I'm a newbie to FTLOP but I know Roy from WLTV. I've got a very tricky question about Douro wines that I can't find a concrete answer for online or in any wine reference books (like Oxford, Sotheby, etc). So I decided to come to the experts here at FTLOP to see if someone knows the answer.
My question is regarding the Quinta "A-F" classification system. I understand how it works regarding Port production (dictating permitted production and pricing for grapes, etc) but I don't know what (if any) bearing it has for producers of Douro table wines? Are there circumstances where a classified quinta is producing grapes for both Port and table wine? Are these producers under the same classification based limitations/pricing structure for grapes destined for table wine?
Any info would be appreciated. As a side (and slightly less important) question.....is there any online listing for all "A" classified quintas?
Welcome aboard and I am very pleased you have joined us here. This is a great first question and also shows the folks here, you know your stuff as well. I will give others a chance to add their impressions on some poignant topics you've raised. We've touched on the A-F and similar issues in the past, but you come at it from a different angle and it should be fun. I'll stop back later to chime in. Again, thanks for joining us at .
P.S. I am having dinner at Tarheel's home tomorrow night and bringing some fun CdPs and dessert wine to share with her and her husband. So although I've been remiss in my visits to Gary's place recently, I will do my best to find some time to stop by. You may receive an email from Andy V. who is our Forum Mod.
The system to classify the quality of the vineyards from A-F is part of a very complex system called the Beneficio that controls the volume of Port a vineyard can produce. This was introduced only for Port and focusing on the quality of Port wine only. Each year the IVDP will issue a volume of Port a vineyard can produce, the owner of the land is free to do what he wants with the remaining grapes/juice :sell it, make wine, distill it etc.
Living the dream and now working for a Port company
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