For The Love Of Port

Quinta do Crasto.

Breaking news. Sorry, I have yet to see this in English as of yet. But you can always use a translator:

https://eco.sapo.pt/2024/09/12/quinta-d ... anoramico/

A bit of a soapbox/tangent/whatever. But I’ll be that guy…Crasto messed up really big, at least here in the states. We all loved them, talked about how good they were, bought them, etc. then they went “corporate” so to speak, switched importers here to sell more in restaurants (bad move just before Covid kicked in), as a result I can’t find them anymore at retail around me and largely don’t care anymore because they obviously don’t care about their long term customers who helped them get where they are. Just look at how there is now almost no posts about their current wines/Ports on the forum, it’s telling.

More power to them, I hope they do well.

As for the Quinta, a very beautiful place. But it’s a long drive from Pinhao/Regua, so not geographically desirable unless staying there and not traveling far from it (the Quinta next door has same issue…beautiful and very lovely but so far out of the way is a big down side).

Was saddened to see them no longer being imported by Broadbent. I rarely see Crasto products locally where here they are an easy sell.

Moses Botbol wrote:Was saddened to see them no longer being imported by Broadbent. I rarely see Crasto products locally where here they are an easy sell.

I haven’t even seen them on restaurant wine list around me, so no clue where the new importer/distributor is selling them. I looked on Wine-Searcher and, while I don’t have a pro version, there’s 9 entries (5 I could see, of those, they were two stores). That was for the Old Vine Reserva with no specific year searched for.

For Maria Teresa there is only 4 listings. Of the two I could see, they were 2015 and 2016 vintages. So prior to the importer switch.

I have no idea who at Crasto thought that would be a good idea. I bought a lot of Crasto every year. Still have a bunch. Honestly, why would anyone spend money for any of their products now, or the time and money to visit the Quinta, when they obviously don’t care about their customers.

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2024 12:04 pm

Moses Botbol wrote:Was saddened to see them no longer being imported by Broadbent. I rarely see Crasto products locally where here they are an easy sell.

...I have no idea who at Crasto thought that would be a good idea. I bought a lot of Crasto every year. Still have a bunch. Honestly, why would anyone spend money for any of their products now, or the time and money to visit the Quinta, when they obviously don’t care about their customers.

Crasto is now a rare site at the liquor store and Casa Ferreirinha is now one of the more common brands around here.

Go figure

Moses Botbol wrote:

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2024 12:04 pm

Moses Botbol wrote:Was saddened to see them no longer being imported by Broadbent. I rarely see Crasto products locally where here they are an easy sell.

...I have no idea who at Crasto thought that would be a good idea. I bought a lot of Crasto every year. Still have a bunch. Honestly, why would anyone spend money for any of their products now, or the time and money to visit the Quinta, when they obviously don’t care about their customers.

Crasto is now a rare site at the liquor store and Casa Ferreirinha is now one of the more common brands around here.

Go figure

Casa Ferreirinha also changed importers but their wines are still available.

Having just visited Crasto, I firmly believe they care a great deal about their customers. I believe Covid hit them hard and there were certainly issues with their distributor. Give them time and they should ascend to high praise. I can also report that their 1994 LBV is wow, still very, very good. Crasto was also the only Quinta where I bought red wine all week.

Edward J wrote:Having just visited Crasto, I firmly believe they care a great deal about their customers. I believe Covid hit them hard and there were certainly issues with their distributor. Give them time and they should ascend to high praise. I can also report that their 1994 LBV is wow, still very, very good. Crasto was also the only Quinta where I bought red wine all week.

It’s been almost 6 years (December will be 6) and their USA importer/distributor has done nothing. 6 years of not being able to get their wines here in the states. They’ve had plenty of time to care…but haven’t.