Quick HI from the Douro

Post by **Stewart T.** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 12:31 am

Just a quick hi from Stewart, Mario, Roy, Andy and the rest of the FTLOP gang from Portugal! We arrived in the Douro Valley yesterday, and are drinking our way through some impressive lineups of VPs, LBVs, and some old colheitas!

The harvest is still going on, and it will be interesting to see how the day of rain yesterday will impact the harvest and the 2007 vintage. The good news is that the sun is peaking up over the horizon and it looks to be a beautiful day here in the Douro Valley, so I´m sure that many growers are thankful that the clouds appear to be disappating...

Off to (surpise) another tasting at the new Niepoort facility up here in the Douro!

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:33 pm

Stewart et al,

Have fun (yeah, like you need to be told THAT :?) and enjoy yourselves. Updates would be great, when you get the chance, the connection, and the sobriety to do so!

Good luck with the livers folks.

Todd

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:35 pm

Would you believe we have had just about enough wines so far on this trip?

WE crushed grapes in lagares, did verticals at Fonseca and Graham's quintas and so many other great moments that it will take a full report later ... to give the real flavor. There has been an extraordinary balance between Vintage-Tawny-Colheita Ports and Douro wines of course.

Although the trip is winding down, memories for a lifetime have been etched firmly in the hearts and minds of all the participants.

More to come.

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:42 am

I got home very late last night from the trip and it was awsome. I met a great bunch of guys and we all had a blast. Some wonderful Port and wines were consumed and tons of laughs shared. It is always a bummer to come home after, I wish I could have stayed longer.

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:18 pm

Andy V. wrote:I got home very late last night from the trip and it was awsome. I met a great bunch of guys and we all had a blast. Some wonderful Port and wines were consumed and tons of laughs shared. It is always a bummer to come home after, I wish I could have stayed longer.

I'm still having the blues from my last trip and already starting to speak with some about next year. Doctor, I need some pills

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:45 am

I am at Aquapura Hotel near Regua and tomorrow is my last day up here in the Douro. I am already feeling sad that I have only planned 10 days here in Portugal. It is never enough. Fortunately there is one more big day of tasting today, but that does not make up for the fact of having to be on an airplane tomorrow.

I have looked at some real estate the past couple of days and the prices here are not all that bad, although far less of a bargain than one would expect. Maybe a few of us pony up, so we can buy a great FTLOP Douro house with a tremendous view.

Erik Wiechers · Post by **Erik Wiechers** » Tue Oct 09, 2007 2:44 am

Haha, count me in Roy. Only 2 hours of flying for me and i would be in paradise :)

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:46 pm

Erik,

Glad to see you are proud of that OWC. Next year maybe you will join us in Portugal for the trip to enjoy some young wines.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:06 am

I will email all of you whom attended the 2007 Port Harvest Tour and forward everyone's contact information so you can all stay in touch.

I hope you are all back to drinking Port by now!