For The Love Of Port

Hello,
My name is Colin Jewell of Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Surprisingly - I have found a bottle of Quinta Do Porto wine in my collection (Still Bottled). I purchased it from the Ferreira Winery in Portugal in 1980 or 1981. At the time I believe that the wine was already 10 years old.
Recently I am starting to learn more about Home Brewing and Wines, and I was curious about the bottle of Quinta Do Porto that I have.
The closest I could get was info on Quinta Do Crasto wines.
I have kept this bottle of wine for all these years, (not knowing why I was keeping it).
Do you have any information that I can look up about this wine and maybe the value of it ?

Colin,

There are a load of people on this forum who would be pleased to help you, but we will probably need a little more information.

For example, is there a vintage date on the label? Does the label have any description of the port? Ruby, Late Bottled Vintage etc?

Probably the best thing you can do is to type out the entire contents of the front label of the wine and then see if anyone can help - I'd be delighted to have a go.

I can tell you that Quinta do Porto is a very old vineyard, appearing in the records made of the Douro in 1757 and was/is a part of the Ferreira estate. The book I'm looking the Quinta up in was printed in 1992 and has a note that the only wine bottled under the name of Q. do Porto at that time was 10 year old tawny (there is another thread discussing 10 year old tawny wine that might be worth a read). Things might have changed in the last 10 years, but I don't know if they have.

Alex

Hi,
Thank You very much for your quick response to my post. Wow I am happy to know that someone is available for my questions.
From what I can see on the label is "Vinho Du Porto" "Garantia"
Ser # 755401 AF 24
No date to when it was bottled.
Thanks again.
Colin

Hi Colin, welcome to the board!

As Alex wrote, this is most likely to be a 10 year old Tawny Port. Does the label look anything like this:

Colin,

I would like to personally welcome you to the website FORUM. Hopefully, you will also take the time to sign up for the NEWSLETTER that is free of charge.

If you are here to find information on Port, you have come to the right place. Combined, there is probably more Port expertise with the members on this site, than anywhere outside of Oporto/Gaia and the Douro. That said, we go out of our way to encourage those new to Port and are very happy to have you join us!

The information you have provided so far is just the IVDP (Port and Douro Wine Institute) label, which is actually just a seal of approval, guaranteeing the wine has been approved by the IVDP. We;ll need the information off of the actual bottle label to be able to ensure we are accurate with the wine you have, although I believe the gents above are correct in their assumptions.

This coming Saturday will be the 18th anniversary of the Guedes' family's purchase of A.A. Fereira (Ferreirinha) which includes Quinta do Porto along with a handful of other important properties Ferreira owns. Salvador da Cunha Guedes, a charming and brilliant man, now is the head of this ancient and esteemed, family owned business. He has a group of top oenologsits overseeing the vast portfolio of companies they've purchased over the long term. My deepest respect is for Jose Maria Soares Franco who is one of the living legends of Port mastery.

Quinta do Porto is a very traditional property with one of the really old style Chapels that only a few older Quintas had built next to the farm house. It is located down river from Quinta de la Rosa and on the opposite shore from Quinta do Seixo where Ferreira has its main vinification center. Although the exact date of its establishment is unknown, I believe it to be no later than the 1780s although modern history commences when Dona Antonia Ferreira made the purchase of this quinta, in the fabulous Port vintage of 1863. The Quinta was later renovated around 1990 and now provides overnight acommodations for special guests. Antiques and artifacts abound in this quinta with some surprises too. Open the cupboard door within a plain looking upstairs bedroom and you will be standing in the gallery above the adjoining Chapel.

There are about 40 hectares with nearly 25 ha planted to grapes (approx. 92,000 vines) the majority of which are Touriga Franca and I don't believe there are any Touriga Nacional vines planted there, but Barroca, Roriz and a small assortment of others do exist. The vines average nearly 30 years in age and yield close to 100 pipes in a good year. During the crush, only a small amount of wine is foot trodden in Quinta do Porto's four lagares.

I am assuming without seeing a label, that it is a single quinta ten year old Tawny Port that you own. If that is the case, drink up as it won't ever be as good as it is today.

A piece of Port trivia is that when Phylloxera hit the Douro and was devastating the entire region, the Portuguese Commission For Phylloxera, used Quinta do Porto as its home base in the Douro. This took place circa 1870.

Lastly, when the original Douro demarcation began with the Marques de Pombal decree in 1756, a year later, one of the early stone markers that was set to "demarcate" the region, was placed on the ground where the Quinta now stands!

I hope this provides a bit more information and background for you.

Indeed, as both Steven Kooij and Roy write, Quinta do Porto is the "product brand" for "Ferreira, 10 years Old Tawny". The same way Ferreira's Duque de Brangança is the "product brand" for their 20 Yr Tawny.

So the wines are:
» Ferreira, Quinta do Porto - 10 Years Old Tawny.
» Ferreira, Duque de Brangança - 20 Years Old Tawny.

Dear Colin: please note Tawny Ports should not be keep many years inside the bottle for this wines will not improve with age once bottled.
Roy: Nice description on Quinta do Porto - the property. I enjoyed to read. Thanks.

EXCELLENT !!!!!
Wow - Thanks again Ever So much (Roy / Steven / Alex) for the GREAT information. I really enjoyed the readings.
Steven my label does not look like yours. Mine has a Black label with the insignia on it. Also the cardboard box is black also.
Anyway - I thank everyone for your comments - and Roy - I guess since the Winery will be celebrating an anniversary - I guess it is time to make a toast to their success. Thanks - maybe I'll enjoy a taste this coming Saturday.
Salut Everybody !! Thanks
Colin

Colin,

I hope you will revisit us (often) but especially after opening your bottle. We'd love to hear what your impressions are of the wine.

Best regards and don't be a stranger!