Any Experience with Garrafeira Nacional?

[Marc Sherwin]

I'm looking to buy a few bottles from this store in Portugal and having them shipped to the USA.

They were very prompt by email, etc. Just looking for anyone with good or bad experiences.

Thanks.

[João Rico]

Helo,

I personally know the owners of GN. Many people buys from them overseas as i think it's one of the few that ships worldwide.
They are really professioal and as far as i know, never heard about any problems.
Anyway, if you need of some assistance, just ring.

[Marc Sherwin]

Thank you.

Exactly the type of feedback I was looking for.

[Roy Hersh]

Not to burst the bubble as I have some wines that have come from them although I have not purchased from them directly. What has struck me at times is that their pricing seems pretty far out of whack in many cases. Outside of that, I know people who really enjoy working with them.

[Derek T.]

I often search Portuguese wine merchants on wine-searcher as the shipping cost to the UK isn't too bad and I have to agree with Roy that these guys, along with many others, set their prices way too high.

I have never used them so can't comment on service.

Derek

[Reidar Andersen]

I have used them a few times. First of all picked up bottles at their store, second picked up
bottles at different hotels i stay in Europe ( since I canot have them shipped to Norway ).

Monday I will pick up a bottle in Franfurt to bring to Norway ( in the suitcase ).

Always happy with them....

[Roy Hersh]

Reidar,

Do you find their pricing in line and that is why you use them or is it due to the fact that they have Port and/or Madeira that you can not typically find elsewhere?

[Reidar Andersen]

Roy,

Especially a few years ago their Madeira prices were so low I grabbed all the goodies in competition with Peter .

My theory for this is simple. It is 90+ % a PORT shop with lot of expertise there ( I think so, know very little about port myself ), but they were not aware of the fast rise of madeira prices the past years,

I can tell what I bought this time , not so cheap as before, but a 1846 Borges Terrantez bottled 1900
for EUR 495.... Not too bad...

Reidar

[Al B.]

I've also used GN in the past and have found them to be very reliable and have been very pleased with their service. On their pricing - I agree that generally they are very expensive, but there are hidden little nuggets on their price list from time to time where they are competitive.

Alex

[Ronald Wortel]

A little late with my reaction, but anyway: I've bought from GN a couple of times, both of the internet and in the store. I'm very happy with their service. The only thing that bugs me is that they can't seem to get themselves a properly working, fast and user-friendly internet store. Other than that, no complaints and only good service.

BTW, they have seriously decreased the prices on Douro wines, making them very competitive, even when you take shipping (to nothern Europe) into account. The port prices are often steep, but from time to time there are good offers.

[Ronald Wortel]

BTW, I tried to access their site (garrafeiranacional.com) yesterday and today and got the notification that 'the account has been suspended'... Am I the only one having trouble reaching their site, or did they forget to pay some bills...?

[Andy Velebil]

Ronald,

just tried it and its working for me.

[Glenn E.]

I had the same problem yesterday also, Ronald, but it seems to be back up and running today.

[Reidar Andersen]

I only use e-mail and drop everything else and get excellent service

[Marc Sherwin]

I did go ahead and order 8 bottles of 1952 Dalva Golden White. The price was a little high (IMHO), but I've had trouble finding this elsewhere. The order was processed and shipped promptly. Overall I'm very happy except I'm already down 3 bottles -- 1 downed by me and 2 for the bro-in-law.

Thanks for all the input.

[Roy Hersh]

Run don't hide, especially if you are in the EU where obtaining this would be much easier.

There is a 50% off sale on Warre's "Cintra" Colheita (I'm not sure why it would have this designation). But the price has been slashed to 135 Euros, which is a real steal of a deal for a bottle that old.