For The Love Of Port

At the end of May I wil be in Portugal. I intend to buy half a dozen bottles for the return journey. Prevously, I've always been amazed at the 'Off Licences'/Wine Shops over there and the plethora of Port available. Now I know quite a bit more on the subject, thanks to you guys, I cant wait to go again. Those who may feel the need to quote Flying Restrictions/allowances,etc....Humour me, and pretend there aren't any.

My Question is this,

What bottles should I look out for that are common over there but rare elsewhere? Or anything with a good/beneficial price difference? Has the World Port Market/Wine Searcher,etc stopped such bargains occuring, or have you any suggestions. My price range is very flexible (Unless Debbie reads this!)

Alan

Alan,

My buying strategy when in Portugal is to bring back bottles that I could not find in the UK. The prices are very often high due to the captive tourist market but you will sometimes stumble across a gem if you spend enough time looking. Given that you will only be buying a few bottles you shoudl definately not carry something home that you could buy here, it's just a watse of space in your luggage.

Be particularly careful when assessing the quality of the storage of what you buy. You will see many shops with no aircon and bottles of old VP and Colheita standing upright in the shop window - If you are buying anything make sure the shop has looked after it properly otherwise you will be disappointed when you open it a few weeks/months later.

I posted a note to you about this when you first joined the forum and pointed you to a shop I found in Vilamoura a few years ago. Let me know if you can't find the post.

Derek

PS: When you are over there digging through all those old bottles be sure to text me if you need any info to help you decide

I agree with everything Derek has pointed out. Also, Lisbon has the best Port & Madeira "buys" and wine shops on Portugal's mainland. Whenin the central shopping district there are a handful of excellent shops within one mile.

I would suggest that you just exercise a bit of caution. I travel quite a lot and only on the odd occasion do I find places to buy port that are cheaper than the UK.

Just make sure you know what the winesearcher price is of anything that you are tempted to buy before you hand over your plastic.

Alex

Alan

I don't know how it is in the UK, but in the US old colheitas other than Kopke and Krohns are impossible to find. I brought back numerous bottles with me from the last FTLOP trip and am glad I did! If I were to go back I would personally concentrate my buying on some old colheitas.

Just my

Jay

In addition to fine VPs and Colheitas, if you enjoy Madeira ... you may find some well stored gems in Lisbon at very reasonable prices compared to what you guys pay in the UK. You may have great Port prices there, but even the US has far better buying power on Madeiras. As Port was traditionally the drink of the Brits, Madeira was traditionally the drink of the early Colonists (known as ex-Brits).

Indeed, hurray for the Navigation Acts (1651? 1660?), which prohibited the transport of European wines to the colonies on non-English ships. Madeira? Why, an African wine Sir!

Just make sure you know what the winesearcher price is of anything that you are tempted to buy before you hand over your plastic.

Alex brought some of the current UK prices for Novals with him on the last trip, which was very useful in helping to figure out where to apply limited funds to some more expensive Novals. It also helped in prioritizing which 12 bottles I was going to buy to bring by in my case shipper.

If you can figure out what you are targeting to buy, and/or where you are going to visit, you can arm yourself with some pricing info and pick up the good values (or the rare bottles).

Alan,

As I have a BlackBerry I now have 24/7 access to http://www.wine-searcher.com - feel free to text or call me anytime if you need a price for a particular wine whilst you are over there 8)

Derek

Derek,

Do you pay for the PRO version of winesearcher where the best deals (read: lowest prices) are touted?

Yip - good value at $20 per year 8)

Yeah, we pay about $30 over here but still worthwhile.

Roy Hersh wrote:Yeah, we pay about $30 over here but still worthwhile.

It may have gone up since I last renewed but with the nose diving dollar it's always going to be good value over here 8)

Derek

In fact Roy, whats the current price of your collection???
We may send a few lads over in a truck and buy it off you, if the price is right (as the rates are so good!)



Alan. Chief Oversea's Negotiator for the 'Al' Club.

Alan,

Not to disappoint you, but Jay, TOdd, and I are planning our "2007 North America invasion of Europe" as we speak. Can't let you all keep the good stuff, besides we got more guns and G.B.II, who will make sure we never leave your country


(disclaimer to all those Secret Service agents reading...move on-its just a joke, LOL)

Andy V. wrote:who will make sure we never leave your country

Assuring you, no doubt, of a victory as magnificent as the Americans have won in Iraq.

Or the Brits in India?

Talk about beating back the Bush's.

Not a supporter of GWB or our recent trip overseas at all but....

Or the Brit's in Iraq itself? Isreal? Egypt? But more recently, you did win the Falklands, although barely. Those lost ~40 ships (merchant and naval) in that one never seemed to get played in the news at the time (Except for the Sheffield of course).

Sometimes I miss Maggie :twisted: . And where's Kissenger when you need him?

Jay,

Did you too, hear that pin drop?

Yes indeed I did. :?

Although, to be fair, I'll admit our "special relationship" and Blair (and Bronwyn) do not generally reflect the UK or Europe these days, who have given up (for the most part) their evil ways and instead put their budgets into foreign aid instead of "adventures", resulting in them being liked a lot better in most of the world than the US.

Of course there's nothing about this that resembles the pupil following the teacher

Jay