PORT TASTING, L.A., Portland, Seattle, Boston -

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 2:47 pm

There is a port tasting that benefits the SPCA in Marina Del Rey (a little southwest of Downtown Los Angeles). Here is some info.

The Ritz Carlton Hotel
4375 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, California.

5:30 - 7:30pm: Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased from http://www.spcaLA.com,
by phone at 1 (888) SPCA-LAl x 232 or at the door of the event.
All proceeds benefit the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles (spcaLA).

I called and there will be about 20 producers there. As soon as they get me the line up, I'll pass it on. I will be there, so I hope to see some of you there as well. It will be a great place to try a number of good Douro wines and Ports.

Here is the link
http://www.spcala.com/special_events/winetasting.shtml

F rank Tota · Post by **F rank Tota** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:14 pm

Andy, this is quite close to my house. I'll have to check but think I am free that evening if you want to attend the tasting and then maybe crack a more mature bottle afterwards.

PS: I already picked up a ticket.

- Frank

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:40 pm

Frank,

Sounds good to me. Its been a bit since we shared a Port. We'll figure it out as the date gets closer.

BTW, I'm sending you an email in a couple.

Mark DaSilva · Post by **Mark DaSilva** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:49 pm

This sounds like a great event. $25 could go a long way here. I just wish it was the wife and I (she's a complete animal lover). Time to round up the babysitters...

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 4:55 am

Mark, hopefully you can make it, It would be nice to meet you.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 12:06 pm

Unfortunately at that event, very few folks will be there from Portugal (if any). The majority of the Portuguese wines (from all over the country) will be poured by the representatives of the local distributors. That said, if you get a chance to attend this event, it is going to be a really fun time and for a worthy cause.

It is part of a 4 city road trip of Portuguese producers. The others are Boston, Portland (OR) and Seattle. I have a full report on these tastings in the newsletter that will be hitting the airwaves shortly.

Mark DaSilva · Post by **Mark DaSilva** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:47 pm

Andy,

Likewise. Would love to meet other FTLOP'ers. Usually, its just the wife and I at tastings - sampling them ourselves with no one we know to compare to.

We're working on the babysitter angle to attend this. Lately, our sitters have gotten their driver's license and discovery of boys. Groan.

Just last night, we batted 0-4.

Marc J. · Post by **Marc J.** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:41 pm

Andy,

Thanks for posting this event! I'm thinking that this should be quite a fun/entertaing evening. I'm sure I'll see you there!

Marc

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:58 pm

Marc and Mark,

Hope to see you both there.

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:43 pm

Here is the list of producers who will be represented:

A. Ramos Pinto - Vinhos S.A
Aveleda - Soc. Agr. e Com da Quinta da Aveleda
Bacalhoa Vinhos de Portugal, SA
Casa Agrícola João e António Pombo SA
Casa Santos Lima Companhia das Vinhas S.A.
Cortes de Cima
Dão Sul - Sociedade Vitivinícola, SA
Gestvinus / J. Portugal Ramos Vinhos
Manoel D. Poças Junior Vinhos SA
Maria Manuela Matos Silva Fonseca Mendes
Roquevale, S.A.
Rozès, SA
Sogrape Vinhos SA (several different producers)
Sogevinus Fine Wines (Kopke and Rocha)
Wiese & Krohn, Sucrs., Lda

A very good list with some really nice stuff being poured. A bargain at only $25.00 a ticket.

I do hope more people from the area are able to make it. If anyone else is planning on going please PM me or hit me up at the event (I'll be in the FTLOP polo shirt). I'd love to meet you in person and maybe afterwards we can all grab a bite to eat somewhere nearby.

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:04 am

Wow... $25 for a tasting with that many producers represented.... amazing value... and to think, it would only cost me $22.75 at today's exchange rate!

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 6:40 am

Yeah Yeah, rub it in Todd

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:59 pm

This would be the first time in my life time that I'll be able to see this amazing situation.

You can still rub in that even at a lowered dollar in the US, your Port prices are still far below what we will pay up here Andy! :?

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 5:30 pm

Just a reminder. Anyone else going to this?

There will be a few of us from the forum there.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:57 am

I will be attending the one here in Seattle on the 15th ... does that count?

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:51 am

Roy, you're going to have lots of fun, last night was a blast.

The tasting was great and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND going. There is some great juice being poured, like a couple of 1937 Colheita's

So clear your calendars and do what ever it takes to go.

(p.s. I changed the title of this in the hopes people see it and can go)

Marc J. · Post by **Marc J.** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:30 pm

Last night's tasting was WELL worth the price of admission! Colheita's from the '90's, '80's, '70's, '60's, 50's & 30's provided an interesting snapshot of some great (and some not so great) wines. There were also plenty of dry wines to compare and evaluate as well......

Post by **Andy Velebil** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:03 pm

Marc it was great seeing you, your wife, Frank Tota and a few others again and sharing some vino. Frank was quite the generous host after the event and dinner was quite fun, not to mention some more Port drinking and cigars into the wee hours after you left.

Kris Henderson · Post by **Kris Henderson** » Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:36 pm

I was looking forward to the one in Seattle but I got a call from the event coordinator this afternoon saying it is cancelled.

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:57 am

I called the event organizer and it is DEFINITELY still on!

See you there.