(lack of) Port Hell

Robert O. · Post by **Robert O.** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 6:48 pm

I have been on 10 day, 8 city tour of Indiana. I have 3 days left to go. The only port I've found has (surprisingly) been Fonseca Bin 27 at the Olive Garden.

The Olive Garden is also the best restaurant I've had access to so it's also an eating hell. Not sure how I am going to make it...

Ted D · Post by **Ted D** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 8:37 pm

Yow, my condolences!

I will say that last August in Normal, Illinois (yes, the town is named "Normal") I managed to sample 4 different "Ports" (sic) made in Illinois. They were absolutely OK, and quite amusing, but of course shadows of the real thing . . .

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:05 am

I've been through "the lack of port" hell a few times on my travels. I've now got to the stage where part of my packing is to decant a half bottle of port into two or three 100ml sample bottles, to seal these up and pack them into my hand luggage.

Then, in desperate times, I can open one of these up and have a couple of decent glasses with dinner. If I suddenly discover somewhere that sells port then I can refill any of the sample bottles that are empty.

Alex

Erik Wiechers · Post by **Erik Wiechers** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:07 am

You guys start to freak me out

Taking your own port with you on your travels just to have your daily shot of port, hmmmmm.....time for that AA meeting ? :twisted:

Alan C. · Post by **Alan C.** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 3:42 am

Erik Wiechers wrote:You guys start to freak me out
Taking your own port with you on your travels just to have your daily shot of port, hmmmmm.....time for that AA meeting ? :twisted:

So you think thats Geeky...ask Alex (Al B) about Cork reconstruction!

Robert O. · Post by **Robert O.** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:27 pm

Ted, I am afraid of Illinios made Port, especially here at the Holiday Inn Columbus. I admire your bravery for trying it. Of course, if I run across any, now I will have to try it.

Al, that is hardcore. But if I have to take another triup like that, i will seriously consider your solution.

Bob

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:13 pm

Robert O. wrote:Ted, I am afraid of Illinios made Port, especially here at the Holiday Inn Columbus. I admire your bravery for trying it. Of course, if I run across any, now I will have to try it.

Al, that is hardcore. But if I have to take another triup like that, i will seriously consider your solution.

Bob

Like you Bob, I would also likely try it as well, just because I feel I have to. Although I did find a very well-made 'port' from Sumac Ridge in Canada called "Pipe." The back label starts off by saying how much the owner/head wine-maker at Sumac Ridge admires the traditional method of port production and while traditional varietals don't do that well, even in the Okanagen wine-growing valley of BC, he still has produced a replica that he proudly named after the holding vats of the original.

It was very decent, despite using NO traditional varietals. It even is left unfiltered in the bottle, which surprised the heck out of me.

Alex is on the right track... I have planned to do the same, and where applicable, re-seal a well-padded 375 for the hold luggage. Depends on the length of time I go for (which isn't that often, but it seems to be picking up in recent years.)

Todd

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:12 am

You've also got to take into account that my hard core approach is in the context of the fact that I don't drink beer or spirits (ever) and rarely drink table wine these days. If I drink something alcoholic with a meal or during an evening it is usually a glass or two of port.

When I travel to far flung places in the world, the two things I like to take with me are a bottle of port that I know I will enjoy and my tea bags. That way I can wake in the morning and know that I will start with a good cup of tea and end the day with a nice glass of port.

Starbucks has taken care of the tea need in many places around the world, but I still have to take my own port with me.

And its always a good conversation piece with the security teams at the airports.

Alex

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:49 pm

Al B. wrote:And its always a good conversation piece with the security teams at the airports.

Alex

Hmmm, I have many questions about this Alex, I'm gonna start a new threadin the Basics Forum, so as not to totally hi-jack this thread.

Robert O. · Post by **Robert O.** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:32 pm

Makes sense, Al.

I did find a Sandeman Founders Reserve in Evansville that was an OK ruby at an extremely mediocre tapas bar

Robert O. · Post by **Robert O.** » Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:32 pm

OK, I take back (most) of the implied insults to Indiana re it's selection of Port. I found a restuarant in Indy with a fairly solid port selection including Taylor 20, 30, and 40 year tawny port at some of the most reasonable prices I've ever seen for a restaurant.

Bob

nicos neocleous · Post by **nicos neocleous** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 2:19 am

You guys start to freak me out
Taking your own port with you on your travels just to have your daily shot of port, hmmmmm.....time for that AA meeting ?

This is actually Roy H. using my friend Nicos' computer ...

Having carried bottles of Port from the USA during the past 11 days in Portugal, just so I can drink them in the UK, is the sheer sign that I must either find a meeting or a cheaper way to ship bottles across the pond to the UK.

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:20 am

Of course, you could always buy and store port in the UK for the times when you come to visit. That would give you access to one of the cheapest port markets in the world...

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Oct 11, 2007 4:51 pm

Between Nicos and me, we bought over 30 bottles today ... but those were aged Riojas from the mid-1980s. Pricing is pretty fantastic over here!