Simon Field MW advocates Portugal’s flagship fortified wine as a sensational accompaniment to any chocolate-based indulgence this weekend may hold. Dark and bitter needs dark and sweet to temper its indulgent flavours: Port, of course, is wonderfully versatile, and Quinta do Noval’s superlative Late Bottle Vintage exemplar is a fantastic match for dark chocolate. Traditional […]

2011 is a sensational vintage in the Douro valley. I remember speaking to one of our producers in December of 2011 and remember vividly their confidence in the harvest (though cautious to point out that a declaration was not to be confirmed until 2013). Reports about the vintage have continued to be enthusiastic and the […]

As traditional and British as Berry Bros. & Rudd, Port started life as a full-bodied, dry, red wine, known in 17th century London as ‘blackstrap’. Brandy was often added to the wine by British merchants to ensure it arrived in good condition. In 1678, however, two English wine merchants visiting the Douro region found the […]

A group of five of us stayed at Quinta dos Malvedos where we enjoyed sampling many Ports and even had a hand (or foot) in helping with the 2012 harvest!  Once issued uniforms, all 5 of us and Johnny Symington stepped into the old stone lagare, full of the day’s grape collection – it’s a […]