Douro terroir in the glass

David Guimarãens is head of winemaking for the Fladgate Partnership and oversees the winemaking and viticulture teams of Taylor’s, Fonseca, Croft and Delaforce port houses.

 

On average three port vintages are declared in a decade, though there isn’t always unanimity among the shippers. 1991 and 1992 for example were split vintages, with some houses declaring the one, and some favouring the other. Port grapes have traditionally been bought in from many different estates across the Douro region, so classic vintage ports tend to reflect vintage, and the style and wine-making tradition of a particular house, rather than focusing on...