Next stop on the Douro trip: Niepoort. It was a real pleasure to spend a few days at Quinta do Nápoles with one of my favourite people in the world…
In the Douro: Vallado
After visiting Vallado’s property in the Douro Superior earlier in the week, it was time to visit the original Quinta, which is on the border of the Baixo and Cima…
Foot-treading grapes at Quinta de Vargellas, Douro
One of the remarkable things about Port wine is foot treading grapes. For top quality Port, it’s necessary to extract as much as possible from the skins as fast as…
In the Douro: Quinta do Crasto
Quinta do Crasto is one of the most beautiful properties in the Douro, perched on a steeply sloped promontory sticking out from the right bank of the Douro, in the…
In the Douro: Quinta do Vale D. Maria
We arrived at Vale Dona Maria late afternoon in a torrential downpour. A rather sodden Cristiano Van Zeller walked over to us and greeted us warmly. It was nice to…
In the Douro: Vale Meão
Vale Meão is an important property in the Douro Superior. It traces its history as a Quinta back to the end of the late 19th century, when Dona Antónia Ferreira…
In the Douro: at Vallado’s Casa do Rio
I’m in the Douro. It’s 0720 and from where I’m sitting I have a view of the Douro river, looking out from my room at Quinta do Vallado’s new luxury…
In the Alentejo, Portugal, for just a day
I’m just on the way home from Lisbon. I’ve spent today consulting for a major Alentejo winery that changed hands a while back. The new owner is smart enough to…
Conceito Bastardo 2007 Douro, Portugal
A few years ago – back in November 2008 – I was judging wine in Porto. I met up with some Portuguese wine people for dinner, and ended up leaving…