Harvest Tour for European Port Lovers

[Roy Hersh]

I have posted a "sticky" on the other website, describing a tour during early October (hopefully not to overlap the Oct. 8th tasting you are organizing here) for UK and other European Port Lovers. If you have an interest, have a look, as there are more details there .

This tour is far less about commercialism (albeit it is not free ) and far more about exposing new/first timers or repeat visitors to the Douro, putting together a great visit with wines and personalities that would be next to impossible to arrange otherwise.

Just ask Derek T., Alex B., Christoper G., Andy V., Eric D and others who post here ... if they had a good time and if we delivered on all promises. One of those gents is partaking in their 3rd tour with us in two weeks, so I think they like what we can deliver.

This Harvest trip would be priced reasonably to attract a broader participation, while delivering hotels and restaurants not at a 5 star level (actually the original idea came from one of TPF leaders) but saving the 5 stars for the wines and Port trade personalities.

Respectfully,

Roy

[Alex Bridgeman]

For convenience, here is a link to the sticky.

Incidentally, I suggested to Roy that he posts a reference here to the "short visit" trip that he has mentioned. I thought that there may be some folks who are more active on this forum than on FTLOP who might be interested in what Roy is planning.

And, while I won't be going on the shortened trip as I will have used all my vacation by the end of September, I did have a fantastic time when I went over to the Douro with Roy for the 2006 harvest. In fact, I'm just re-reading the booklet on the history of Vargellas that Alastair Robertson signed and gave me on that trip. (And it was worth leaving the booklet lying around the house as my wife has now decided to buy me a bottle of Vinha Velha as my next birthday present!)

Alex

[DRT]

I have no hesitation in recommending this trip to anyone here. I attended Roy's Harvest Tour with Alex in October 2006 and the memories I will have of the places the people and the ports will live with me forever.

Having just returned from the Douro and VNG myself on a self organised trip (with help from some friends ) you might ask why I would recommend that someone should go on an organised tour?

Here are a few reasons to consider...

1. Roy has access to people, places and wines that most of us simply do not
2. Roy has Mario Ferreira by his side taking care of logistics and local issues that the uninitiated would find difficult or impossible to deal with
3. Getting around the Douro is no easy task if you are unfamiliar with the geography and there are definite benefits in having someone there to ensure you get to your destination on time
4. There is also the small matter of not having to stay sober enough to drive your hire car from one Quinta to another - not easy to acheive!
5. Not everyone would be prepared to or would enjoy travelling around these places alone. With Roy's trips you are certain to be with a number of like-minded geeks to share the experience and the memories with

For those reasons and many others I would urge people to try out one of Roy's tours at least once. You will not be sorry you did.

Derek

[Roy Hersh]

Derek and Alex,

My sincere thanks for the kind words. You've succinctly summed up the advantages as only someone who has been on both kinds of excursions, can make the comparative analysis. Although the Douro is getting friendlier for tourists, it is still light years away from what most would call "a tourist friendly destination."

I shudder to think what it would be like to drive those crazy roads (especially at night) with shear cliff drops, insane stretches of narrow and switchback roads ... all after a plethora of Port. No thanks. Derek you are a brave man for doing your own driving.

Again, thanks to you both for the props!

Roy

[DRT]

I shudder to think what it would be like to drive those crazy roads (especially at night) with shear cliff drops, insane stretches of narrow and switchback roads ... all after a plethora of Port. No thanks. Derek you are a brave man for doing your own driving.

Just in case Conky or ADV read this I would just like to say that I wash cumpleetly shober fir the eeentire trip, honesht ociffer

Derek

[Conky]

Sometimes, you HAVE to drink and drive....because you're in no state to walk!