For The Love Of Port

All,

I am heading to Porto this week. It's not my first trip. However, I was looking for information on new information on tastings and warehouse visits from anybody who's visited in the last few months.

I usually hit the strip and a few of my favorite wine shops. On this trip, I am looking to purchase some good vintage/tawny ports for the cellar and a good collection of drinkable ruby's.


Thanks.

Lou

Lou,

Generally speaking you're better off buying Port in the US than in Portugal. Prices for most Port are cheaper here than in the homeland. Of course, if what you want to buy isn't available in the US, then you may not have a better option.

Since you mentioned drinkable rubies, though, I'm guessing that you're just looking to stock up on fairly standard stuff. I recommend using wine-searcher.com to find a mail order place in the US for that kind of Port.

Make sure you stop at Vinologia in Porto while you're there and say 'hi' to Goncalo Devesas! He can probably get you those oddities that you can't find in the US, so send him a PM before you leave so that he can start searching.

Lou,

Glenn's advice is sound. The prices in Oporto are generally crazy when compared with US retail prices and are even worse if, like me, you normally pay UK prices.

That said, I did visit one small shop at street level on the Ribeira near the Porto Cruz bar/restaurant that had a good selection at a semi-reasonable price. They seem to really look after their bottles and kept them cool, lying down and hidden away. Many places in Oporto seem to think nothing of having their bottles standing up in the window and then expect you to pay 3 times the normal price

The shop I am talking about is known to some others here so hopefully someone else (Andy? Roy?) will chime in and tell you the name of the place and exactly where it is.

Enjoy your trip!

Derek

Derek T. wrote:The shop I am talking about is known to some others here so hopefully someone else (Andy? Roy?) will chime in and tell you the name of the place and exactly where it is.

Are you talking about the AVEPOD shop? Map here, and Fred has a photo album here. This looks like a good read on the subject too: http://www.fortheloveofport.com/roys-bl ... -in-oporto

Lou,

Thirty years ago I was in the MI Advanced Course at Fort Huachuca with John Frketic (and a few others). Are you related?

No apologies for the thread drift.

Gary Banker

Gary,

Yeah, no problem. I am his son. He's also a big port fan, not sure if you guys ever had a drink together.

If you want, I can try to pass along your information or a 'hello'. Good to hear from you.

Lou

Eric Menchen wrote:

Derek T. wrote:The shop I am talking about is known to some others here so hopefully someone else (Andy? Roy?) will chime in and tell you the name of the place and exactly where it is.

Are you talking about the AVEPOD shop? Map here, and Fred has a photo album here. This looks like a good read on the subject too: http://www.fortheloveofport.com/roys-bl ... -in-oporto

Pretty sure Derek is familiar with AVEPOD. I think he's actually referring to the other shop mentioned in the article you linked:

Azeitoneira do Porto
Cais da Ribeira #36
azeitoneiradoporto@gmail.com
(+351) 222 007 303

As I recall it's not too far from the Pestana Porto along the waterfront toward Pont Dom Luis I.

Edit: Just googled the address, and my memory was correct. In fact, there's a Google Street View picture taken right outside the entrance. Click on "street view" and then pan a little to the left to see the shop's sign. If you pan all the way around to face West, the yellow building in the medium distance is the Pestana Porto.

That's the one!

I was pretty close with my Porto Cruz clue

Lou Frketic wrote:Gary,

Yeah, no problem. I am his son. He's also a big port fan, not sure if you guys ever had a drink together.

If you want, I can try to pass along your information or a 'hello'. Good to hear from you.

Lou

Wow, what a small world it is when our little forum has led to this old connection.