The local produced wine was found to be a better traveller by ship when brandy was first added.The abbot of the monastery in Lamego in 1678 is credited with successfully adding brandy to wine to produce a palatable drink.

It took some 100 years later before the quality of Port reached the more refined levels that we know today.

This can mainly be credited to a young Englishman, J.J. Forrester, 
who cleverly eradicated the false customs and trade that was in existence when he arrived in Oporto.

The Portuguese government was so pleased that they later awarded him
the title of Baron.

Another person that must be mentioned is Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, who was the uncrowned “Queen of the Douro” in the 19th Century as the largest single landowner and a friend of Baron Forrester.

The Port demarcated region is in the upper Rio Douro valley.

and its tributaries almost stretching 100 Kms in total length.
The terraced vineyards are on slope that reach to about 500 mts.

The land is divided into Quintas that are private estates, many of which are owned by the old English Port Lodges located at the mouth of the 
River Douro, in the town of Vila Nova de Guia. 

This town lies on the southern riverbank and opposite the city of Oporto.

A visit to a Lodge (Port wine cellar) should be a must during your holiday as they are interesting, have lots of character within, and gives you a chance to taste some of their wine!

A Lodge may declare a particular year due to the quality found in their best wine as a “vintage”.

This may be done in a period of 18 months after harvesting the crop. It is then bottled six months later and a minimum maturity period of 15 years is then allowed. The longer the period of maturing the better will be the flavour of the Port.

It has to be noted that all “vintage” Ports need to be decanted prior to being drunk.

A "vintage" year is declared about every three to five years.

                                      Come and Try it !

“TOUR of the PORT WINE Cellars”                             
                                                      in Oporto, Portugal,
              by St. James Club (Manchester).                                                                                  

                  It was decided that we would organize a trip to Oporto, in North Portugal, to visit the Port Wine Cellars. 

                  After lengthy arrangements, eight leading members of the St James Club (Manchester), JCK Elliot, John Cardwell, Fraser Grant, Roy Ham, Peter Foden, Peter Low, Charlie Blake and John Wheelwright arrived at Manchester Airport’s Portugalia check in desk.  Unfortunately this caused the first division of the trip, as when our first member checked in we all followed on then joined him at the front of the queue, so checking eight people in one after another.           
                 After the first flight, there was a 20min wait for a short flight to Oporto.  This caused us a little distress as there was no alcohol during our wait or on the short flight to Oporto.

                    Roy Ham had arranged for Peter Evens, from www.portgolf.com 
(a mini Break \ Golf tour company) to meet us.  By this time we were in desperate in need of refreshment and Peter duly took us for lunch to a most excellent Fish Restaurant and of course we started our first sampling of Port Wine.
                   Luncheon finished at 5pm (St James’s Club time) and we finally arrived at the “English Club” – as it is known by taxi drivers - to check in at just after 5pm, in time for a short rest before we met in the club bar for dinner.
 
                  The Oporto Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club is an excellent Colonial Club with lovely club rooms and eight very nice bedrooms, some overlooking the Cricket pitch and others the Tennis courts. It had a wonderful selection of English newspapers, only 24 hours behind. 

                   Our guide collected us at 10am the following morning to do our tour of the Port Houses. We proceeded on foot and finished at Sandeman’s.
Most of the Port Houses are within walking distance on the riverside. 
After a stressful two hours of sampling the delights of Port, four of us sat in a lovely riverside café enjoying beer and lager while we waited for the other four to return from the magnificent restaurant belonging to Taylors. 
The afternoon commenced at the Port Cellars and finished up at Graham’s.
 
                  In the evening our courier had arranged for those who wanted
 to visit a nightclub, four (who shall not be named) went along to be entertained by an excellent show, which would have done justice to any of the leading Paris Nightclubs.  
    
                  The following day, a Douro Valley river cruise had been organized.  Although the ship was crowded, we managed to take over half the top deck bar and dominate the attentions of a barman for the full four hours.

                  On landing in the lovely small town of Peso da Regua, we boarded a train back to Oporto. 
 
                   Seven of us dined at the club, as due to business commitments Peter Low had to leave for Paris.  Here, as we all were sporting our club ties, we were mistaken for members of the Cambridge Union Rowing Club!!!

                   The following day we checked out and ended up having lunch at a lovely beach side restaurant before being dropped off at the airport for our return trip to Manchester. 


                   It was wonderful to have these short 3 day trips visiting other clubs and experience their wonderful hospitality.


Report: John Wheelwright, September 2004