Grappes destiny

[LOUISSS J]

I have search i and found nothing about the type of grappe that goes on port. I explain...
I know that in the Vintage port that's the best grappes in the best years that go into it. The grappes that go for the LBV are less "qualitative" than the Vintage. But what decided what grappes go in Single Quinta, Tawny, Colheita, etc. Why X grappe goes into tawny and not into vintage or LBV or Single Quinta? I know (i think) there is a selection with tasters who decided that X sample should go on 10 years old tawny or 20, 30, etc. But at the start (the grappes or the vines) what or who decide?

[Glenn E.]

I have search i and found nothing about the type of grappe that goes on port. I explain...
I know that in the Vintage port that's the best grappes in the best years that go into it. The grappes that go for the LBV are less "qualitative" than the Vintage. But what decided what grappes go in Single Quinta, Tawny, Colheita, etc. Why X grappe goes into tawny and not into vintage or LBV or Single Quinta? I know (i think) there is a selection with tasters who decided that X sample should go on 10 years old tawny or 20, 30, etc. But at the start (the grappes or the vines) what or who decide?

I think this question may have been asked in A Question For The Port Trade (part of Roy's newsletter), but off the top of my head I don't recall the issue. The answer that I remember came from Dirk Niepoort. Hopefully I'm remembering his answer correctly, and apologies to Dirk if I am not, but as I recall he said that the types of grapes needed for a Colheita are not exactly the same as the types of grapes needed for Vintage Port. Both require the best quality grapes, but VP requires far more color extraction and tannins for longevity in the bottle, while Colheitas require more sugars and acidity (in balance) to age properly in wood. I believe he said that sometimes grapes could work for either, but most of the time it's pretty obvious to the winemaker into which type of Port a lot of grapes should be made.

Of course, sometimes a barrel "gets lost" in the warehouse, and something that was intended to be LBV or Vintage Port turns into a Colheita over time... Grapes for VP may eventually turn into a decent Colheita if given enough time in wood.

[LOUISSS J]

Thanks for the answer.