Rise of Douro wines from Portugal has put port back in spotlight
Portugal's fortified wine vintages are still great value for money, say experts as country marks its second annual Port Wine Day and prepares for partner role in Hong Kong's International Wine and Spirits Fair
Yesterday, in Portugal’s second city of Porto, leaders of (and commentators on) the port industry gathered for Port Wine Day. The gathering included family members and rising stars from such illustrious names as Symington, Taylor, Fonseca and Niepoort.
It was the second edition of this event, now set to be held annually on 10 September – this date representing the day in 1756 on which the port-producing Alto Douro became possibly the world’s first demarcated and regulated wine region. It is a region steeped in tradition, with each bottle containing not only port, but history, too. In today’s rapidly developing global wine industry, how does a traditional style of wine, or region, maintain edge and momentum?
Some commentators suggest the finesse of the region's new wave of table wines is helped by modernising practices in port production. Others argue it is the recent raise to fame of Douro red table wine which has focused fresh attention on this beautiful grape-growing region’s port.
“There’s no doubt that Douro table wine has been one of the most exciting wines to enter the market in recent years,” says Hong Kong-based Master of Wine Debra Meiburg, adding that this success has helped to revitalise the image of port.
She says that part of the region’s march to marketing success has been the “Douro Boys”, a group of producers who travel the world together. “This group of five of the valley’s top producers bounded into our market several years ago with such genuine enthusiasm for their wines, and for each other’s success. Never have I seen winemakers so willingly say, “You like my wine? You should try my neighbour’s wine, I’ll go get you a glass.”
