The 2008 Seattle Port Offline - date announced!!!

[Roy Hersh]

I have a downtown Seattle location that will waive corkage for our group. You can let me know if this is going to work for you. A Monday or Tuesday night works best for me, but if the vast majority prefer to have it on a Friday, I can arrange that too.

Before getting into specific dates, let's narrow it down to some basics, and if you will answer these questions, it will help me provide the best experience:

a. Do you prefer a Monday/Tues/Friday evening starting about 6:30 p.m. at a downtown Seattle restaurant (finishing by 10 ish)? If you are flexible on the days mentioned, just put "flexible" and I'll figure it out.

B. Do you want to learn about and drink: *Port alone or ** Port & Madeira?

C. Would you prefer a range of Port styles or to concentrate on Vintage Ports? If Madeira is included (due to their price) there would be just a few examples to try, probably 3 or 4.

D. Your choice: Fully-tutored tasting - OR - Blind tasting, with each flight followed by discussion?


Some Basics:
I will supply a very solid lineup of Port wines (none Pink) at current "best" CA retail pricing and figure out the number of bottles based on how many are coming. Your share in the wines will be $100 per person for some mighty fine stuff + a 3.5 hour wine seminar. Payments must be made in cash or personal check to me for the wine (separately from the dinner).

Once this is set up, to obtain a spot at this event, you'll have to pre-pay the restaurant with a CC (the dinner part ONLY). That will ensure that folks won't change their mind five times and leave empty seats when others would like to attend.

Dinner will be a fixed menu, most likely four courses at $100 per head which will include all taxes and tips, at one of Seattle's great dining spots.

OK, so this is not a cheap night out ... at $200 pp. But you will certainly get your money's worth in a great evening with other local FTLOPers (and a few Vayniak's too), a fine dinner, excellent wines, a super education and all of your questions answered, and the dubious honor to meet yours truly. It is better than a sharp poke in the eye.

Cheers!

[Glenn E.]

I was hoping that a Seattle offline would happen soon!

a. Flexible. Very slight preference for Friday evening simply to avoid having to work the next day. My work is pretty flexible too, though, so it's not a big deal.

b. Flexible. I have tried Madeira and like it also, but I generally only buy Port.

c. I would prefer VPs and Colheitas, but I'm open to just about anything.

d. It's becoming a theme... flexible here too! I'm inexperienced enough that a fully tutored tasting would probably do the most to further my Port education, but a blind tasting sounds fun and would also be great.

[Stewart T.]

a. I "could" do a Monday or Tuesday, but Friday usually works better for me.
b. Port and Madeira would be fun
C. range would be nice, although VPs would be excellent as well
D. Either fully tutored or blind would be fine

[Andy Velebil]

If I can make it up there, Fridays are best for me.

Don't care what wines are chosen, but blind is always fun.

[Todd Pettinger]

Roy,

Depending upon the dates chosen for this, I may be able to attend, or may not. Assuming it was in a date range that worked for me, the following would be my responses:

1. Friday all the way. Flights should be easy to get, but time off work might be the delimiter.
2. VP would be the way I would want to go. That would not exclude me if there were to be Port & Madeira (I've tried two Madeiras only, both cheap and not aged at all.) I would still attend either way but preference would be for VP & Colheita
3. VPs/Old Colheitas (as I have again, tried very few Colheitas, particularly old ones)
4. Flexible here. Blind would be cool, but open-eyed and tutored would probably do more for me as well.

I really hope this occurs in a timeframe that makes it possible for me to make it down. I would really love to be a part of this!

Todd

[Roy Hersh]

Another few people and we'll be golden. Hopefully, sometime in April. I'll choose a date this week.

[Glenn E.]

I have 1-2 friends I could contact who might be interested in a $200 evening of fine food and even finer Port, so if you don't have a sufficient number by the end of next week let me know and I'll contact them once I get back from Dublin.

[Marc J.]

Depending on the dates, I may be able to attend. Fridays would work the best for me and my preference would be for a Port only tasting, but I'm also open to trying a few Maderias as well. Concentration in VP holds the most interest for me although throwing in a few colheitas might spice things up a bit. Finally, I'd vote for a fully-tutored tasting.

Marc

[Dave Helton]

Hi Roy,I am new to the forum and my wife and I have been enjoying Vintage Port for about 3 years.We would be very interested in attending any Seattle Port Offline events that you going to have.As far as dates we can make it most any time.We are always looking for a chanch to attend a Vintage Port Tasting event that is held here locally in the Seattle area,we live in Federal Way. Regards,Dave Helton

[Roy Hersh]

Hi Dave and welcome aboard.

It will be great to meet you two. I am thinking about late April and just need a couple of more people to get this going. When you have a moment, the first THREAD in the "Basics Forum" is for new FTLOP members to introduce themselves. Please take a moment and let us know a little bit more! Thanks and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Roy

[Roy Hersh]

It looks like Tuesday, April 29th will work just fine. Please let me know if you would like to attend.

Thanks!

[Glenn E.]

Date reserved, I'm in!

[Roy Hersh]

Do you want spots for your friends, Glenn?

[Glenn E.]

I haven't talked to them about it yet - I was waiting to find out whether or not you needed more to fill the event. I'll send them all emails and ask now, though. Don't hold any spots; I'll post again if any of them confirm.

[Andy Velebil]

After trying to get Tuesday off work, its a no go for me due to minimum staffing levels. I know you all will have fun and I am sad not to be able to make it.

[Roy Hersh]

Andy,

Sad news, but I am hoping that we'll get to drink again soon. Maybe even as soon as May?

There are 5 others committed in addition to those from this website's Forum, so we are getting closer to our goal of a total of 16.

Anyone else?

[Glenn E.]

Roy,

I have heard back from all 3 of my friends and none of them can make it. So it's just me this time around!

[Eric Ifune]

I'm going to be outside the country then, otherwise I'd come.
Sorry

[Dave Helton]

Hi Roy,Vicki and I would like to attend your vintage port tasting on april 29th.Where is the location going to be? Thanks,Dave Helton Federal Way ,Wa.

[Kris Henderson]

I can't believe I didn't find this thread until now. Count me in for Tuesday April 29th though I probably won't be very productive at work the next day. Just let me know more details, time and location when available. As for your questions:

b. I would prefer Port but I certainly wouldn't turn my nose at some great old Madeira's
c. 1994 or older Vintage Port and / or 1977 or older Colheita would be my preference.
d. Could we do a fully tutored tasting? Tasting a long side a pro is a great way to learn. Including time for discussion around the table would also be nice.