Lots of new faces ... please introduce yourself

[Roy Hersh]

Thomas,

Nice to have you join us too. Glad to hear that you've decided to post and have enjoyed your time here on

I am sure you had a great first trip and will guarantee that you will love the Douro region. Have a look at this section of our Forum to find great travel info and the names of small quintas to visit:
http://www.fortheloveofport.com/ftlopfo ... um.php?f=3

We have some folks from the Port trade who have small quintas that you could arrange visits with. Tell them you are from FOR THE LOVE OF PORT and they'll take good care of you. You have to check out Quevedo and Oscar is a regular here on FTLOP.

Welcome home!

Roy

[Jonathan S]

Marcel, Thomas, and Chris...

Welcome to FTLOP! I think you are going to feel at home here.

[Andy Velebil]

Thomas,

and glad you have now joined us here on the forum. I'm sure you'll be able to set up some visits to smaller properties up in the Douro. My only advice is it takes twice as long as you think to get anywhere. So don't try to do too much in one day. take your time and keep it to a max of 2 visits per day to enjoy the scenery. What may make things hard is you'll be there during harvest time next month. There is a lot of big trucks on narrow steep roads, so be careful if your driving around yourselves. Harvest also presents a problem as the producers are very busy with harvest activities, so setting up visits this time of year can be difficult. But check out Fonseca's Panascal, and Sandeman's Seixo. Both are open to visitors and are a fun visits.

Please do let us know how things progress and how they go once you get back.

[Daniel R.]

Hi, my name is Daniel, 35 years old, and even though I was born in the US and now live in Lisbon, I went to school in Porto and most of my family lives there.

At my parents' house a bottle of Colheita was opened at every event (Xmas, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.) and "amalgamation port" was almost always drunk at the club. However, only since I have started to buy port have I been more interested in all things port. I think I stumbled upon this site accidentally and have been a reader for about a month before registering.

My main interest is learning more and improving my collection. It might seem a paradox but port is frustratingly difficult to buy in Portugal...

I have been very impressed with the level of knowledge discussed here and hope to able to contribute!

Daniel

[Andy Velebil]

Daniel,
to the site and I am glad you have signed up and introduced yourself. I look forward to your involvement here on .

Several of us know what you mean when it's difficult trying to buy Ports in Portugal. Between high prices and often poor storage by wine merchants, it's not as easy as it seems. But there are good deals to be had and some really good smaller producers that are only available in-country.

Again, welcome and I hope you enjoy your stay here.

[Glenn E.]

Hi Daniel, welcome to !

It can definitely be frustrating trying to buy Port in Portugal if you don't have connections. But there are a couple of places that are very good, with both excellent selection and good prices. Sadly the only store I know of in Lisbon is Garrafeira Nacional, and while their selection is outstanding their prices are relatively high.

[Roy Hersh]

Hi Daniel,

I have found that the Lisboa wine shops do a great job with Port and especially a couple with "downstairs" stashes of their top Ports where they'll let you look around.

What part of the USA are you from originally.

Welcome here to and thanks for joining us. Glad you've liked what you've seen. I hope that at some point while in Portugal we get to meet and share some really fine Port wine!

Enjoy your time here and please do feel free to ask questions or include your opinions on anything we're discussing!

[Daniel R.]

Thanks Roy!

I was born in Madison, Wisconsin where my father was doing his PhD in Biotechnology in the early 70s.

Daniel

[Todd Pettinger]

Not "new" per se, but I have been AWOL long enough for several, including Roy to be pinging me with "WTF are you?" emails... :) I guess that means that at the very least, I was somewhat cherished for my comedic value... or perhaps that is also just me dreaming...

For those that are "new" in the past year or so, I am Todd... Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the original home to insane Port prices... If you have delved deep enough into the archives, I am sure you'll find a post or two (thousand) as I have been known to go on, ad naseum, about certain topics. Used to hang out here very regularly, now I see a bunch of new names, thousands of un-read new postings, and feel like the new guy. Have been also working out quite a but recently, to get back into fighting shape... Probably not doing enough of what we all here would consider "proper lifting"...

For those that don't know me, I work in IT, currently in the Security industry. It is interesting work and has taken me out of being an IT guy in the telecom industry, which has fallen on hard times in Canada. I am hoping this new job will give me more "free time" in the evenings and weekends to do what I enjoy, which is hang out here, with my Port-geek friends and share my enjoyment with youa ll about this fine beverage!

Have had the pleasure of drinking with several from this site, including Roy, Moses and Sean C.

Happy to be back on

Todd

[Moses Botbol]

Welcome "back". You got a lot of drinking to catch up on! You're lucky to be employed in this climate in IT! Do you plan any Boston trips any time soon?

[Todd Pettinger]

Hey Moses!
Yeah, it was definitely not without trepidation and much research and thought before I jumped ship. Nothing is planned for Boston-area in the nea future, but the training requirements are substantial with the new company, so nothing is ruled out. Rochester, NY may be something coming down the pipe. Washington DC is also another possibility. We shall see... and if I do get out that way... PortOrgy Part II will definitely be something we have to hook up for! :)

[Andy Velebil]

Todd,
It's great to have you back with us, you've been missed for sure. I am even happier to hear about the new job and how well it is going. You know who to call if your travels take you to the western part of the USA. Now, since you've got all that cash you've hid from your wife these past months I hope the cellar has grown Oh, and for your pentence....I expect full tasting notes on all those bottles you drank since you've been gone

[Roy Hersh]

Todd who?



Oh, there he is!

Bienvenue mon ami.

[Luc Gauthier]

Todd , oh yah that Edmonton fellow who rides a bicycle once in while
Your long winded expose's on significant subjects were ahhhh

À ta santé

[Roy Hersh]

With over 2000 people signed up and reading the Forum ... or better known as "lurkers" it would be great if some of the people who have been long time readers here, would introduce themselves, even if they are not going to be active participants. It would be nice to get to know some of the new folks who are enjoying reading here and hopefully by introducing themselves, it will become easier to take the leap of faith and become more active "posters" in the future.

I promise we'll make you feel very

[Markus D.]

Hi everyone,

I'm a young (25) professional from Vancouver and though enjoy all sorts of wine, Port is definitely my favourite. I've been enjoying it for about two years now (mainly LBV, Colheitas and Tawnys) and definitely looking to get into some good VPs. Unfortunately, being from Canada certainly adds a premium to purchasing many bottles - seeing US wine and VP prices results in complete jealousy. I'm planning a trip to Oporto this November and looking to get the full Port experience there! As well, I'm looking to get involved in any local tastings (including Seattla area on the weekends). That's all about me. Nice to meet everyone.

[Roy Hersh]

Hi Markus,

Thanks for the intro and to !

I head up to Vancouver at least once a year and ALWAYS for the Playhouse International Wine Festival. You may overpay for VP up there (although I bought a great 1977 Gould Mag last year) but the insanely great selection you guys get of Douro wines (mostly imported by Seacove's Jack Segal) makes what comes here to the USA look paltry. Keep an eye open for frequent Port tastings here in Seattle. We are a friendly crew and a top 5 market in the country (for Port) which is amazing given the small size of this burg. I look forward to meeting you at some point and sharing some fun bottles.

Nice to have you here!

[Markus D.]

Hi Roy,

The Playhouse International Wine Festival is probably my favourite week of the year! A Port tasting trip to Seattle would be great - I'll keep my eyes open. Out of curiosity, do you have any preferred shops to pick up Port when in Vancouver?

[Andy Velebil]

Markus,

to the FTLOP forum and thanks for the introduction. I finally got to meet Jack Segal in June of this year. But not in Canada, in Pinhao during a boat ride on the Douro. We chatted for some time and he sure has his pulse on finding good Douro dry wines for your area. There are also some members here from your neck of the woods so hopefully at some point you can meet up with them. Just watch out for those Seattle folk, they'll drink all your Port

I hope you have a great trip to Portugal!

[Eric Menchen]

Welcome Markus, and enjoy your trip!

...Unfortunately, being from Canada certainly adds a premium to purchasing many bottles - seeing US wine and VP prices results in complete jealousy.

Well, those of us in the US are completely jealous of the UK prices, so we can empathize a bit there.