For The Love Of Port

With Covid and almost no Port lovers traveling to the Douro this harvest it’s been hard to get “Boots on the ground” updates of how the trade is feeling about the vintage.

There has been a lot of producers posting on social media at least. But still hard to get a good grasp. It seems to have been very hot with no rain to refresh things. Lower yields. It also appears to be a very early and quick harvest. Quinta de la Rosa posted today mentioning how fast it will go.

Things aren’t sounding very positive thus far for Port. But what about Table wines?

Anyone else hearing on social media or from producers on how it’s going for wine and Port?

Perdo Silva Reis mentioned on social media it's been a difficult year so far. I'm getting the feeling this hot early harvest isn't turning out so great overall for Vintage Port. Maybe a good year to built up some stocks of other things?

Oscar Quevedo has a really good ~15 min video that was on the Symington’s School
Of Port Instagram page today. Lots of great info on the harvest and other stuff.

The unrelenting heat has not been kind to the grapes, shriveling them. Not only causing reduced volume but also not good for the balance of them. Not a positive outlook, unfortunately. Unless you’re at a high elevation where it stayed cooler. And while he didn’t specifically say, I’d assume the further down river one is the better as well. As it’s generally cooler the farther west one goes and hotter in the Douro Superior to the east.

Quinta da Roeda has finished the harvest. That’s super early.

I believe Bulas has one more day.

Vallado has ended harvest.

Paul Symington posted his personal vineyard, at 500 meters, did quite well due to the cooler nights. Unlike lower vineyards that the heat has affected.

Seems as though just about everyone is now done picking and finishing up processing their grapes..and it's not even the end of Sept.