Do you drink more Port alone ... or with others?

[Derek T.]

Todd lives approx. 2,000 miles from my place .

I didn't realise that Todd lived in Mexico. Sorry, my mistake.

So, Montreal, is that east coast? If so, and if it is close to where they get lots of snow in winter, it is close to where my cousin lives.

[Luc Gauthier]

Todd lives approx. 2,000 miles from my place .

I didn't realise that Todd lived in Mexico. Sorry, my mistake.

So, Montreal, is that east coast? If so, and if it is close to where they get lots of snow in winter, it is close to where my cousin lives.

Derek , you're a riot
Ya , we get our fair share of snow .
Last winter we received over 300cm !!
We average around 250 cm in a winter .
Montréal is in eastern Canada , not on the coast .

[Glenn E.]

and if it is close to where they get lots of snow in winter

That pretty much describes all of Canada, the 51st State.

Did you know that 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of a US state? I'm pretty sure that's not even true of California!!!

[Luc Gauthier]

and if it is close to where they get lots of snow in winter

That pretty much describes all of Canada, the 51st State.

Did you know that 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of a US state? I'm pretty sure that's not even true of California!!!

Glenn , you could probably annex all of the English speaking provinces and nothing would change for them . . .
Québec , however , is a bird of a different flock

[Roy Hersh]

Yes, after all ... Frederick lives there, and that alone changes the entire dynamic.

[Roy Hersh]

As we have a new crowd these days, I'd like to hear from lots of the new folks here what their answers to the question (or comments on the thread) would be.

[Peter W. Meek]

I am almost invariably in company when I drink port, and usually others among the company are also drinking port.

For whatever reason, I usually choose a regular wine, generally a Northern Italian red, to drink when by myself.

[Michael Hann]

The number of my experiences drinking port is in the low 10's rather than the 100's or 1000's of experiences. When I read this question I initially judged that I drink port more alone than with others. Then I realized that while this describes the last two ports I have sampled, which I drank alone, it doesn't describe the ports I have drunk before this. I was talking on the phone with one of my two sisters who plan to stay with us in our home for about a week in April and planted the seed for the idea of drinking some port when the sisters visit. Pursuant to this, and by way of engaging my wife in this three way conversation, I asked my wife if she liked port, and she unreservedly answered YES. This was kind of a surprise to me. I guess I would say I want to drink port with others -- my wife and guests -- but that I don't want to trammel my exploration of port by the burden of trying to bring others down the path with me. I've had some sketchy experiences trying to pass on my love of various wines to others in the past. Its hard to hear your guest tell you that the pinot noir you are serving that perfectly complements your venison loin steaks tastes raspy and harsh to them -- that they just don't like red wine.

In further conversation with my wife, she said that she liked port . . . but only GOOD port. I explored that idea a bit. Me: What do you mean? What BAD port have you had? Are you referring to some of that ruby reserve port we have drunk in the past? Wife: Yes, it must be. Me: Well, dear, to please you I can accommodate your high standards, going forwards I will only buy port that is better than those ruby reserves we have drunk! Well, I didn't say this last statement but thought it. By the way, none of the ruby reserve ports we have drunk have been bad -- Warre Warrior, Graham Six Grapes, Fonseca Bin 27 -- just maybe not as good as LBV or VP, which is of course no surprise.

[Andy Velebil]

Michael,
Allow me to translate for your wife. "Honey, I like Port but not that inexpensive stuff. You have my permission to buy all the top quality VP's you want." I suggest you listen to her and start buying...for her of course

[Michael Hann]

Michael,
Allow me to translate for your wife. "Honey, I like Port but not that inexpensive stuff. You have my permission to buy all the top quality VP's you want." I suggest you listen to her and start buying...for her of course

I agree: I think that is the only reasonable interpretation, and I would be remiss in my spousal duties not to follow my wife's directive in this matter!

[Andy Velebil]

I agree: I think that is the only reasonable interpretation, and I would be remiss in my spousal duties not to follow my wife's directive in this matter!

Now you're talking

[Roy Hersh]

So, do any of you see this dynamic changing in 2010?

Said as I am sitting here alone, just before noon and sipping some Madeiras on day 2 to include TNs.

Yeah, I know it is a tough job.

[Glenn E.]

So, do any of you see this dynamic changing in 2010?

I'm going to try to change it a bit, but I don't see it changing dramatically for me in 2010.

What I've noticed is that we now have a few more people on FTLOP from the Seattle area, so I'd like to try to set up some casual tastings this year. Nothing fancy, just local Port lovers getting together once in a while to drink Port.

[Markus D.]

I probably drink most of my port alone, maybe a 70/30 mix with friends and family. My friends do enjoy drinking Port, but often can't tell the difference between a good LBV and a VP. So it seems I end up sharing alot of my LBVs and drinking 375ml VPs to myself. I usually bring a 2003 Noval LBV to introduce people to Port and it usually gets them hooked!

[Marc J.]

If I open up a bottle my wife will usually take a sip or two and comment on the nose & palate of the wine, but that's pretty much it. Typically I don't drink much Port during the workweek, but rather on the weekend. I do have friend that is getting into Port so we usually have a themed tasting every couple to three weeks or so.

Marc

[Andy Velebil]

I do have friend that is getting into Port so we usually have a themed tasting every couple to three weeks or so.

Marc

Hey let me know I'm only a short drive away. At least on the weekends with no traffic, floods, or fires hampering the drive west.

Roy,
as to you question. I don't see a major change for this year for me. I drink about 50/50 alone and with friends. Those friends range from Port lovers to beginner wine and Port drinkers. But some of the alone part also includes tastings soley to post TN's and not really for the "drinking" sake of it.

[Eric Menchen]

But some of the alone part also includes tastings soley to post TN's and not really for the "drinking" sake of it.

That's very big of you.

[Andy Velebil]

But some of the alone part also includes tastings soley to post TN's and not really for the "drinking" sake of it.

That's very big of you.

I try

[Daniel R.]

VP and Colheita always with others (normally family). Lbv and dated tawnys both with others after dinner and frequently alone (a glass or two in the evening..).

[Marc J.]

Although I must say that the average life-span of a bottle of Port around my household is pretty brief and I'd speculate that is also a factor in whether it is consumed alone or with others. Just a thought....

Marc