Wojciech Bońkowski
Master of Wine

Andresen: a century of great tawny port

Andresen: a very confidential port house, with some real aces up their sleeve.

Krohn: the kings of Colheita port

Vertical of Krohn Colheita 2003–1961: among the very best tawny port money can buy.

In Portugal (7): Vale Dona Maria: First among equals

Blogging from the Douro valley, part 6. My favourite red Douro wine has long been Quinta do Vale Dona Maria, and I visit the winery to find out why it’s so good. The answer?

In Portugal (6): Vallado: Leaps and bounds

Blogging from the Douro valley, part 5. I stay at the 18th-century Quinta do Vallado where owner Francisco Ferreira and winemaker Xito Olazabal have been making qualitative leaps and bounds.

In Portugal (4): Burmester: Time goes by

Live blogging from the Douro valley, part 4. Douro wines are great but let’s not forget what made this region famous: port. In a memorable tasting I go back to the 1957 vintage of this majestic wine at Burmester, a historical house.

In Portugal (3): Vale Meão: the new frontier

Live blogging from the Douro valley, part 3. Douro Superior is the Next Big Thing. Vale Meão, founded the 1877 by the famous Antónia Adelaide Ferreira and still run by her descendants, already makes great wines here, and everybody else is trying to follow.

In Portugal (2): Crasto photos

Live blogging from the Douro valley, part 2. My best photos of Quinta do Crasto.