For The Love Of Port

The famed Quinta do Noval Nacional certainly is the most well-known single vineyard designated Vintage Port. This is a practice that is very popular in the USA, Germany, France, Italy and other wine growing regions of the world.

Typically, Ports and Douro wines are labeled by their producer and often times a single Quinta name. However, there are less than a dozen single vineyard Vintage Ports that would be known to most Port drinkers.

As the frequency of non-generally-declared vintages takes place in the years to come, now that the tide has swung with the plethora of SQVPs which rarely follow the old traditional ways of declaring ... do you think we will see more Single Vineyard bottlings of Vintage Port in the future?

I'd imagine that we will see more single vineyard VP in the years to come. In fact, I would be amazed if we didn't see a large increase in the SQSVVPs available for purchase in the near to medium future.

I suspect the answer to this question is yes, but it does make me wonder what te definition of a "single vineyard" is. In practical terms it is obviously the grapes grown in a particular area of land within a quinta but I do not think there are any regulations around this area and therefore the designation of what constitues "the vineyard" could vary from year to year.

I wonder if the increased incidence of these wines will lead to regulation being introduced that is similar to that which defines SQVPs?

Derek,

When you guys check out Quinta do Crasto, you will see the clear delineation of Vinha da Ponte and Maria Teresa vineyards. The same can be said for the 2.5 ha of Nacional. There are quite a few others that fit the same mold. I don't think there will need to be any immediate IVDP regulations for this.

Personally, i believe that with the increase in block planting of varieties, that once that gains even more traction than it has in the past 10-15 years, owners will start to name their vineyards and market their table wines with these names. Whether that transpires with VP is exactly why I asked the question to begin with. I have opinions on that too, but am here to hear yours and others.

Block planting could slow SQVP's if blends are required to make the final product. Brands that are not restricted to block planting may push the SQVP's.

Single vineyard wines seem to be the wave of the future, if only because that allows for more "cult" wines to be created. Cult wines generate more profit per bottle, so that's where the money is in the long run.

I don't like it, though, as it fractures the market. For me, buying wine is a complete crap shoot because I only rarely even recognize the winery, let alone the specific vineyard. The plethora of brands screaming for attention means that none of them get any.

I think the IVdP should grandfather in any existing single vineyard brands, then prohibit the practice. The proliferation of SQVP over the next couple of decades will fracture the market enough... we really don't need single vineyard Ports making it even worse.

Moses,

Can you think of any SQVPs that are restricted to block planting?

Single vineyard wines seem to be the wave of the future, if only because that allows for more "cult" wines to be created. Cult wines generate more profit per bottle, so that's where the money is in the long run.

Glenn,

You are correct that cult wines do generate more profit on a per bottle basis. But that is not where the money is in the long run. If the current economic situation has taught collectors anything ... it is that when the market implodes, the cult mailing lists slow down dramatically and overall, the cult sales plummet, at least for the near term. The key to consistent success is in developing strong brands that sell in quantity at reasonable prices. E.g. Although the 2007 Fonseca Vintage Port may be great and sell well, it is what drives the reputation of the brand. The cash cow on the other hand is the Bin 27 with mega quantities of cases sold.

Developing sustainable growth is the mantra for the Port trade and it can't happen without the lower and middle tier categories of Port. Of course they are made far more popular due to the image created by the premium Port categories. Now back to Single Vineyard designations of Vintage Port.

Roy Hersh wrote:Moses,

Can you think of any SQVPs that are restricted to block planting?

No, that is my point. Block planting and SQVP's are at odd's.

I understand but don't agree. Plenty of SQVPs have grapes included from their property that do come from parcels with block planting and just as one example: Quinta do Noval ... however, QdN and others just are not "restricted" to solely using those grapes and have field blends too.

Roy Hersh wrote:I understand but don't agree.

however, QdN and others just are not "restricted" to solely using those grapes and have field blends too.

If they were restricted, that would be the issue.

My answer to the question is yes, sure.

What we have been stating in the last years in the Douro is the eruption of many very small producers specializing in premium and top premium still wines while making also some bottles of Vintage Port. They have small parcels of vines and the strategy is to market those bottles at a high price. Douro wines are receiving some very positive attention and recommendations and "a rising tide lifts all boats". Probably same few brands will not need it to sell more bottles but if SQVP in the label sells more...