For The Love Of Port

Is the Fonseca Guimaraens bottling officially considered a SQVP or a VP?

Kurt,

Guimaraens is not a SQVP. The Fonseca website (http://www.fonseca.pt) describes it as:

In years when Fonseca does not ‘declare’ a classic vintage, it selects the finest grapes from its own vineyards to yield a small quantity of this superb wine, which is produced exactly as a declared Fonseca Vintage. Beautifully structured and perfectly balanced, Guimaraens Vintage Ports show Fonseca’s superb marriage of power and breed in a slightly lighter, earlier-maturing style.

Fonseca make a SQVP from their top Quinta - Panascal

Derek

Thanks for the info Derek.

Hi Kurt,

To further elaborate:

There must be a Quinta along with vineyards in order for their to be a SQVP from a property. No Quinta name, no SQVP. Fonseca uses at least 3 of their own properties, plus they buy grapes/juice from private growers to make the Guimaraens cuvee that winds up as Vintage Port. It is a "second label" for lack of a better term. There are single vineyard and have even been single grape Vintage Ports too, but that is an entirely different fish to fry.