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News archives 2003.
06/07/02;07/06/03. 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.

REGISTER FOR NEWSLETTER.

06/12/03. Harvest 2003: high expectations.
06/12/03. Reorganization of the sector taken effect on November 26th.
06/12/03. Real Companhia Velha sales Q. de S. Gonçalo.
06/12/03. PLL: an unique bibliophilic publisher in the USA.
06/12/03. Personal december 2003.
06/12/03. Good articles in San Francisco Chronicle.
06/12/03. Link of the month December 2003.
06/12/03. RdeV no. 168: Tasting Vintages 2001.
06/12/03. Links page: changes in December 2003.
06/12/03. Two new tourist projects.
06/12/03. Revista de Vinhos no. 168 November 2003. 
01/11/03. Shippers unhappy with sale stocks CdoD.
01/11/03. Buildings of Casa do Douro impounded.
01/11/03. Sales figures 1st half year 2003.
01/11/03. Update Files November 2003.
01/11/03. Good articles on Port by Peter Wise.
01/11/03. Link of the month November 2003.
01/11/03. Readers preference Revista de Vinhos 2003.
01/11/03. Symington Family Port Award 2002.
01/11/03. River tourism grows.
01/11/03. Fladgate Partnership largest in Special Categories.
01/11/03. Revista de Vinhos no. 167 October 2003.
04/10/03. Reorganization of the sector definitive.
04/10/03. Christine Masson: The Douro the Land of Port Wine.
04/10/03. Port encyclopedia on internet.
04/10/03. Link of the month October 2003.
04/10/03. Graham's Blending Contest.
04/10/03. Revista de Vinhos no. 166 September 2003.
04/10/03. Award for Quinta do Portal in Zürich.
06/09/03. Casa do Douro wants also to sell stocks itself.
06/09/03. Link of the month September 2003.
06/09/03. Vinhos Borges: export strategy.
06/09/03. Links page: additions in September 2003.
06/09/03. Revista de Vinhos no. 165 August 2003: Old Whites.
02/08/03. New edition “Port and the Douro” by Richard Mayson.
02/08/03. Production quotum down again.
02/08/03. Link of the month August 2003.
02/08/03. Decanter World Wine Awards: a new competition.
02/08/03. Links page: additions in August 2003.
02/08/03. Government want “massive top-tourism” in the Douro region.
02/08/03. International Wine and Spirit Competition 2003 – Harpers.
02/08/03. Revista de Vinhos no. 164 July 2003.
11/07/03. Revista de Vinhos no. 163 June 2003.
05/07/03. Fake Port in Canada and the USA.
05/07/03. Poças Newsletter June 2003.
05/07/03. Roy Hersh: An exceptional tasting.
05/07/03. Link of the month July 2003.
05/07/03. New IVP brochure.
05/07/03. Links page: changes in July 2003.
05/07/03. Investments in Burmester and Gilbert's.
05/07/03. Solar and Museu do Douro in Régua.
05/07/03. Peter Symington nominee.
05/07/03. Vinexpo - Bordeaux.
05/07/03. Revista de Vinhos not published?
05/07/03. Sales figures 1ste four months 2003.
07/06/03. Symington launches 7 Vintages 2001.
07/06/03. Seara d'Ordens star at concours in Brussels.
07/06/03. Link of the month June 2003.
07/06/03. The new Port glass in the USA.
07/06/03. Vinitaly - Verona.
07/06/03. Korean Airlines and Port.
07/06/03. News from the IVP Solares.
07/06/03. Revista de Vinhos no. 162 May 2003.
03/05/03. Vintages 2000 in embassy The Hague.
03/05/03. Link of the month May 2003.
03/05/03. Merger of cooperatives.
03/05/03. Restyling Fonseca.
03/05/03. Port promotion in Paris.
03/05/03. Links page May 2003.
03/05/03. Taylor's helps children with leukaemia.
03/05/03. World Wine Concours - Estoril.
03/05/03. Revista de Vinhos no. 161 April 2003.
05/04/03. Douro museum in financial trouble.
05/04/03. Noval's Raven - Ruby Reserve.
05/04/03. Link of the month April 2003.
05/04/03. An IVP Road Show.
05/04/03. Quinta do Portal invests.
05/04/03. Revista de Vinhos no. 160 March 2003.
05/04/03. Aged Tawnies.
05/04/03. Links page April 2003.
05/04/03. Types and designations.
01/03/03. 200,000 litres disappeared.
01/03/03. Sale stocks Casa do Douro.
01/03/03. More about export figures 2002.
01/03/03. Link of the month March 2003.
01/03/03. Links page March 2003.
01/03/03. Poças Newsletter January 2003.
01/03/03. Revista de Vinhos: the "Best of the Year 2002".
01/03/03. Revista de Vinhos no. 159 February 2003.
01/02/03. Reorganization of the sector.
01/02/03. Link of the month February 2003.
01/02/03. Export figures 2002.
01/02/03. Port6: an unique combination.
04/01/03. Updates "Files" January 2003.
04/01/03. Links page January 2003.
04/01/03. Export - "Oscar".
04/01/03. Labels Biennale.
04/01/03. Portarias 612/98 and 174/99.
04/01/03. The Port glass in crystal.
04/01/03. Link of the month January 2003.
04/01/03. Wine Enthusiast/The Fladgate Partnership.
04/01/03. River cruises.
04/01/03. New Port bottle.

Harvest 2003: high expectations.
06/12/03;03/04/04. The 2003 Vintage in the Douro has been completed under very successful conditions.
The Symington Family (Dow’s, Warre’s, Graham’s, etc.) reports: 
“At all 7 wineries, the grapes were in very good condition and the musts showed excellent colour and aromas. Yields were a little lower than had been predicted in June/July due to the summer heat, but there is no doubt that some very good Ports have been made in the Douro this year.”
“Warre’s Quinta da Cavadinha, always a late picked vineyard, produced superb wines, a direct result of the perfect weather and the 6 new robotic lagares used for the 1^st time at this small winery.”
“Once again the robotic lagares proved highly successful, working at 4 of the family wineries. More than 2,000 pipes (550 litres) were produced using this unique method. A further 1,000 pipes were made using the ancient traditional foot-trodden method, although with temperature control.”
Cristiano van Zeller (Quintas do Vale D. Maria and do Vale da Mina) told us : 
“Maybe we did not produce a huge volume of top Ports, but I am sure they will be really outstanding. We have better Ports than in 2000 and 2001. However, we can only be sure next year. I am always cautious until the wine is in bottle, but the indications are very good.”
David Fonseca Guimaraens of The Fladgate Partnership (Taylor’s, Fonseca, Croft and Delaforce) writes: 
“Yields this year were above average ... and the conditions led to a very high standard of Ports being made from the entire region. From the start of vintage, the colour and the fruit released from the skins during the fermentations were evident and the tannins were present in large quantities, making the young Ports stand out for their quality. They will continue to improve as the wines integrate over the winter. 2003 could well be considered a “text book year” for good Port production.”

Reorganization of the sector taken effect on November 26^th.
06/12/03. The laws on the reorganization/concentration of the procedure in the Vinho do Porto and the Vinho do Douro sectors have become operative on November 26^th (see our News item of 04/10/03).
From now on we will use the new name Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP) for the Instituto do Vinho do Porto (IVP).
The design of the IVDP logo:


Real Companhia Velha sales Q. de S. GonValo.
06/12/03. The company Solouro of Rogério Silva, former owner of Cálem, has purchased Quinta de S.GonValo from Real Companhia Velha (RCV). This quinta contains 6 hectares of vineyard with Port rights and a winery with a capacity of 800,000 litres. The quinta is situated in Vila Flor, too far away from the other properties of RCV around Pinhão. The sales price has not been announced.
Rogério Silva is full owner of Solouro and of Vintagma (an import and distribution firm of wine), and 90% owner of Sovidão (interests in the Dão region) and of Entreposto Central (distribution firm also situated in the Dão region). With the take-over of Q. de S. GonValo the Rogério Silva holding will reach a sale of 3 million Euros at the end of this year.
(Source: Diário Económico of 19/11/03.) 

PLL: an unique bibliophilic publisher in the USA.
06/12/03. The Port Lover’s Library is the bibliophilic publishing house of Isaac Oelgart in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
The PLL publishes the following series at this moment:

1. The White Papers Series is a series of simple fotocopied reprints. For example: The Report on the Port Wine trade of Oporto of the English Foreign Office (1893), U$ 15.00.
2. The Douro Series is a series of historical reprints on the history, production, distribution and enjoyment of Port Wine (3 to 6 titles a year, between U$ 10.00 and 20.00). For example: The Gentleman’s Cellar & Butler’s Guide to Port, H.L. Feuerheerd, 1899, U$ 15.00.
3. The Portonian Series of Pamphlets is a series with original works by individuals from within the Port trade or by writers who write about the Port Wine trade (2 to 4 Titles a year, between U$ 25.00 and 50.00). For example: Port in a storm 1945 – 2000, Richard Mayson, May 2000, U$ 35.00.

Besides there are 2 series in preparation: The Oporto Series of general works on Port Wine and The Bibliographical Series, sub-titled Contributions on the history of the literature of Port Wine (1 to 2 titles a series a year).
The PLL also distributes books on Port that are generally not available in the USA.
Moreover the PLL has a nice supply of antiquarian books such as: Port Wine Quintas of the Douro by Liddell and Price, 1992, U$ 55.00 and Port by George Robertson, 1978, U$ 50.00, but also the famous map of the Port region from 1853 by Joseph James Forrester, U$ 1,250.00.
In the near future the PLL will publish a quarterly entitled Vinho do Porto: Journal on History, Production, Distribution and Enjoyment of Port. Two bi-montly Newsletters, The Port RePort and The RePort Card have also been planned.
The PLL is not yet available on internet. The main structure of  www.theportloverslibrary.com  is ready, but the contents are put in by Isaac Oelgart on a “as I can basis”.
For the time being we have to deal with mainly traditional technics:
Isaac Oelgart; Publisher; The Port lover’s Library; The Poor Farm, at 162 Poverty Lane; Lebanon; NH 03766; USA; Tel.++ 603 443 6195; Fax. ++ 603 448 4160. E-mail: pll@valley.net 
It is possible to sign up for automatic sending of all publications of PLL.
Next month more about Isaac Oelgart and his PLL.

Personal december 2003. 06/12/03.
-         The American magazine Wine Enthusiast has nominated Dirk Niepoort for the award of Winemaker of the Year 2003. The result will be announced in the December 15^th issue.
-         Paul Symington has been elected to president of the International Wine and Spirits Competition 2004. The IWSC is part of Harpers Trade Journals.

Good articles in San Francisco Chronicle.
06/12/03. Two good articles on Port Wine have recently been published in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Steve Pitcher gives a brief but complete survey on Port Wine in “A Port primer Ruby”, with the history, market shares, grapes, production, most important houses, types and how getting started with Port.
The article can be found at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/11/13/WIGEV2VJD31.DTL
Lynne Char Bennett tells about combinations with Port in “Figs, blue cheese find different entrance into Port, a cheese course gets a kick from dried fruit” and she gives a recipe of “Blue Cheese & Fig Toasts”.
This article can be found at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/11/13/WIG7M2VNDV1.DTL

Link of the month December 2003.
06/12/03. A special month deserves a special website. That’s why we have choosen www.sandeman.com/ing  as link of the month December.
In 2002 Sandeman has been sold by Seagram to Sogrape of the Portuguese Guedes family who already owned Ferreira and Forrester/Offley. George Sandeman, member of the 7^th generation, is still associated with the company. The website of Sandeman is extensive and well designed. However, of the 6 mentioned language versions only the English one is available. The paragraphs “Storing”, “Passing” and ”Recipes” behind the button “Porto” are especially worth reading.
Vb4V - Vintage before Vintage - an on line exhibition on Port before 1900 also deserves special attention.   

RdeV no. 168: Tasting Vintages 2001.
06/12/03. Although 2001 was not a generally declared Vintage year, nice products have been made. The very Symington Family launched 7 Vintages in that year (see our News item of 07/06/03).
The November issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos now presents the results of a tasting with 23 brands.
Fonseca Guimaraens, Quinta do Noval Nacional and Quinta do Vesúvio (Symington) were the best, each with 18 points on a score chart of 0-20. At the bottom of the list we find Delaforce Corte, Quinta do Monte Bravo and Silval (Q. do Noval), all three with 16.5 points.
The article is to be found at: www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt 

Links page: changes in December 2003. 06/12/03.

1. We have added www.confrariavinhodoporto.com , the site of the Port brotherhood, to Port links.
2. We have added www.vinologia.com , the site of the tasting pub of the Frenchman Jean Philippe Duhard in Oporto, to Port tourism links.
3. The adresses of Broadbent Wines, Quinta de Marrocos, Adega Cooperativa de Meda and William Pitters have been changed.
4. We had to remove the following websites because they have not been available for some time:
   - CCVP – Porto Vasconcellos,
   - Castelinhos Vinhos,
   - Adega Cooperativa de MurVa,
   - Quinta da Romaneira,
   - Hotel Régua Douro.

Two new tourist projects.
06/12/03. In the Douro valley 2 new tourist accomodations have been planned:
1. The Golf and Country Club of Castelo de Numão wants to realize a complex between Castelo de Numão and Arnozelo in the municipality of Vila Nova de Foz Côa in the Douro Superior (see: What’s Port?). The project covers an area of 127 hectares. The budget is 50 million Euros.
Planned are: the 4 stars hotel D. Dinis with 80 rooms and 303 beds, a resort with 400 tourist houses, landing stages for 25 boats, a heliport, a 18 holes golf course and a riding school.
The complex will get its own train-stop between the stations Vargelas and Vesúvio.
For the next phase, a restaurant with 90 tables, a health club, a club house, all-terrain vehicle rental, a golf academy, a tennis club/bar, small shops, children’s playgrounds, walking and bicycle routes, a medical station, a security system and tourist guides are thought of.
(Source: Jornal de Notícias of 29/10/03.)
2. Douro Azul (see below) is going to build the 5 stars resort Douro Marina Hotel in Lugar da Rede in the municipality of Mesão Frio in the Baixo Corgo (see: What’s Port?). The project covers a plot of 4 hectares. The budget is 33 million Euros.
It is the 1^st project in cooperation with the Agência Portuguesa para o Investimento para o vale do Douro (API). The public part of the investments will be in order of 55-60%.
The 1^st phase encloses a hotel with 158 rooms (among which 14 suites and 2 presidential suites), an inside swimmingpool, a gymnasium, a health club, a hairdresser, a SPA, a meeting and congress centre with an auditorium for 360 persons, a restaurant, rooms for banquets, a pianobar with permanent live music, a tennis court, a river beach and gardens.
In the SPA treatments with ‘grapes mass’ will be offered, a model tested in the Bordeaux region, that fits well with the character of the Douro. Treatments against rheumatism will also be possible.
The 2^nd phase will be a golfcomplex with 9 holes on the north bank and 9 holes on the south bank of the Douro if this is allowed by the municipality of Lamego too.

Douro Azul (www.douroazul.com) is the largest cruise company at the Douro, it also offers mini yachts, helicopter flights and restaurants and it owns Quinta da Rede. The company exploits the hotels Solar da Rede in Mesão Frio and Vintage House Hotel in Pinhão.
(Sources: ICEP/Lusa of 27/10/03 and Público of 05/11/03.) 

Revista de Vinhos no. 168 November 2003.
06/12/03. The November issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains the following information on Port Wine:
New Products:
Judgement by the editorial staff. Score chart of 0 to 20.
-         Niepoort 10 Years Old Tawny 18 points.
-         Quinta do Portal 10 Years Old Tawny 15.5 points.
Ferreira:
João Paulo Martins reviews in an article the new winery of Ferreira/Sogrape in Lêda in the Douro Superior. He gives their LBV 17 points.
Tasting Vintages 2001: See separate item above.
All information can also be found at: www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt  

Shippers unhappy with sale stocks CdoD.
01/11/03. Spokesmen of the 2 largest Shippers have called the plans of the Portuguese government to sell the stocks of the Casa do Douro (CdoD) unfair and unrealistic. They are Paul Symington managing director of The Symington Family group (Dow’s, Warre’s, Graham’s, etc.) and Adrian Bridge managing director of the Fladgate Partnership (Taylor, Fonseca, Croft, Delaforce). Together they represent a market share of over 25% and for the Special Categories Ports even over 50% at least.
They are quoted in a publication of 24/09/03 at Harpers Online.
“The Portuguese government ask shippers to sign up to a 10-year plan to buy the stocks at a value corresponding to the debt of the CdoD.” (See also our items of 01/03/03, 06/09/03 and 04/10/03.)
“The Shippers are angry at the plans because they believe the stock is both overvalued and of dubious quality”.
Paul Symington says in the Harpers article: “It is about time that something was done about this situation, but we do not like the ridiculous way it is being carried out. …the idea of forcing shippers to buy Port, and to tell them how much to buy and for how much, is just unfair. We would be quite happy to buy some stocks, but they would have to be stocks that we need and they would have to be at market prices”.
Symington is also concerned that a large proportion of the stocks are very old Tawnies: “And no matter how good they may be, we really don’t need a lot of old Tawny. After all, how much of a market is there for 40 Years Old Tawny?”
Adrian Bridge says in the Harpers article: “All parties have an interest in solving the problem, including the shippers, and we need to find an answer, but it can’t be imposed on us to buy the stocks.”  

Buildings of Casa do Douro impounded.
01/11/03. There is still no end to the sad story of the Casa do Douro (CdoD). After permanent lack of money, amputation of competences and confiscation of the Port stocks, the Portuguese tax authorities have impounded buildings of the CdoD, also a governmental institution. The main office and 2 warehouses have been taken as collateral because of a debt of 500,000 Euros.
The main office is the pompous building in the Rua dos Camilos in Peso da Régua with the quaint leaded windows in the inside hall.

Sales figures 1st half year 2003.
01/11/03. The Instituto do Vinho do Porto has published the sales figures of January to June 2003. The volume has increased by 2.8%, the revenue in Euros has increased by 3.3%, both compared with the same period in 2002.
The revenue rise was not sufficient to compensate inflation. Expectations for the 2^nd half of the year are not optimistic. A majority of the companies expects a lower turnover.
The top 10 in volume were:

1. France 32.1%; - 1.2%.
2. The Netherlands 17.6%; + 10.6%.
3. Portugal 12.3%; - 17.9%.
4. Belgium 11.3%; + 21.6%.
5. U.K. 7.8%; + 36.1%.
6. Germany 4.2%; + 0.2%.
7. U.S.A. 3.7%; + 8%.
8. Canada 2.5%; + 4.8%.
9. Spain 1.6%; - 13.7%.
10. Denmark 1.4%; + 32%.

The top 10 in revenue were:

1. France 26.2%; - 2.2%.
2. The Netherlands 13.7%; + 7.7%.
3. Portugal 13.6%; - 17%.
4. U.K. 10.4%; + 47.8%.
5. Belgium 9.9%; + 22.3%.
6. U.S.A. 7.5%; - 3%.
7. Canada 5%; + 10.1%.
8. Germany 3.6%; + 6.7%.
9. Denmark 1.7%; + 45.5%.
10. Spain 1.7%; - 14.3%.

The total results can be found at: www.ivp.pt/uk/Estatistica/estatistica3.shtm  

Update Files November 2003.
01/11/03. Today we have published some small changes and additions in the articles “To store or not store” and “Types”. They have been printed in italics.

Good articles on Port by Peter Wise.
01/11/03. Peter Wise has recently published 2 good articles on Port Wine at the Financial Times Online.
He deals with the market position during the last 10-15 years in “Popular port weather a storm”.
He discusses the parallels with sherry and cognac, points out general growth and the growth of the Special Categories, shows the anxiety about the dominant but imbalanced French, Dutch and Belgian markets (together 60%) and reviews the withdrawal of the large drinks concerns such as Diageo.
The article can be found at: www.portugalnews.pt/icep/artigo.asp?cod_artigo=92678 
He reviews the Port Wine Robots in “Machinery takes treading strain”. The Symington Family seems to be very successful with its “Robotic treading tanks” or “Robotic lagares” (see also our News item of 07/06/03). The Fladgate Partnership works with plungers in the fermentation vats, but also says through chairman Alistair Robertson: “The top vintages will continue to be trod by foot”.
This 2^nd article can be found at: www.portugalnews.pt/icep/artigo.asp?cod_artigo=92679 

Link of the month November 2003.
01/11/03. For this month we have chosen: www.vallegre.pt 
Vallegre, Vinhos do Porto S.A. is owned by the 5^th generation of the Cunha Barros family.
The company owns 3 quintas: Q. da Vista Alegre (55 hectares), Q. de Valle Longo (10 hectares) and Q. da Lameira (15 hectares). The name Vallegre is a combination of the names of the first 2 quintas.
The website of Vallegre has been beautifully designed and is well-organized. The colours and type faces are pleasant. In general the information is good, but the product information is rather brief.

Readers preference Revista de Vinhos 2003.
01/11/03. The readers of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos have declared their preference for producers from the various wine areas for the 5^th time. The results have been published in the October issue number 167 (see also below).
The list for Port is as follows:

1. Noval.
2. Taylor’s.
3. Ferreira.
4. Niepoort.
5. Fonseca.
6. Graham’s.
7. Cálem.
8. Dow’s.
9. Warre’s.
10. PoVas.

Taylor’s has been ousted from the 1^st  place for the first time in 5 years by Noval.
Niepoort and Ferreira have changed places. All 3 top brands of The Symington Family (Dow’s, Warre’s and Graham’s) are in the top ten for the first time. Dow’s entered at the 8^th place. PoVas is the other newcomer on 10. Burmester and Sandeman disappeared from the top ten. These both companies have changed ownership in the past years. Burmester (and Gilbert's) went to Amorim/Natureza. Sandeman went to Sogrape.
The information on the other wine areas can be found at www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt 

Symington Family Port Award 2002.
01/11/03. This award has been created by The Symington Family in November 2001 to recognise excellence in reporting on or writing about any aspect of the Port trade whether in book, newspaper or magazine format. The regulations require publication in the British market.
The press release on the 1^st award goes as follows:
“The first Symington Family Port Award has gone to Andrew Jefford for his article in the December 2002 issue of Waitrose Food Illustrated. The award, a cheque for 2,500 pounds and a case of Graham’s 2000 Vintage Port, was presented to Andrew by Paul Symington at a lunch at the Capital Hotel in London.
The panel of judges unanimously praised Jefford’s article for its evocative and beautifully written description of the Douro Valley and its people with almost tangible enticement for the reader to try Port wine. The judges were Jancis Robinson MW, Alan Cheesman, Marcia Waters MW, Sebastian Paine MW and Steve Daniel.
‘One of our main objectives in offering this annual award is to enhance the consumer’s knowledge and appreciation of Port’ said Paul Symington, ‘and Andrew has accomplished this with great style and sympathy.’
The judges were also extremely impressed by the Port section of Michael Broadbent’s ‘Vintage Wine’ and by Christian Davis’s editorship of the Harpers 2002 supplement on Port (see our News item of 30/11/02), both of which were considered to be invaluable reference works on the Port today.”
Jefford’s article can be found at: www.waitrose.com/food_drink/wfi/drinks/wine/0212052.asp  

River tourism grows.
01/11/03. The number of passengers on the cruise ships on the Douro is likely to grow by 20% in 2003. Hundred and six thousands of tourists have already been transported to August. It is expected that the total number of passengers of 135,000 in 2002 will be amply exceeded with the approaching busy harvest months September and October.
Douro Azul, with 60% of the market the largest shipping company, will enlarge its fleet from 10 to 11.
Croisiére Europe, the French shipping company, will bring into use a 3rd ship in 2004. Moreover this company will start with trips from the Spanish border to Oporto. The mainly French passengers will be transferred overland for it.
Source: Expresso of 04/10/03.

Fladgate Partnership largest in Special Categories.
01/11/03. In 2002 The Fladgate Partnership (Taylor, Fonseca, Croft, Delaforce) sold the most Special Categories Ports. Adrian Bridge, managing director of the group, has stated this in interviews.
Formerly The Symington Family group had the largest market share in these types (Vintage, Aged Tawnies, LBV, Reserve, etc.). The Fladgate Partnership has driven The Symington Family (Dow’s, Warre’s, Graham’s, etc.) from the 1^st place now by purchasing Croft and Delaforce in 2001.
The market shares in 2002 of The Fladgate Partnership were according to the statistics of the Instituto do Vinho do Porto (IVP):
Vintage – Volume 23%, Revenue 31.2%.
Late Bottled Vintage – Volume 29.9%, Revenue 31.2%.
Aged Tawnies – Volume 20.6%, Revenue 25.5%.
With a volume of 30.9% The Fladgate Partnership came 2^nd in that category for the type Reserva, which was added to the statistics of the IVP for the 1^st time in 2002, but came 1^st again in revenue with 32.9%.
The relevant statistics of the IVP are not public.
The statistics also show that the group is the largest in the most important markets for these Special Categories: the U.K., the U.S.A. and Canada.
(Sources: Notícias de EdiVão ICEP of 26/09/03 and NewsWine.com of 05/10/03).

Revista de Vinhos no. 167 October 2003.
01/11/03. The October issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinho contains the following information on Port:
New product:
The Quinta do Noval 10 Years Old Tawny gets 18 points from the editorial staff on a score chart of 0-20.
Quinta da Casa Amarela:
This quinta of 15 hectares is owned by the Regueiro family. The company is reviewed in an article by João Afonso. He gives 16 points to its Dry White and 17.5 points to its 10 Years Old Tawny. Some 2000 visitors are received annually through a separate small company: “Sabores do Douro” for tastings, wine courses, lunches and a wine game.
Dourowine.com:
António Falcão reviews this new Port encyclopedia at the internet (see also our News item of 04/10/03).
Quinta de Roriz:
This company of 42 hectares is jointly owned by João van Zeller and The Symington Family.
Luís Lopes gives 18.5 points to their Vintage 2001 in his article.
All information is also to be found on: www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt 
See also our News item: Readers preference Revista de Vinhos 2003.  

Reorganization of the sector definitive.
04/10/03. The Portuguese government have laid down the reorganization/concentration of the procedure in the Região Demarcada do Douro in law no. 42/2003 of August 22^nd. The financial problems of the Casa do Douro (CdoD) had created a similar mindset for it. (See also our News item of 01/02/03.) 
So far the Instituto do Vinho do Porto (IVP) have occupied themselves especially with quality control and promotion of  Port Wine. Among other things the CdoD did the same for Douro table wine. The Comissão Interprofissional da Região Demarcada do Douro (CIRDD) was particularly responsible for the production quota (benefício) of Port.
The CIRDD will be incorporated in the IVP by the new law. Inside the IVP a “Conselho Interprofissional” will be formed for the production quota of Port. This council will be formed, just like now, by one representative of the CdoD, one of the AEVP (the organization of large shippers) and one of the government.
Quality control and promotion of Douro table wine will be transferred from the CdoD to the IVP. Because of this the name of this institute will change into Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto (IVDP).
The CdoD will continue to represent the farmers and cooperatives through an obliged registration. The CdoD will also continue to manage the “cadastro” or register of the vineyards, but the IVDP will have the supervision of it. The CdoD will not be allowed to buy up wine stocks of farmers any longer.
The formal settlement of the law concerned will still take some months.

Christine Masson: The Douro the Land of Port Wine.
04/10/03. Today we have published a review of The Douro the Land of Port Wine by Christine Masson. It is a well written, easily readable book with many boxes about persons and facts. It is a pity that the formal Port information is not quite correct. For more see: Files/Library.

Port encyclopedia on internet. 
04/10/03. The new website www.dourowine.com  wants to be a Port encyclopedia. The site is part of  Amorim/Natureza/Burmester/Gilbert’s. The content was made by Luísa Amorim, technically supported by the directors Jaime Costa-winemaker, Cláudia Lino-lab and production, Ana Mota-viniculture and José Teles-general director. All this has been made especially for internet, and it took almost 4 years.
The announcement by Casa Burmester speaks of:
“…a veritable bible for Port enthusiasts, providing them with every detail imaginable, from the vine to the glass.”
“Next, you can access the ‘Production’ and ‘Ripening’ areas, which demystify the Port production process, including secrets and traditions.” 
“A special highlight is the table of aromas, a treasure trove of sensations waiting to be discovered.”
This site is really a fantastic source for those who are interested in Port Wine. However, the attempt of the makers to involve the other websites of the group as well is not (yet?) a success. The further empty page with the 4 addresses often appears unasked. Do you choose one then you first have to close this page to go on. This should be possible in a much better way.

Link of the month October 2003.
04/10/03. For this month we have chosen: www.calem.pt 
The Cálem group is owned by Sogevinus (71.4% in hands of the Spanish Caixa Nova and 28.6% of Cálem manager Rogério Leandro da Silva).
Many tourists visit the Cálem cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia because of the prominent location next to the Tourist Information Office at the riverfront opposite Oporto.
The website of Cálem has been nicely designed and is informative. The paragraph about matching possibilities with Port is especially worth the attention. They are printed along each type under Products/Serving. 

Graham’s Blending Contest.
04/10/03. During the culinary festival “Proeven in de Beurs van Berlage” in Amsterdam on September 21^st  was organized a Graham’s Blending Contest. The festival was organized by the Dutch wine magazine Perswijn.
Euan M. Mackay, one of the directors of The Symington Family Port Companies, had come to Amsterdam himself. It was the first time that Graham’s organized such a match with free entry. It was done one time earlier for the customers of the Graham’s importer in The Netherlands, Verbunt Wijnkopers in Tilburg.
Before the start of the match, Euan Mackay presented a brief, excellent introductory on Aged Tawnies. 
The task was to determine the blend of a Graham’s 10 Years Old as exactly as possible. Given was that the wine had been made with 7, 9, 10 and 13 years old Port. Seven teams of 3 persons each had been entered to the match after answering 13 questions on Port Wine. They got half an hour to reach a good result.
The final result was judged by a jury with Euan Mackay, Ronald de Groot - editor of Perswijn and René van Heusden - wine writer.  
The contest was won by the team Erik Muller, Hugo Lasès and Nico Meijer that was selected by the jury out of 3 teams that had scored best numerically. The winning team members each got a bottle of Graham’s 40 Years Old Tawny.
This Graham’s 10 Years Old had been blend with 10% of the 7 and 9 years old Port each, 20% of the 13 years old and 60% of the 10 years old. Most teams had used too much of the 13 years old wine.

Revista de Vinhos no. 166 September 2003.
04/10/03. The only Port news in the September issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos concerns a new product. The Heredias LBV 1999 of Sociedada de Vinhos Senhora do Convento gets 17 points on a score chart of 0-20 by the editorial staff.
More at: www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt 

Award for Quinta do Portal in Zürich.
04/10/03. Quinta do Portal has announced that the company has received a bronze medal for its 10 Years Old Tawny during the “Internationale Weinprämierung Zürich 2003”.

Casa do Douro wants also to sell stocks itself.
06/09/03. After consultation with the Instituto do Vinho do Porto, the Portuguese government have given permission to the Casa do Douro (CdoD) also to sell some of its huge Port stocks itself. These stocks are part of the measures intended to solve the financial problems of the CdoD (see our News items of  01/02/03 and 01/03/03).
The permission concerns a maximum of 1 milllion bottles from the 1963 and 1964 harvests. The price a bottle will be about 25 Euros. Sales have only been permitted to inhabitants of the municipalities which make up the Região Demarcada do Douro (see: Files/What’s Port?).
We are very curious about the tasting notes of these 2 wines. The year 1963 was exceptionally good of course, 1964 was very mediocre. But we know nothing  about  the nature and quality of the storage during these 4 decades (large or super-large casks, wooden or concrete casks, the effect of Douro Bake? – see: Files/Types 1c and 1e) and the effect of it on 2 totally different harvests.
(Source: Comércio of 30/07/03.) 

Link of the month September 2003.
06/09/03. The only Port producer with its own portal for its websites is the Symington Family. This is  a good reason to choose www.symington.com as our link of the month September.
The site contains only 1 page with at the top the logo and the full name: The Symington Family Port Companies (Ltd). The main brands have been indicated centrally: Graham’s, Dow’s, Warre’s, Quinta do Vesuvio, Smith Woodhouse, Gould Campbell, Quarles Harris – not (yet?) a website, and the Madeira Wine Company.
Five small printed options of which 4 with a dropdown menu are at the bottom of the page. They include references to the Symington Family Site (history and genealogy), Quinta de Roriz (jointly owned with João van Zeller) and The Vintage Port Site.
It is incomprehensible for us that the flagship of the Symington websites, The Vintage Port Site, is no longer prominent, but has been relegated under Links. 
All Symington sites have 1 eye-catching quality in common: there are no e-mail addresses for contacts with consumers, press and/or trade. This is a remarkable public relations policy for a concern that performs so fantastically otherwise.   

Vinhos Borges: export strategy.
06/09/03. Vinhos Borges will focus more on Asia and Eastern Europe to increase its export. Borges was founded in 1884. Since 1998 the company has been part of the José Maria Vieira group. This group had already taken care of the main part of the distribution for Borges in Portugal for 30 years.
Borges produces Port and table wines. About 55% of its current trade of some 10 million Euros a year is exported. The most important countries for Borges are the UK with 30% of the total export, France, The Netherlands, Germany, the USA and Brazil.
Sales in Asia have already started in South Korea and Japan. Borges has begun in Eastern Europe in Poland and the Czech Republic. The company has plans for expansion to Slovenia and Slovakia.
Borges expects that the export to Asia and Eastern Europe will amount to 5% of its total export after 2 years.
(Source: Jornal de Negócios of 16/07/03 and Comércio of 08/08/03.)

Links page: additions in September 2003.
06/09/03. We have added to Port links:
-         Burmester: www.burmesterporto.com 
-         Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo: www.quintanova.com  
-         Gould Campbell: www.smithwoodhouse.com/gcindex.htm 
-         www.dourowine.com a very extensive site with general information on Port Wine by Amorim/Natureza.

Revista de Vinhos no. 165 August 2003: Old Whites.
06/09/03. After our trip in September/October 2002 we wrote about our rediscovery of especially old white Ports on 12/10/02.
We already mentioned the Reserva Especial Branco 1973 of Casa de Santa Eufémia in our News items of 02/08/03.
The July issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos presents 2 other Old Whites now:
-         the Very Old Dry White of Barros is a blend of a stock from 1924 and other wines of at least 25 years old. The average age is about 50 years. The wine gets 19 points on a score chart of 0-20 by the editorial staff of RdeV.
-         The Delicate Old Dry White of Kopke’s Quinta de São Luíz gets 18 points.
It is striking that both concern dry whites and that both wines come from the Barros Almeida group.
More at: www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt 

New edition “Port and the Douro” by Richard Mayson.
02/08/03. Richard Mayson is preparing a 2^nd edition of his book “Port and the Douro” (see: Files/Library). It will be completely revised and updated. The main changes will be:
-         Looking more at the terroir of the Douro.
-         Changes in technology which have gathered pace over the past 5 years.
-         More information on Port Vintages (including 1999-2003).
-         More producers (especially the emerging single quintas).
-         A thorough revision of the chapter on Douro wines to include the large number of new wines that have been launched in the last few years.
The format of the book will remain much the same. The new edition will be published by Mitchell Beazley in their “Classic Wine Library” series in the spring of 2004.

Production quotum down again.
02/08/03. The CIRDD (the regional interprofessional committee) has determined the production quotum for Port Wine in 2003 on 107,900 pipas. This is 27,100 pipas or some 20 % less than in 2002.
The quotum has already been decreased last year with 19,000 pipas or about 12 %.
The production has been lowered now with 46,000 pipas or some 30 % since the over-production in 2001.

Link of the month August 2003.
02/08/03. For this month we have chosen: www.casasantaeufemia.com 
Casa de Santa Eufémia has been grounded in 1994 by a splitting of Quinta de Santa Eufémia. Both companies are situated opposite each other at road no. 313 to Armamar. Casa de S.E. is owned and managed by the José Viseu Carvalho family.
The website of Casa de S.E. has been designed very beautifully, especially for a small producer. The information in Portuguese and English is brief but good.
In the product range the Reserve Especial Branco from 1973 is very special. Old White Ports are rare. We were able to taste this one in September 2002 and were deeply impressed.

Decanter World Wine Awards: a new competition.
02/08/03. The reason why the English magazine Decanter starts its own wine competition is that its readers research repeatedly results in the response; “more recommendations”. 
Decanter writes about these DWWA:
“… is set to be the most important and influential wine competition in the world. The DWWA differs in many respects from established wine competitions. One of the most important distinctions is the fact that in the first stages wines will compete regionally as well as varietally. This ensures that a sense of origin - and terroir - will be of primary importance. The top wines from each regional heat will then go on to compete at an international, varietal level.”
Wines will be judged in 2 price brackets: under and over 10 pounds (about 15 Euros).
The entry period is from October 2003 to March 2004. Judging will be in Spring 2004. The  promotion of the results will be in Autumn 2004.
There will be several regional judging teams. The Regional Chairman for Portugal, Port and Madeira is Richard Mayson among other things writer of “Port and the Douro”. 
The complete information can be found at: www.decanter.com/news/newsdefault.asp?newsstoryid=1171&ListStart=1

Links page: additions in August 2003.
02/08/03. We have added to Port links:
- Barão de Vilar: www.baraodevilar.com 
- Vinhos Borges : www.vinhosborges.pt
- Quinta do Bucheiro: www.quintadobucheiro.com 
- Gilbert’s: www.gporto.com 
- Churchill’s Quinta da Gricha: www.gricha.com
- Ramos Pinto: www.ramospinto.pt 
New under Port tourism links is:
- Museu do Douro: www.museudodouro.pt 

Government want “massive top-tourism” in the Douro region.
02/08/03. In the week from 7 to 11 July the Portuguese government have announced plans for an enormous expansion of tourism in the Douro region in Pinhão. Tourism in this area has to increase to the volume in Lisbon, the Algarve or Madeira in 10 years. However, the quality of this mass tourism has to be higher than in the Algarve.
According to the newspaper Público of 08/07/03 Portugal has to become 1 of the 10 first tourist destinations in the world within 10 years. According to the newspaper Jornal de Negócios of 11/07/03 the Douro has even to be in the top 10 of tourist destinations in the world.
The government itself will invest 1,700 million Euros in infrastructure in the next 4-5 years.
A main part of this plan has already been started. The works will be concentrated to save the area as much as possible. Railways and airports are also part of the plans. In addition the pollution of grounds and rivers will be tackled.
The government has grounded 2 funds for risk-capital to promote private investments in the region. The 1^st fund is specifically for the small and medium-sized enterprises and starts with 50 million Euros. The 2^nd fund is not limited to the small and medium-sized enterprises and starts with 15 million Euros.

International Wine and Spirit Competition 2003 – Harpers.
02/08/03. The 2003 IWSC President has been Claes Dahlbäck, chairman of the V & S Group in Sweden.
The “Trophie”for the very best in the Port category has been won by Cálem with its 2000 Vintage.
Gold medals, each category 1, went to: Graham’s Six Grapes (Reserve); the Late Bottled Vintages Dow’s 1997 and Osborne 1998; the Aged Tawnies Ramos Pinto 30 Years and Sandeman 40 Years; Andresen Colheita 1975; the Single Quinta Vintages Graham’s Malvedos 1995 and Symington Quinta do Vesuvio 2000; and the Cálem Vintage 2000.
The total results are to be found at: www.iwsc.net/SearchWineSpirits.cfm?page=awardsFW

Revista de Vinhos no. 164 July 2003.
02/08/03. The July issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains the following articles on Port Wine:
Quinta Seara D’Ordens:
This quinta of the brothers Moreira is reviewed in an article by António Falcão. He gives extensive and good information and also interviews winemaker Luís Soares Duarte.
Tasting notes of table wines have been printed along with the article, but not of their Port Wines.
Dry White Ports tasting:
The tasting panel has judged 29 Dry White Ports (Branco Seco), an appropriate choice in these hot months.
Dalva with 17 points and Vista Alegre with 16.5 points, on a score chart of 0-20, were the best. At the bottom of the list we find Andresen and Cockburn’s Dry Tang with 13.5 points each.
Boxes on the Portonic (see: Files/Types 3) and the Reserve Especial Branco 1973 of Casa de Santa Eufémia (see our Link of this month) have been printed along with the article by João Afonso.
New of Symington:
Some new table wines and Port Vintages 2001 of the Symington family concern are presented in an article by João Paulo Martins.
The Vintages 2001 are judged as follows: Quinta do Vesuvio 18 points; Q. de Roriz, Dow’s Q. da Senhora da Ribeira and Graham’s Malvedos 17.5 points each. The other 3 Vintages 2001 of Symington (see our News item of 07/06/03) have not been judged.
International Wine Challenge 2003 – Wine Magazine:
In spite of an embargo, until after the presentation diner in September, RdeV publishes all 22 gold medal winners for Port. The total results can be found at www.wineint.com but you need a password for it.

All information is also to be found on www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt   

Revista de Vinhos no. 163 June 2003.
11/07/03. The June issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains the following information on Port Wine:
New products:
Judgement by the editorial staff. Score chart of 0 – 20.
-         Q. do Infantado Vintage Character Meio Seco (half dry), 16 points.
-         Q. do Infantado Ruby Meio Seco (half dry), 15 points.
-         Q. do Portal Colheita 1994, 17 points.
-         São Pedro das Águias LBV 1997, 15.5 points.
-         Ramos Pinto Collector Sem Data (without date, a Reserve), 16 points.
Quinta de la Rosa:
In an article by Luís Lopes Quinta de la Rosa is reviewed. The eye-catching central complex of de la Rosa has situated at the north bank of the Douro near by Pinhão and is well visible from the road to Peso da Régua.
Since 1988 the old family company has been reanimated by Tim Bergqvist and his oldest daughter Sophia.
Seventeen tasting notes with judgements between 14.5 and 18.5 points have been printed along with the article.
Museu do Douro:
This article by António Falcão encloses much information on the Museu do Douro and an interview with professor Gaspar Martins Pereira “supervisor” of the project.
An own building for the museum has still not been purchased. A premises of Real Companhia Velha in Peso da Régua is being negotiated. The costs of the entire project are considered at 7.5 – 10 million Euros. The occupation will not be before 2007.
Museu da Publicidade Ramos Pinto:
Fernando Melo writes about the unique poster collection from the  late 19th – early 20^th century in this Ramos Pinto museum in Vila Nova de Gaia. (See also our News items of 06/01/02 and 10/01/02.) 
It is a bit careless that Melo stipulates that glasses or bottles with Port have never been pictured, whereas his article is illustrated with examples that show them.
All information can also be found at www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt  

Fake Port in Canada and the USA.
05/07/03. The European Union and Canada have agreed on the use of 21 European wine names by Canada. Termination of this use will be in 3 stages. Porto and Port will be part of the last phase. From December 31^st , 2013 Canadian producers will not be allowed to use these indications anymore.

Eric Risberg of Associated Press has published an article entitled “California port-style wine challenges Portuguese traditions” at Kansas City.com on June 21^st .
Risberg gives an extensive overview of fake Ports in California made of local as well as of Portuguese grapes. The market share seems to be minor (for now?). The article can be found at: www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/business/6141659.htm

We do not understand that self-respecting wine makers are not able to create their own types. Even though their behaviour is as yet still legal, we think it is weak and certainly not respectful towards their colleagues in the only real Port region in Portugal.

PoVas Newsletter June 2003. 05/07/03.
-         So far Manoel D. PoVas Junior has won 2 golden and 5 silver medals with its Ports at 3 of the most prestigious contests in 2003 (International Wine Challenge, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and Challenge International du Vin).
-         PoVas weather report: The past winter brought heavy rainfall with normal temperatures. These circumstances enabled flowering in the normal period – the 2^nd half of March. The excellent soil humidity produced a good blossom development. 

Roy Hersh: An exceptional tasting.
05/07/03. The USA Port guru Roy Hersh has published an extensive report of his 10^th annual Port tasting at the WineLoversPage of Robin Garr. Garr introduces the article entitled “Great Seattle Port Tasting” as follows:
“For a man with the wine experience of Port expert Roy Hersh, declaring an event 'one of the most fun wine weekends of my life' is strong talk indeed. But he says this recent four-day gathering of Port aficionado’s in Seattle - a year-and-a-half in the planning - was a historic tasting that few of its lucky participants will ever forget.”
Hersh opens his report with:
“After a year and a half in the planning stage and one of the most fun wine weekends of my life, it is now just a fond memory. Twenty aficionado’s from Portugal, the UK and across America came to share their passion of Port wine and enjoy a historic four-day tasting event that few will ever forget. The line-up of Ports was so compelling that more than one third of the participants crossed 'the pond' to visit the Seattle area. Twenty-five dessert wines were served, with an average bottle age of 80 years, and a cumulative bottle age that was just shy of 2,000 years. Of course there were the obligatory whites, reds and bubbly available to round out the rest of the weekend in case anyone was still thirsty.”
Amongst the guests were: Michael and Bartholomew Broadbent, Richard Mayson and Dirk van der Niepoort.
Hersh writes about his first tasting:
“As this was my 10th anniversary of holding these annual Port celebrations, I wax nostalgic about the earliest tastings when I still lived in Virginia. I could barely afford to provide small comparative horizontals of 1963 vs. 1966 Ports with Taylor, Sandeman, Graham and Fonseca in my humble apartment in 1993.”
The article is enthusiastic, well written and very informative. It can be found at: www.wineloverspage.com/port/portseattle03.phtml  

Link of the month July 2003.
05/07/03. For this month we have chosen: www.croftport.com 
Croft and Delaforce were purchased by Taylor/Fonseca from Diageo in September 2001 (see our News item of 09/09/01). The Croft website was then removed immediately from the internet. Since then the newly created group has been converted to The Fladgate Partnership and all kinds of innovations have been carried out (see our News items of 25/02/02 and 03/05/03).
The new Croft website was published early in 2003. It is available in English, French and Portuguese. The design of the site is beautiful, the information extensive and good.
Though we are no devotee of unnecessary, slowing graphic effects in websites, we have smiled at the 2^nd page of this Croft site. The logo and the 2 bottles shown on this page are washed over by a rising red wine wave.
One of their own products is presented in the section Port in Focus; briefly on the Homepage and extensively on a separate page. This is only attractive if such a section is changed now and then. We have the impression that it is done well here.

New IVP brochure.
05/07/03. The Instituto do Vinho do Porto has published a new brochure entitled: “Port Wine, The guarantee of a symbol”.
The brochure with a cover in lilac and black has been designed beautifully with attractive photographs. The publication date is not mentioned but given the information about the new Vieira Port glass and the replacement of the Vintage Character by the Reserva it will be somewhere in the 2nd half of 2002.
It is amazing that in the text for the Late Bottled Vintage only the traditional, unfiltered variant is mentioned (page 7: Ruby Style). How  attractive this version may be, the modern bottled, for quick consumption meant, LBV can not be ignored completely (see Files/Types 1d).

Links page: changes in July 2003.
05/07/03. We have added to Port links:
- Casa de Santa Eufémia: www.casasantaeufemia.com 
- Wiese and Krohn: www.krohn.pt 
We had to remove www.cigaraficionado.com in this section. The articles on Port Wine are no longer available in this form.
New under Port tourism links is:
- Casa das Freiras in the Douro Superior: www.casa-das-freiras.online.pt 

Investments in Burmester and Gilbert’s.
05/07/03. Natureza SGPS – subholding of the Amorim group – invests 12.7 million Euros in the Port houses Burmester and Gilbert’s.
A part of the investments has already been realized: 5.7 million Euros in new installations in Ribeira de Gaia.
Four million Euros will be spend in new plantings at the Quintas Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo and São Cibrão and a further 3 million on a tourist project.
Natureza wants to increase its trade in the wine sector from 3.7 million Euros in 2002 to 5 million this year and about 10 million Euros in 2007.
(Source: Diário Económico of  20/06/03.)  

Solar and Museu do Douro in Régua.
05/07/03. On June 28^th the 3^rd Solar do Vinho do Porto, the comfortable pub of the Instituto do Vinho do Porto, was opened in Peso da Régua. This Solar was situated in the former Armazém 43 (warehouse) in the Rua da Ferreirinha.
One of the rooms in the building has been given in use to the Ministry of  Culture for temporary theme expositions of the Museu do Douro.

Peter Symington nominee.
05/07/03. The English Wine Magazine has nominated Peter Symington, amongst 49 others, for its election of “Wine Personality of the Year”.
The nominee represents the Symington family concern with the brands Dow’s, Graham’s, Warre’s, Gould Campbell, Smith Woodhouse and Quinta do Vesuvio.
The announcement and presentation of the prize will take place during the “International Wine Challenge Gala Awards” dinner on September 4^th. 

Vinexpo – Bordeaux. 
05/07/03. During the latest Vinexpo from June 12^th to 14^th in Bordeaux, a competition was organized by the O.I.V. (Office International de la Vigne et du Vin). The name of this competition is “Les Citadelles du Vin – Grand Concours des Vins du Monde”. The organization offices are located in Bourg.
The following awards went to Port Wine:
-         Citadelles trophies for the Quinta do Castelinho Vintage 1997 and the Romariz Late Bottled Vintage 1997.
-         Excellence trophies for the Q. do Castelinho 20 Years Old, the São Pedro das Águias Vintage 2000 and the Rozès 20 Years Old.
-    Prestige trophies for the Q. do Castelinho Vintage 1999 and the São Pedro das Águias LBV 1997.

Revista de Vinhos not published?
05/07/03. We have not received the June issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos. The magazine has also not yet been published at the website www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt  
RdeV is a production of Media Capital EdiVões, S.A. in Barcarena.

Sales figures 1^st four months 2003. 
05/07/03. The Instituto do Vinho do Porto has published the sales figures of January to April 2003. The volume has increased with 2.7%, the revenue has increased with 5.1%, both compared to the same period in 2002.
The countries with the largest part in revenue were:

1. France 28.3%;  + 0.4%.
2. The Netherlands 13.3%;  + 0.3%.
3. Belgium 9.8%;  + 20.9%.
4. U.K 9.7%;  + 78%.
5. Portugal 9.4%;  - 34.2%.
6. U.S.A. 8.8%;  + 18.9%.
7. Canada 5.4%;  + 12.2%.
8. Germany 5.0%;  + 40.9%.

The total results can be found at: www.ivp.pt/uk/Estatistica/estetistica3.shtm 

Symington launches 7 Vintages 2001.
07/06/03. The Symington family concern has launched 7 Vintages 2001. Charles Symington mentions this vintage: “good, although not of the quality of 2000.”
He says about the robotic processing: “It was the 4^th vintage that robotic lagares were used …  and perhaps we have finally cracked the process of mechanising foot treading!”
The company gives the following comment on its 7 products:
-         Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim: “particularly good this year with intense fresh aromas and well balanced acidity.”
-         Dow’s Q. da Senhora da Ribeira: “excellent structure and exceptional aromas of violets.”
-         Graham’s Malvedos: “a very promising and structured wine.”
-         Warre’s Q. da Cavadinha: “without doubt, some of the best wines of the 2001 vintage.”
-         Smith Woodhouse Madalena: “full bodied and with an excellent structure – only 1,500 cases.”
-         Q. do Vesuvio: “wines with a typical concentration of berry fruit aromas – 2,000 cases.”
-         Q. de Roriz: “very characteristic of the property, subtle yet powerful, and with a structure for long ageing – 750 cases, all will be released ‘En Primeur’.”
The storage advices are notable: at least 10 years for the first 5 and at least 15 years to 20 for the Roriz and Vesuvio wines. For those who prefer their Port young, Symington is of the opinion that 4 to 5 years are sufficient.”
All these products are called Single Quinta wines by Symington, but this is somewhat confusing. The Roriz and Vesuvio products are always Single Quinta Ports, the other 5 are only made in lesser years (see also: Files/Types 1f).
Full information can be found under 2001 at: www.thevintageportsite.com   

Seara d’Ordens star at concours in Brussels.
07/06/03. AVEPOD (see: Files/Types 1f) member Quinta Seara d’Ordens is the eye-catching star in the results of the 10^th Concours Mondial du Vin de Bruxelles 2003 (April 12^th- 14^th). This medium-sized independent quinta of the 3 brothers Moreira won 2 of the 4 Great Golden Medals for Port Wine. It concerns their Late Bottled Vintage 1997 and their Vintage 2000.
The other 2 Great Golden Medals went to the Vintages 2000 of Barros and Gran Cruz.
The 15 golden and 14 silver medals are to be found at: www.concoursmondial.be/uk2003/results_vin.asp?wine_name=Port&Submit2=go

Link of the month June 2003.
07/06/03. For this month we have chosen: www.quintadeventozelo.com 
Q. de Ventozelo has been owned by the Spanish Grupo Proinsa since 1999. The company has been modernized completely in a few years.
The website of QdeV has been designed beautifully with extensive information also about the tourist activities and their magnificent own shop. This shop, Lugar do Vinho, is situated at the boulevard in Peso da Régua and is, as far as we know, the only separate shop of a Port company (see also: Files/Roundtrip 9f).
The side has Portuguese, English, French and Spanish versions. However, it is irritating that all pages, except for the Homepage, are reproduced in full screen with the result that the operating possibilities of a visitor’s own browser are not available.  

The new Port glass in the USA.
07/06/03. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Atlanta has purchased the new Siza Vieira Port glass for its bar, after a tasting in this city on April 22^nd.
The glass is exclusively distributed in the USA by Ohm Design in New York. This company has been specialized in products designed by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.
See: www.ohmdesign.com  

Vinitaly – Verona.
07/06/03. During the 37^th Vinitaly in Verona-Italy 6 of 11 awards in the category fortified wines went to Port Wine.
The Romariz Colheita 1952 won a gold medal.
The Porto Reccua 1995 (Vintage?) of Produtores Associados de Vinhos Progresso do Douro won a bronze medal.
“Gran Menzione” awards went to: Calém Vintage Quinta do Pégo 2000, Forrester Traditional Offley 1997 (Vintage?), Andresen Special Reserve Tawny and Sandeman Vau Vintage 2000.
Full results are to be found on www.vinitaly.com  

Korean Airlines and Port. 
07/06/03. Korean Airlines has decided to serve Port in its 1^st and business class departments. The introduction of a few brands will be accompanied by the commercial department of the Portuguese embassy in Tokio.  

News from the IVP Solares. 07/06/03.
-         The 3^rd Solar do Vinho do Porto will be opened in Peso da Régua in June. This new comfortable pub of the Instituto do Vinho do Porto will be situated in the Rua de Ferreirinha.
-         Meanwhile pastries, Serra cheese and several ham- and sausage types with bread are also served in the Solar in Lisbon. The Solar in Oporto only serves chocolate pastry and Serra cheese at the moment, but more products are being examined.
-         The Solar in Lisbon also organizes Port tastings and dinners (choice from 6 menus) for groups.
-         See also: Files/Round trip 2.  

Revista de Vinhos no. 162 May 2003.
07/06/03. The May issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains the following information on Port Wine:
New product:
The Burmester Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo Vintage 1996 gets 16.5 points by the editorial staff on a score chart of 0-20.
The quintas of Borges:
From 1884 Borges Vinhos has been part of the bank Borges & Irmão. In 1998 the wine company was taken over by José Maria Vieira, who has already distributed for Borges for 30 years.
In the article by Luís Lopes 3 quintas of Borges are reviewed: Q. de Simaens (Vinho Verde), Q. da Aguieira (Dão) and Q.da Soalheira in São João de Pesqueira Douro and Port).
Eight tasting notes on Port Wines with judgements between 12 and 17 points have been printed along with the article.
All information is also to be found on www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt   

Vintages 2000 in embassy The Hague.
03/05/03. There is no disputing tastes. The extremely low score of Churchill’s at a tasting in The Hague is however incomprehensible.
The event took place on April 7^th in the beautiful building of the Portuguese embassy. Consisting of 2 parts it was organized by the Instituto do Vinho do Porto and was the first activity in The Netherlands by the IVP since a couple of years.
A blind tasting was organized in the morning. Two teams, each of 4 journalists and sommeliers, judged 47 Vintages 2000. The results were presented in the afternoon to press, opinion leaders, sommeliers and traders who could, of course, also taste all products themselves.
The talk of the town was the already mentioned judgement of Churchill’s: the lowest of all with 12.75 points on a score chart to 20. This is amazing for this in general highly appreciated Port house if you compare it to other judgements: Roy Hersh gave 93-95 points out of a possible 100 in his article “Vintage Porto Forecast” and James Suckling gave in Wine Spectator 95-100 points. It is clear: there is no disputing tastes.
The highest points were given to: Dalva and Sandeman 17.2; Quinta do Tedo 17.3; Q. do Castelinho 17.4; Burmester Q. Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo 17.5; Cálem and Martinez 17.6; PoVas and Q. de Ventozelo 17.8; Q. do Noval 18.1 and Vista Alegre 18.6.
The total result can be found at: : www.wijnplein.nl/vintageport2000kl.htm  

Link of the month May 2003.
03/05/03. For this month we have chosen: www.cockburns-usa.com 
It is not a website of the Portuguese establishment but of the American sales organization.
The side has been designed beautifully but is not slow to load as would be expected. The content is very extensive and excellent.
The subject “Food Pairing” can lead to some confusion. The link “Food and Wine Pairing” goes to the site of Allied Domecq Wines USA and gives no information on Port. This can be found by following “About Port” and the “Pairing Port with Food” links. Here you find good suggestions for appetizers, main dishes and desserts.  

Merger of cooperatives.
03/05/03. The cooperatives of Peso da Régua, Armamar and Vale do Douro in TabuaVo are in the process of merging. The name of the new combination will be Cooperativa Valdouro. The head office will be housed in the complex in Peso da Régua. The production capacity of the newcomer will be 20,000 pipas (each of 550 litres) and the number of members is almost 2,000. All existing brands will be maintained.
(Source: Jornal de Notícias of 24/03/03.)  

Restyling Fonseca.
03/05/03. Fonseca Guimaraens of The Fladgate Partnership is carrying out an extensive renewal of its brand identity and packaging.
The 2^nd name Guimaraens will disappear entirely because it is difficulty to pronounce for English-speaking people.
The label of Fonseca’s well-known brand BIN 27 has been changed as little as possible. The changes for Vintage Port are also sober. The label of the Aged Tawnies has been changed radically.
All new designs are to be found at the also entirely renewed website: www.fonseca.pt  

Port promotion in Paris.
03/05/03. The association of importers of large Port brands in France will organize a Port festival in Paris on September 5^th, 6^th and 7^th. Core of the festival will be an exposition “village” with Portuguese products (especially also applied-art and tourism).
Plans for an inauguration ceremony of the Confraria do Vinho do Porto and a rabelos race on the Seine (classic Port boats) are under deliberation.
(Source: Diário de Notícias of 22/03/03.)  

Links page May 2003. 03/05/03.
Changed : www.fonseca.pt  has been renewed entirely.
Added: 
-         Broadbent Selections: www.broadbent-wines.com/broadbent_port.html  
-         Croft: www.croftport.com 
-         Quinta do Tedo: www.quintadotedo.com  

Taylor’s helps children with leukaemia.
03/05/03. Adrian Bridge, managing director of The Fladgate Partnership, and his wife Natasha have finished the London marathon on Sunday April 13^th in 4.49.41 and 4.49.43 respectively.
This earned them 14,500 Euros for the treatment of English and Portuguese children with leukaemia.
Adrian ran this marathon “dressed” in a Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage bottle weighing 12 kilogram.
The costume is now on exposition in Taylor’s visitors centre in Vila Nova de Gaia.  

World Wine Concours - Estoril.
03/05/03. During the 5^th “Concurso Mundial de Vinhos” in Estoril - Portugal from March 28^th to 30^th many medals were awarded to Port Wines.
Gold medals went to Ferreira Duque BraganVa Tawny 20 Years Old and the Vintages 2000 of Cálem Quinta Pego, Caves Santa Marta and Gran Cruz.
The many silver and bronze medals can be found on:
www.winemasterschallenge.com/result11.htm  (up to result 15).  

Revista de Vinhos no. 161 April 2003.
03/05/03. The April issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains the following information on Port Wine:
New product:
The Burmester Colheita 1994 gets 17.5 points by the editorial staff on a score chart of 0-20.
Gran Cruz:
This French giant is reviewed in an article by João Paulo Martins. The company is the third-largest producer behind the Symington and Sogrape groups. Cruz is very strong in mass production, but also makes Vintages since 1989 and LBV’s since 1992.
Twenty-one tasting notes with judgements between 13 and 17.5 points have been printed along with the article.
Late Bottled Vintage tasting:
The tasting panel has judged 44 LBV’s, of which 26 from 1997 and 10 from 1998. João Afonso says in a covering article that quality has increased generally again in comparison to  their tasting in  September 2001. He calls the LBV the Port prince and praises the excellent price/quality ratio. Twenty-four wines of the judged LBV’s got 17 or more points.
The Warre’s 1994, Rozés Unfiltered 1995, Ferreira, Quinta de Santa Eufémia, Q. Seara d’Ordens Unfiltered, Royal Oporto and Taylor’s 1997 and Q. do Infantado and Ramos Pinto 1998 were the best, all with 17.5 points. It is very notable that 3 of these 9 are small, independent quintas (S. Eufémia, Seara d’Ordens and Infantado).
At the bottom of the list we find Q. da Romaneira 1996 and Barros and Cockburn’s 1997 with 15 points.
All information is also to be found on www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt

Douro museum in financial trouble.
05/04/03. The Museu do Douro has not yet received the amount of 193,000 Euros for its activities during this year from the government. The purchase and rebuilding of their own premises also seems to be postponed again and again.
It is well-known that the Portuguese government has financial problems and the economy is bad, but this is a great pity for tourism in the Douro region.
(Source: NewsWine.com of 14/03/03.)  

Noval’s Raven – Ruby Reserve.
05/04/03. More and more Port houses come with special bottles and labels. Warre’s Otima 10 Years Old Tawny and Gilberts G-Porto with a line of 6 types (see our News item of 01/12/01) for example. Just like Noval’s Raven it concerns bottles with a volume of half a litre.
The name Raven comes from the bird icon that appears on all products of Quinta do Noval. The square half-litre bottle has been designed especially for this brand.

Q. do Noval is chiefly known for its Vintages, famous for its Nacional Vintages and wants to put a quality Ruby on the market with this Raven now.
The product is recommended with “Very Superior Premium Ruby” but it is officially a Ruby Reserve (see also Files/Types 2).
Raven is already available in the USA and there are plans to launch it in the UK, Canada, The Netherlands and Portugal even this year.  

Link of the month April 2003.
05/04/03. This month we present www.cidadevirtual.pt/casaldosjordoes 
Casal dos Jordões of the Jordão family is one of the few producers of organic Port. The company owns 50 hectares of vineyard classified in the highest A-class (see also our News item of 15/09/01).
The website of CdosJ is simple but informative. This website could be improved substantially with rather small means. For example the e-mail icon that appears here and there deserves  general use.  

An IVP Road Show.
05/04/03. Roy Hersh – Port guru from the USA – has published an extensive, enthusiastic and good article about the 2^nd annual tasting gala by the Instituto do Vinho do Porto (IVP) in North America. He closes his article with tasting notes of 12 products he thinks worth mentioning especially.
The show comes April 22^nd in Atlanta, May 6^th in Boston and later on this year in Montreal and Toronto.
The article is to be found at the WineLoversPage under Words About Port: www.wineloverspage.com/port/ivpshow.phtml  

Quinta do Portal invests.
05/04/03. Till 2006 Q. do Portal will invest about 5.5 million Euros in 2 bottle lines, 3,000 square metres storage space, a wastewater treatment plant and hotel facilities.
The accommodation will contain 10 rooms with facilities for meals. All this has to be put into operation within 2 years and it will be part of the Rota do Vinho do Porto.
Q. do Portal wants to increase its sale from 2 million Euros in 2002 to 3.5 million Euros this year. (Source: Comércio of 17/03/03.)  

Revista de Vinhos no. 160 March 2003.
05/04/03. The March issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains the following information on Port Wine:
New products:
Judgement by the editorial staff. Score chart of 0-20.
-         Quinta do Monte Bravo Vintage 1999 gets 17 points.
-         Quinta do Infantado Vintage 2000 gets 18 points.
Barão de Vilar:
The small Port house Barão de Vilar of Álvaro and Fernando van Zeller is reviewed in an article by João Alfonso. The owners are part of the family that sold Quinta do Noval to AXA in 1993. They want to make Special Category Ports with their company at the quality of the better houses but for lower prices.
The company is part of the sales group Port6 (see our News item of 01/02/03).
Eleven tasting notes with judgements between 15.5 and 17.5 points have been printed along with the article.
The information is also to be found on www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt   

Aged Tawnies.
05/04/03. The San Francisco Chronicle of March 13 contained an excellent article by Cristopher Sawyer entitled “Tawny Port coming on strong”. Sawyer gives much information about Aged Tawnies in general, tasting notes of 16 - in the USA available - 10 and 20 Year Old Tawnies and their prices.
The article is to be found under: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/03/13/WI189898.DTL  

Links page April 2003. 05/04/03.
Improvements: We have made small improvements in the addresses of Porto Pitters and Douro Vinhateiro (Unesco-World Cultural Heritage).
Change of address: The address of Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros has been changed into: www.chanceleiros.com
Added: Adega Cooperativa de Favaios: http://planeta.clix.pt/adegafavaios  

Types and designations.
05/04/03. On 20/03/03 the Instituto do Vinho do Porto published a crystal-clear survey of all so far  allowed types and designations (see also our News item of 30/11/02).
The article is to be found under: www.ivp.pt/uk/Estatistica/estatistica1.shtm  

200,000 litres disappeared.
01/03/03. Two hundred thousand litres of Port Wine from the harvest of 1974 have leaked away through a crack in a concrete storage tank (balão) of the Casa do Douro (CdoD). This has been established by inspectors of the Instituto do Vinho do Porto (IVP) during an inspection as part of the debt restructuring of the CdoD (see also our News item of 01/02/03).
The last inspection by the CdoD itself was 2 years ago. The tank sealing had still been intact at the time of the IVP inspection. In the meantime nobody has noticed, heard, seen or smelled anything. It is assumed that the wine has leaked away via the groundwater.
Though 1974 was only a moderate harvest, experts estimate the price per litre at 75 Euros. The total loss therefore is 15 million Euros. This is more than 13% of the entire debt of the CdoD.
What a terrible pity this is. How long would the dedicated visitors of this site have been able to enjoy these 200,000 litres?
(Source: Jornal de Notícias of 04/02/03.)  

Sale stocks Casa do Douro.
01/03/03. The sale of the Port stocks of the Casa do Douro (see our News item of 01/02/03) will be completed by the Portuguese government in about 15 years.
Each year an equivalent of approximately 12.4 million Euros (or 3.35% of the export revenue in 2002) will be marketed.
(Source: Jornal de Notícias of 17/02/03.)  

More about export figures 2002.
01/03/03. With some computation on the figures of the IVP (see also News item of 01/02/03) a survey can also be made of the spending on Port Wine per capita (the figures represent the Euros spent per inhabitant):

1. The Netherlands 3.47
2. Belgium 3.30
3. France 1.84
4. UK 0.91
5. Canada 0.66
6. Germany 0.16
7. U.S.A. 0.13

We are not sure that the marketing budgets of the Port industry reflect these relations, certainly not in the consumer information.  

Link of the month March 2003.
01/03/03. This month we have chosen www.churchills-port.com 
In 1981 Churchill’s was founded by Johnny Graham who had his training at Cockburn’s.
The company was the first new independent English shipper for over 70 years. The original name Churchill Graham has not survived the protest of Symington-Graham. Since then it has been called Churchill’s after the founder’s wife.
The website has not been designed very logically (different backgrounds and letters), but is - in spite of this - readable. The information is compact and clear. The extensive examples of combinations with food in “How to enjoy Port” are worth mentioning. The many pictures make the site rather slow, but they are really beautiful.  

Links pages March 2003.
01/03/03. The following sites are new on our pages:
-   Accomodation Quinta do Chão d'Ordem:www.chaodordem.com
-   Scandinavion Port site:www.portvin.just.nu
-   Lodges which can be visited in Vila Nova de Gaia: www.cavesvinhodoporto.com 

PoVas Newsletter January 2003. 01/03/03.
-         Manoel D. PoVas Junior is very proud of its results in the Vintage 2000 tasting as reported in Revista de Vinhos of November 2002. Two of its wines - PoVas and Pousada – came in the top 5, both with 19 points out of 20.
-         The LBV 1996 is out of stock, the LBV 1997 is available.
-         The Vintage 1995 is out of stock, the Vintage 1991 is in short supply, the Vintage 2000 is available.
-         PoVas’ weather report: During the first few months the winter in Portugal was very severe, mainly in the North Region, with heavy rain, although temperatures were quite mild for the season. Because of the rainfall, the rivers broke their banks causing important losses. Work in the vineyards will be delayed.
-         The managers Mr. Manuel PoVas Pintão and Dr. Antero PoVas Maia will be present in their own stands at the fairs: ProWein – Düsseldorf – 23/25 March 2003 and VinExpo – Bordeaux – 22/26 June 2003.  

Revista de Vinhos: the “ Best of the Year 2002”.
01/03/03. The editors of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos publish for the 6^th time their choice of the “Best of the Year” in no. 159 of February 2003. The following awards were given to the Port industry:
-         Company of the Year (fortified wines) became the group of the Symington Family.
-         Winemaker of the Year (fortified wines) became Jorge Manuel Pintão of Manoel D. PoVas Junior.
-         Organization of the Year became the G-7 group, the 7 largest wine producers in Portugal. Sogrape, Caves Messias and J.M. da Fonseca are the members with activities in the Port industry.
-         Mister Wine of the Year became Rolf Niepoort of the Port house of the same name.
-         Awards of Excellence were given to the 2000 Vintages of  Dalva, PoVas, Quinta do Noval Nacional and Taylor’s.
-         Best from the Port Region awards went to Romariz Colheita 1934, Krohn Colheita 1961, Pousada and Q. do Estanho Tawnies 30 Years Old,  Q. das Heredias Tawny 40 Years Old and the 2000 Vintages of Graham’s, Niepoort, Pousada, Quarles Harris, Q. do Noval, Q. do Vesúvio, Warre’s and Vista Alegre.
-         Best Buys awards were given to Q. do Infantado Branco, Rol Roi Reserva of Roseira & Ricou, the Vintage Characters of Gran Cruz, Dalva and Rozés and the LBV’s Burmester 1997 and PoVas 1996.  

Revista de Vinhos no. 159 February 2003.
01/03/03. Besides the “Best of the Year 2002” (see above) the February issue of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Vinhos contains the following articles on Port Wine:
-         a review on the 2000 Vintage of José Maria da Fonseca & Van Zeller (see our News item of 02/11/02). The wine is rated with 16.5 points on a scale chart to 20.
-         the Port house Croft and its Quinta da Roeda (parts of the Fladgate Partnership) are reviewed in an article by Luís Lopez. Twelve tasting notes with judgements between 12.5 and 18.5 points have been printed along the article.
-         Susana Máximo reviews the website www.oportowines.com of the excellent Portuguese online Port shop.
-         Marc Barros publishes a short history of Joseph James Forrester, or Baron de Forrester, the Port legend from the 19^th century.
The articles are also to be found on www.revistadevinhos.iol.pt    

Reorganization of the sector.
01/02/03. As a result of the financial problems of the Casa do Douro (CdoD) the Portuguese government has decided upon a reorganization of the Port and Douro table wine sectors. All this has to be rounded off at the end of 2003.
The complete responsibilities for the Douro table wines will be transferred from the CdoD to the Instituto do Vinho do Porto (IVP). Because of this the name of this institute will be changed to Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto (IVDP).
The Comissão Interprofissional da Região Demarcada do Douro (CIRDD), which is mainly occupied with the production quota (benefício) of Port Wine, will be transformed to a council within the IVDP. The CdoD will continue to represent the farmers and cooperatives in this council.
The government will resolve the financial problems of the CdoD. In exchange, its considerable wine stocks will be taken over by them. The supervision and sale of these stocks will probably be managed by the IVDP.
The CdoD will continue to manage the “cadastro” or register of the vineyards as well as the representation of farmers and cooperatives. The IVDP however will have the ultimate control function.
The CdoD will not be able to buy and resell farmers’ wine stocks anymore. In exchange, it will resume its participation in Real Companhia Velha (Royal Oporto). All present problems have been started with the purchase of the 40 % share in it in 1990. Real Companhia Velha is also the only large Port house that is not member of the AEVP, the organization of the large shippers.  

Link of the month February 2003.
01/02/03. This time we have chosen for www.quintadoportal.com The company Quinta do Portal is owned by the Mansilha family and associated with the Port6 group (see below). The following quintas belong to the company: Q. do Abelheira, Q. do Confradeiro, Q. dos Muros and Q. do Portal.
The website of Q. do Portal is of a simple and clear design, but brings you to more and more detailed information by way of step-by-step choices, without loosing the right track. The site has an English and a Portuguese version.
One of the 4 main choices at the homepage brings you to the “Q. do Portal Wine Club” which evokes curiosity but is not yet available. It is possible to subscribe for more information.  

Export figures 2002.
01/02/03. The volume of export in 2002 has decreased by 2.8% as figures of the Instituto do Vinho do Porto show. However, the revenue has increased to 370 million Euros. The average price per litre increased by 10.7% to 4.64 Euros. The cause of this is the growth of the Special Category Ports (see: Files/Types 1b) from 16% to 18% of the total. Simultaneously, the BOB´s (Buyers Own Brands, see: Files/Types 1k) decreased from 33.7% to 26.7% of the total. 
The countries with the largest import in volume were:

1. France 35%; -2.9%.
2. The Netherlands 19.9%; -9.8%.
3. UK 11.8%; +2.4%.
4. Belgium 11.1%; -8.2%.
5. USA 4.6%; +20.3%.
6. Germany 4.3%; +2.3%.
7. Canada 3.3%; +16.1%.

The ranking in number of bottles per capita of these 7 was:

1. The Netherlands 1.3.
2. Belgium 1.15.
3. France 0.63.
4. UK 0.21.
5. Canada 0.11.
6. Germany 0.06.
7. USA 0.02.

The ranking in price per litre of these 7 was:

1. USA 10.68 Euros; +16.8%.
2. Canada 7.99 Euros; -7.1%.
3. UK 5.72 Euros; +9.7%.
4. France 3.92 Euros; +12.5%.
5. Belgium 3.86 Euros; +3.3%.
6. Germany 3.81 Euros; +5.7%.
7. The Netherlands 3.56 Euros; +5.7%.

Port6: an unique combination.
01/02/03. If 6 familiar names from the Port industry work together in their promotional activities, a unique combination is born. They selves describe it as follows: “Port6 is an association of 6 old and prestigious Port companies who have several features in common: they are all independent, family-owned, Portuguese firms producing Special Categories Ports.”
The group consists of:
-         C.N. Kopke & Ca. LDA.(part of the Barros & Almeida Group)
-         Wiese & Krohn, Sucrs. LDA.
-         J.H. Andresen, Sucrs. LDA.
-         Sociedade Quinta do Portal, S.A.
-         Manoel D.PoVas Junior - Vinhos, S.A.
-         Barão de Vilar - Vinhos, S.A.
Among other things Port6 has joint stands at wine fairs. The group does not have an office or address of its own. Whenever members wish to confer, they phone each other and arrange a meeting.  

Updates “files” January 2003. 04/01/03.
1. Today we have published the changed and enlarged article “Round trip”, result of our visit to the Port region from September 20^th to October 4^th (see also our News item of 12/10/02).
2. We have totally updated “Types” with the recent ministerial changes (see also our News item of 30/11/02). We have added the recipe for “Portonic” to 3. White Port.
3. We have updated the paragraph on quality control in “What’s Port ?” as a result of our visit to the Instituto do Vinho do Porto.  

Links page January 2003. 04/01/03.
New section: We have made a 3^rd section: Port tourism.
Removed: www.qbucheiro.gb.net is not available anymore, so we have removed it.
Added:
-         All links mentioned in “Round trip”.
-         CCVP-Porto Vasconcellos (Companhia Comercial de Vinhos do Porto, SA): www.geocities.com/madisonavenue/boardroom/3499/index.html 
-         Gran Cruz: www.portocruz.net 
-         Porto Pitters: www.williampitters.com/English/Porto/sommaire.htm 
-         Quinta da Romaneira: www.quintadaromaneira.com  

Export - “Oscar”.
04/01/03. The Portuguese-French chamber for trade and industry gave Gran Cruz an “Oscar “ as the largest Port exporter. Gran Cruz is part of the French parent company la Martiniquaise.
The company exports to several countries, but is the largest on the French market, which, in its turn, represents the largest consumer market in the world.
Gran Cruz spends 2 million Euros a year on promotion activities on the French market.
The company exports more than 30 million litres a year including many Special Categories Ports. Its stocks amount to 60 million litres in casks and 1 million bottles Vintage of various years.
Gran Cruz owns 2 quintas: Q. da Granja and Q. do Castelo and has large storage capacity and a modern bottling plant in Vila Nova de Gaia. (Source: Jornal de Notícias of  27/11/02.)  

Labels Biennale.
04/01/03. The Portuguese newspaper Diário de Notícias has organized its 8^th Biennale for Portuguese wine labels. Almost 150 exhibits, divided in 6 sections, have been judged.
The gold medal in the section fortified wines went to the Vau Vintage (Sandeman), especially also because of the stylized, red V. The silver went to Quinta de Roriz and bronze to the 2000 Vintage of Sandeman.
There had been honourable mentions (again) for Sandeman with its Tawny 40 Years Old and Ferreira’s Tawny 10 Years Old. (Source: www.newswine.com of 04/12/02).  

Portarias 612/98 and 174/99.
04/01/03. As we have written in our News item of 30/11/02 the above mentioned ministerial orders have been declared expired. They dealt specifically with colours, adjectives and the type Reserva, also addressed in the latest order 1484/2002.
Remarkable is that in 1998 it was tried to introduce a new type, “Traditional”, in the 612/98.  It had to be a wine of high quality of 1 harvest, stored in wood and bottled after 4 to 6 years. A waiting period of 3 years after bottling should be observed before it allowing the marketing of this type.
We have never seen the “Tradicional” anywhere.
In 1999 the last provision, with a waiting time of 3 years, had been cancelled with the 174/99.
This type has been abolished ignominiously with the 1484/2002.  

The Port glass in crystal.
04/01/03. The new Port glass, designed by the Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira (see our News item of 20/04/02), is also available in crystal now. The glass is on sale in the shops and Solares of the Instituto do Vinho do Porto and in shops of the Grupo Atlantis/Crisal/Vista Alegre chain. The selling price is 28.40 Euros per glass.

Link of the month January 2003.
04/01/03. This month we have chosen for www.quintasearadordens.pa-net.pt 
Quinta Seara d’Ordens is owned by the 3 brothers Moreira. The company has 60 hectares under vine, is modern and well organized.
Their website is beautiful designed with pleasant colours. The texts are brief but good, without unnecessary information. Their product information is also excellent.  

Wine Enthusiast/The Fladgate Partnership.
04/01/03. The American magazine Wine Enthusiast has chosen The Fladgate Partnership as “Best European Winery of the year 2002”.
The Fladgate Partnership is the new group name of the family company with the brands Taylor’s, Fonseca, Croft and Delaforce (see our News items of 25/02/02 and 09/09/01).
Adrian Bridge, general manager of the group, stated:
“This award is the recognition for our specialization in the Port sector and our continuous striving for top quality.” and 
“Of each 3 sold bottles Special Category Port’s 1 is ours, although we represent only 10% of the Port sector. We do not make table wines. We restrict ourselves totally to the future of Port Wine.”
Wine Enthusiast justifies its choice with: 
“It is both for purchase of  Croft and Delaforce and for its continuing leadership in quality that The Fladgate Partnership is awarded the accolade of European Winery of the Year.”  

River cruises. 
04/01/03. In 2002 some 135,000 people have made trips with 1 of the 32 cruise ships on the Douro.
This is an increase of 17% compared to 2000. (See also: Files/Round trip 7.)
Just in Peso da Régua 47,523 people went aboard and 60,129 visitors went ashore.
The shipping traffic on the Douro will be closed as of Januari 3^rd, 2003. The section Oporto-Pinhão is reopened on March 14^th and the section Pinhão-Barca de Alva on April 4^th if the water levels allow it. (Source: Jornal de Notícias of 23/12/02.)  

New Port bottle.
04/01/03. The Portuguese glass factory Barbosa & Almeida has presented a new standard Port bottle. The bottle has been designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira who also made the design of the new Port glass. See image below. (Source: Jornal de Notícias of 10/12/02.)

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