For The Love Of Port

ESSÊNCIA DO VINHO will be taking place from March 4th-7th. I was considering heading over for this in 2010, but unfortunately I have a wine judging conflict in CA, which I am committed to.

If anyone else is going to be attending, you should mention it here and hopefully a bunch of FTLOP'ers can all meet up and share in some fine Port and Douro wine!

If anyone would like to do a report with photos and TNs from their visit, that would be most appreciated.

Enjoy.

I´ll be there in the 4th of March, wich I think is the best day, to avoid it being crowded, I´ll post some pictures, thoughts and opinions...

One thing that I don´t understand is that, at the same time it will be a wine and Port fair in Algarve.

There are some Port wine makers that rather be in Algarve than in Essencia do Vinho, because the rental price for 4 days in Algarve is half the price of Essencia do Vinho.

Is this a nice way to promote portuguese wines ?

Making two fairs at the same time...

Not very good planning to have two on the same weekend. One of these years I will come over and attend this event as it looks like a really fun time. Hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

Yes, after one of Roy's trips, this looks like something on the must-do list.

This will be the seventh edition of Essencia do Vinho, 3000 wines from 350 portuguese and foreigner wine makers.

In the 4th of March, during the morning it will be judged some wines to elect the best 10 wines from Portugal and during the afternoon a vertical tasting with Moscatel de Setubal from Jose Maria da Fonseca.

In the 5th of March, to celebrate one century of the Portuguese Republic, a tasting with Port, Madeira and Moscatéis de Setúbal.
The announcement of the best 10 wines from Portugal, and the awards of the bests in 2009 wiil be hand over by the magazine WINE - essencia do vinho.
To end the day a Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial tasting.

In the 6th of March, commented tastings with great wines from Alentejo, Independent Wine Grower’s tasting, Champagnes Millésimes (with the “Master Sommelier” João Pires) and wines like Pêra Manca e Scala Coeli from Alentejo.

In the 7th of March, the most remarkable will be a VP tasting from Fonseca & Guimaraes.

Preparing myself for the painful "job" in ESSENCIA DO VINHO...

41 wines were selected by WINE magazine, and judged by a international tasting panel... the results:

º Redoma Reserva 2008, produced in the Douro Valley, was classified as the best portuguese white wine.

º Warre’s Vintage 2007, produced by Symington Family Estates, was classified as the best Port wine.

º Quinta do Crasto Vinha Maria Teresa 2007, produced in the Douro Valley by Quinta do Crasto, was classified as the best portuguese red wine.

I guess the day they ask me to participate as a judge for the Essencia do Vinho, I would then certainly attend.

Now that Jose Maria de Fonseca, Moscatel de Setubal vertical tasting almost brought tears to my eyes. I had one for my 40th birthday, a present from a friend whilst at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic in 1997. I was presented with all vintages of this between 1927 and my birth year 1957. A stellar tasting, yet a complete vertical would also have me flying to Porto, had I known.