For The Love Of Port

Port Lodge tasting rooms in Vila Nova de Gaia tend to face in a particular direction, (North/South/East/West). Which is it? If you got that right, can you tell us why it faces that particular direction?

Hint: It has nothing to do with the direction in which the Ports pray!


P.S. Everyone is free to respond to the questions in this thread except Andy.

They face north.
For two reasons, the first reason is that you can look northwards through huge plate glass windows over the river Douro and on to the city of Oporto beyond.
The second reason is more practical. Colour is axiomatic to port and it is no coincidence that two of the most important types of port, ruby and tawny, are named after different shades. A single glass held up and tilted against the cool north light may represent a blend of a thousand or more pipes of port.

Above is taken from the excellent book "Port and the Douro" written by Richard Mayson (p. 195-196)

Erik, you cheater!!!

Sounds like sound logic to me though. I would have guessed North, but from no prior knowledge on the subject.

Here in Canada we would face South... towards warmer weather!

I knew it was north from having visited several lodges this past summer, but didn't know why.

This despite the fact that I've ready that book! Too much Port must be affecting my memory...

Glenn E. wrote: Too much Port must be affecting my memory...

Glenn,
I prefer to think you've not had enough port and that is what's affecting your memory