Winter is approaching quickly at the same pace that days get shorter. Temperatures in the Douro have been barely positive, which is quite normal for the season. Usually, at this time of the year rains often. Once or twice a week I would READ MORE

Dear reader, we are in process of refreshing our blog and would love to use photos from you that you took when you visited us. We can’t promise to use all the photos you send, but in case we use any, we do READ MORE

Few weeks before staring the harvest back in 2011 we were quite confident that the grapes were in very good conditions to make something good. Then, when the grapes were already at the winery and fermenting, our expectations about an excellent vintage were READ MORE

During this last week I have been actively participating at the For the Love of Port forum. I was answering questions and comments at the Guest Corner, a section of the forum that from time to time brings someone from the Port trade READ MORE

Last week I was in London for the London International Wine Fair, a wine trade exhibition that is declining in interest but which is still visited by some clients and friends. So, there we were. I had a dinner on one of the READ MORE

We all know that the current economic situation is not as favorable as we would hope. Private and public consumption is weak; families, companies and Governments are all over indebted. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) if growing is moving at a very low READ MORE

Quick update about the weather situation in the Douro. After a long period of sunshine and clear sky, clouds came back to the desperate-for-water Douro valley and gave us some relief. The situation looks a bit better now, with April presenting 2/3 long-term READ MORE

Editor’s note: The article you find underneath was written by a friend, Monique de Jager, a friend from Holland that spent a week in the Douro last September, for the harvest. I challenged Monique to share her experience and here it is. If you READ MORE

Christmas is gone, but lets go back for the gifts Santa brought over, not this year but a couple of years ago, in 2010, when I received Oz Clarke’s Wine Atlas. Though it was my preferred gift of that Christmas, I had it READ MORE

1. 2012 should start with 5cm of snow in January, painting everything of white 2. a very cold February, to help wines to clarify 3. sunshiny March so blooming almond trees will look gorgeous 4. rainy April, creating enough reserves of water in READ MORE