products:
-         Romariz Colheita 1963.
-         Burmester Vintage 2005.
The competition contained 6.189 entries.
In 2009 this competition will be organized in Valencia, Spain from April 25th to 27th .
For more information see: http://www.concoursmondial.eu 
For the results see: http://cmb.vinopres.com/index.php?page=search&id=9 

San Diego International Wine Competition 2008.
03/05/08. During the 25th International Wine Competition in San Diego, USA from April 19th to 20th the Quinta do Vesúvio Vintage 2001 won a gold medal and was chosen as Best of Show Red Dessert.
The Osborne LBV 2001 also won a gold medal and was nominated for the Best of Show Red Dessert.
The competition contained 2,065 entries.
For more information and the other prizes see: http://www.sdiwc.com/results.cfm 

Revista de Vinhos no. 221, April 2008.
03/05/08. Just like the March issue, the April issue of the Portuguese magazine Revisto de Vinhos contains no news on Port Wine.

Vila Nova de Gaia one large building excavation.
05/04/08. The historic centre of Vila Nova de Gaia, with its famous lodges and visitor centres, will quickly change. On the one hand fewer bottling plants and shipping departments are necessary because of the concentration in the Port Wine industry. On the other hand manoeuvring ever larger trucks through the small streets is a major problem and shippers are considering relocating these activities to the Douro or to an industrial estate outside the Gaia centre (see our News item of 02/06/07).
Apart from this, the municipality of Gaia has major development plans for the area. It looks favourably upon ideas to build hotels on the vacant plots and intends to realize large housing projects on both sides of the centre.

We hope that these projects will at least be carried out carefully and with sensitivity to its history. But the deafening silence regarding the plans for the application to designate the historic centre a Unesco World Heritage site makes us fear the worst. 

The following plans are known at this moment:

  1. In April 2007 The Fladgate Partnership presented the design for the Yeatman Hotel on the Croft complex (see our News item of 02/06/07). It concerns an investment of 26 million Euros on 30,000 square metres.
  2. In January the CS group of the Portuguese entrepreneur Carlos Saraiva announced to build the five star CS Oporto Vintage hotel on the complexes of Delaforce and Gran Cruz. This hotel will have 150 rooms of which 20 suites, two restaurants and an auditorium for 200 persons. The area is 32,000 square metres and the investment amounts to 47 million Euros. This CS group already has possessions including in the Douro the former Douro Azul hotels CS Pousada Solar da Rede (Mesão Frio) and CS Vintage (House) Hotel in Pinhão. Moreover the company is waiting for the permission for the building of the CS Douro Marina Hotel in Mesão Frio (see Our News items of 03/12/05 and 06/12/03).
  3. For 10 million Euros, a five star hotel and a cultural centre with including 13 cinema rooms will be built on the site of the Real Companhia Velha warehouses. Only in this case it is mentioned that the front and the chimney of the present premises will be maintained.
  4. Sogevinus, the holding of Cálem, Burmester, Barroe and Kopke, will invest 150 million Euros in its eight possessions in this area with a complete surface of 75,000 square metres. On the Barros Almeida spot 150 houses are being built. The Burmester complex will be transformed into a hotel of 100 to 150 rooms.
  5. Sogrape (Ferreira, Offley, Sandeman) has plans to modify its cellars and warehouses for 200 million Euros.
  6. Gran Cruz will realize a multi media centre, as well as a museum, a tasting room and a shop for 3 million Euros.

(Sources Lusa/RTP of  11/01/08, Diário de Notícias of 01/02/08 and Público of 27/03/08.)

 Wine centre Q. Nova in Pinhão station.
05/04/08. Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (see here) of the Amorim family will create a Wine House of a total of 460 square metres in the railway station of Pinhão, with its 25 famous blue tile scenes (azulejos). The centre will be inaugurated on June 1st, 180 years after the arrival of the first train in Pinhão. This means a huge asset for the simple village (see here), that is nevertheless the heart of the best vineyards in the Douro. 

The shop in the main building will offer all Q. Nova wines, of course with tasting possibilities. Besides regional gourmet products, books and all kinds of products related to wine will be available.

A function room, such as small music recitals, meetings, wine lunches and -dinners, cooking courses, etc., will be made on the first floor of the station premises. For the development of this space, a agreement has been made with Rui Paula, chef and owner of Restaurant D.O.C. at the Folgosa quay in Armamar.

A wine museum will be established in