For The Love Of Port

Ok, I understand what a single quinta is, in comparison to a vintage port. But I've been looking around in different stores and have never actually seen a bottle that states single quinta. I see VP, LVB, Ruby, Colheita, and Tawny. But no Single Quintas.

Is it just that these stores are not carrying these bottles, or do you just have to be "in the know" to recognize a single quinta?

The easiest way to distinguish a single quinta from a "normal" VP is by the name. Your typical mainstream VP will be simply a Taylor Fladgate, Fonseca, Graham's, Warre, Niepoort, Sandeman, etc. With the exception of perhaps a small few VP's, any VP with "Quinta" in the title is a SQVP.

Mike.

And to clarify a bit more ... you never will see the words SINGLE QUINTA on the front label of any wine, although that nomenclature may appear on the back label.

Hm, I find it all a bit confusing . So what about the many producers with Quinta in their name, like Quinta do Crasto. Since Quinta is in the name, would it be resonable that their VP would be titled "Quinta do Crasto VP" or would it be "Crasto VP"? And would their single quinta port be titled "Quinta do Crasto Quinta VP"?

John, Quinta do Crasto IS a quinta, so the ports that are labeled "Quinta do Crasto" are always single quinta. Now, say that Quinta do Crasto would want to make a big production of ruby port, for which they would buy grapes from other quinta's, they would have to label it "Crasto", as the grapes do not originate from one quinta only.

Does that make things a bit clearer?

Then now for some new confusion: Producers are not obliged to put "Quinta" on the label of a single quinta port. For instance, since a couple of years the ports from Quinta da Vargellas (Taylor's) are labeled "Taylor's Vargellas", but the port is in fact a single quinta.

Yes, it is a bit confusing at first. For single quinta VP's from major houses (Dow, Warre, Taylor's, etc) you will see a "Quinta..." on the front label. Such as "Dow's Quinta do Bofim Vintage Port" or "Warre's Quinta da Cavadinha Vintage Port" or "Taylor's Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port" (see the exception that Ronnie listed above about Taylor's)

However, houses such as Quinta do Vesuvio or Quinta do Noval are in themselves Single Quinta Vintage Ports, as the grapes come from their one property (called a Quinta).

Check out the list of producers web sites here on this site. http://www.fortheloveofport.com/producers.htm

Warre's and Taylor's web sites explain the Single Quinta in detail and may help if your still confused.

HA! :-D Every time I start to feel that I've got a handle on the port lingo / rules / etc, something comes along to make me realize I am but an amateur in this game :wall:

But every so slowly its all comming together for me. Thanks for all the explanations!

John,

Don't feel bad. Everytime I think I am starting getting a great handle on all the rules, regulations, labeling, etc., there is another curve ball that shows up and proves that I am not even close to a total and full understanding of all that goes on in the port industry.

But, it is great fun and one heck of an education :!:

To add one extra little bit of confusion:

Quinta do Noval VP was until quite recently (1997 ??) not a single quinta, but a blend from grapes of different quintas in addition to those produced at Q. Noval.

More recently, the wine bottled as Q. Noval has been made entirely from grapes at the quinta, so it is now a true single quinta. The wine made from grapes grown off the premises is now marketed as Noval Silval.

Noval Nacional is made exclusively from a small patch of ungrafted vines grown on the premises, so has always been a single quinta wine.

Tom

I wonder how many SQVP's really do only have juice in them from only 1 Quinta?

The temptation to blend in a few grapes from somewhere else to boost volume and/or quality must be high. I know this question probably reveals more about my devious mind than it does about the port trade but from what I have read it isn't exactly unknown for the label to not exactly match what is in the bottle :?

Derek

Derek,

Not devious, accurate. It does happen, just as expensive powdered tannins (usually purchased from France) and other things, can wind up in the Port. Of course this is not something that is normally discussed, but just as all wine regions have some less scrupulous producers ...

I wonder how many lurking shippers are curling their toes whilst reading this thread - that's guilt your feeling guys

Derek