Listen to wine industry veteran Joe Janish discuss the “insider” secrets of the wine business in the Inside Wine Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you hear your podcasts.
Port comes in many styles, but Vintage Port sits at the pinnacle — but it isn’t made every year. In this episode, Adrian Bridge of Taylor Fladgate explains what it means to “declare” a Vintage Port, how houses decide whether a year is worthy, and what all this has to do with St. George. You’ll also hear how fortification works, the importance of the otherwise “neutral” grape spirit, what separates a classic declaration from Single Quinta and other vintage-dated bottlings, and you’ll get a few unexpected food-pairing ideas. If you ever wanted to know how Port wine is made and why it can last for decades, then this is the episode for you. SPOILER ALERT: 2024 is a declared vintage for Port!
Key Topics
- When to drink classic Vintage Port
- Why you’d want to buy a Vintage Port on release, rather than later.
- How the declaration process works.
- What you can expect from 2024 vintage Port.
- Why the declaration is made on St. George’s Day.
- What foods you can pair with Vintage Port.
Key Takeaways
- “Declared” means a house has chosen to release a classic Vintage Port from a specific year
- Vintage Port is rare. (~1.5% of total Port production—small volume, highest prestige)
- Vintage Port is built to age. (50–60+ years in good storage)
- Fortification is key to Port’s style.
- The declaration decision takes time, and it happens on St. George’s Day.
Connect with Adrian Bridge
- Taylor Fladgate website: https://www.taylor.pt/
- Taylor Fladgate Instagram: @taylorsportwine (https://www.instagram.com/taylorsportwine/)
Learn more about wine in general at https://Wine365.com
