For The Love Of Port

Today is the 5th month Anniversary of FTLOP. Hard for me to believe it is just 5 months and in some ways, this Forum is still in it's infancy. I looked back to make sure and yep, my first post was on July 30th.

Phew! In that time, I have met over a dozen of you folks from this BB and visited both the Port and Madeira regions.

My earliest discussions with my wife when FTLOP launched, included my guess that by the end of the year there would be 175-200 members and 1500 posts. I was not far off on the number of members but the activity here has been increasing exponentially which is very fun to watch and be a part of.

My best wishes to all of you who have contributed today, or five months ago in the very humble beginnings when I was "worried" if anybody would show up. Looking back is pretty funny.

May you all find and drink even better bottles in the coming year than you did in the one that is almost behind us. Be HEALTHY most of all and nurture your friends, family and loved ones in 2006.

Happy New Years to our FTLOP family!

Roy, Dorene and Taylor Hersh

Congrats Roy
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU, DORENE & TAYLOR HERSH.
Um Abraço Amigo.
/Mário Ferreira.

Thank you my friend and same to you and your family!

I congratulate you Roy.

I am just speculating, musing, and otherwise thinking out loud, but the Parker Squires BB has grown so large and topics fly by without the development of many worthy threads in depth, maybe we could have rename this BB for theloveofport, etc. and expand to have reviews of wines besides port and Madeira?

Happy New Year to everyone!

Thanks Roy for putting up that nice board of dicussion where only passionnate speak and no pollution yet to report, just amazing.

So the best in this new year to everyone on this board and many trip and tasting in this Port Country!

Thanks guy.

I think that due to the limited scope and nature of this small niche of:

a. Port
b. Madeira
c. Douro wines

that this is the reason this place stays so friendly, open, free of trouble makers etc.

If we open it up to other wines, it will lose its niche, which I rather love ... and be no different than all the others out there. I don't want this to ever turn into an Ebob/Squires', UK Wine Forum, Garr's Wine Lovers Page, Wine Spectator, Decanter, Purple Pages and so on. The mayhem would ensue and we'd lose our special small place to hang to talk about our passion for Port, Madeira and Douro wines. I'd much rather stay small than deal with the headaches.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Roy Hersh wrote:If we open it up to other wines, it will lose its niche, which I rather love ... and be no different than all the others out there. I don't want this to ever turn into an Ebob/Squires', UK Wine Forum, Garr's Wine Lovers Page, Wine Spectator, Decanter, Purple Pages and so on. The mayhem would ensue and we'd lose our special small place to hang to talk about our passion for Port, Madeira and Douro wines. I'd much rather stay small than deal with the headaches.

Roy,

Happy New Year! I absolutely agree. It is one of the reasons I enjoy visiting your excellent site in that I can focus on these areas.

Obrigado,
Nicos

I agree as well. Even though I just got here, I am finding a wealth of information that I don't think I could find anywhere else. Thanks for doing such a great job Roy.

Roy - More power to you!! Looking forward to drinking more ports in 2006.

Best, Ramon

I surrender!!! But if we open a bottle of port or madeira with some other wines at a dinner, can we mention those? Or maybe we could speak of other dessert wines?

Sure Richard, please just keep them all in one posting though.

I am not saying that as long as you mention tasting of Port/Madeira you can not comment on any other wine you consumed during the same meal or tasting.