Vintage Report

1995 Vintage Report

A winter of average rainfall (9.53 in) followed by a heatwave in the early spring brought the vegetation of the vines in the Douro region well forward by the end of April.

On the night of 27th April the temperatures changed abruptly and a severe frost eliminated a large percentage of Portugal’s Table Wine production.

Fortunately in the Douro region, only the Table Wine vineyards above 500 metres of altitude were affected. The Port Wine vineyards below that altitude escaped unscathed and a warm flowering period in May produced a healthy crop of grapes.

The summer started cool but by the middle of July the Douro temperature was consistently up to normal for the season. Although rain came to the coastal region of Northern Portugal during the first week of August, it did not reach the Douro in sufficient quantity to swell the grapes and soften the skins for final maturity.

A blistering heatwave during the last fortnight of August started to turn the Tinta Baroca grape variety (an early maturer) to raisins and the decision was taken by most of the upper Douro “Vintage” vineyards to commence the Vintage.

Picking at AGUA ALTA started on September 4th. In view of the large crop of grapes, the production was above average even though the yield was low. By the middle of that week the night temperature dropped significantly and ood conditions prevailed during the rest of the Vintage. The “Lagares” (fermentation tanks) took a great deal of work and the fermentations were long and even.

At this stage, it is too early to pronounce on the quality of the 1995. All that can be said is that the colour and aroma of the wines are good and that they are analytically sound. Only after the young Ports have “closed up” during the cold winter months will it be possible to assess their real potential.

John L. Graham

Vila Nova de Gaia, 30th September 1995