The 10th Birthday, Tuesday 20 June 2017

Post by **flash_uk** » 16:22 Sun 06 Mar 2016

10 years ago

was born. Shouldn't we celebrate this birthday?

Please suggest ideas for a suitable theme.

Edit: got the date wrong in the title, now corrected to the 20th

Doggett · Post by **Doggett** » 17:00 Sun 06 Mar 2016

I would love to be involved in this celebration...although I am sure that many others would too, and having only joined in the tenth year...I would understand if places were prioritised for longer serving members.

In terms of what the theme would be... We are celebrating a 'decade', so maybe great/classic bottles from each decade. That or trying to get bottles from 1917, '27, '37, '47, '57, '67, '77', '87', '97, 2007 and some 2015 bottled in 2017. If some years prove tricky for a quality VP or two then a colheita may do the job.

Whatever is decided, I am sure it will be a magnificent tasting or tastings to celebrate.

Simon

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:56 Sun 06 Mar 2016

Yes please.

FYI, second anniversary celebration.

Post by **PhilW** » 22:07 Sun 06 Mar 2016

20th June might be too close to Festa de São João (23rd) and TPF cricket match (21st) for a UK based anniversary on that date, if the latter especially goes ahead.

Post by **flash_uk** » 10:45 Mon 07 Mar 2016

PhilW wrote:20th June might be too close to Festa de São João (23rd) and TPF cricket match (21st) for a UK based anniversary on that date, if the latter especially goes ahead.

Perhaps the anniversary should take place in Oporto?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 15:55 Tue 08 Mar 2016

There are plenty of places we would be able to use in Oporto to host a TPF celebration. I'm happy to help the organiser get things set up. A celebration in Oporto does sound like a very fine idea with cricket match and Sao Joao following closely behind.

Post by **DRT** » 09:46 Wed 09 Mar 2016

Yes please.

I agree with Alex that he should be the organiser

CPR 1 · Post by **CPR 1** » 19:07 Sun 13 Mar 2016

Count me in please where ever this event is happening......

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 12:48 Tue 04 Oct 2016

Also haven't yet put my name down for this-now rectified!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 18:39 Fri 13 Jan 2017

'Kay people, I have been busy looking into options. I'm thinking of celebrating our anniversary in Oporto in June.

In the unlikely event that everything I have asked to be made available to us is, and we decide to do everything, the cost before flights and hotel accommodation could be rather expensive.

But for this, we would get:
- drinks reception and guided tour of the Factory House
- lunch at Vinum
- buffet dinner at the Yeatman (with as much buffet port as you can drink, within reason; last year's buffet port was Morgan 1977) on the evening of Sao Joao and a spot on their balcony to watch the fireworks on Fri 23rd June
- a good view of the Barco Rabello race on the morning of Sat 24th June
- the opportunity to attend (as a spectator) the induction ceremony of the Confraria do Vinho do Porto in Oporto's Palacio de Bolsa at which the new Cavaleiros are welcomed on Sat 24th June
- a seat at The Port Forum table at the Confraria dinner and dance following the induction ceremony

It's unlikely that we'll be offered everything that we ask for, but could anyone interested given what I've outlined above please let me know either in this thread or by PM. Incidentally, other halves would be welcome - my wife has said that if she's not going then I'm not going

If anyone is interested and wants more details, PM me.

Post by **flash_uk** » 20:08 Fri 13 Jan 2017

Permission will be requested. Count me in assuming affirmative on permission.

CPR 1 · Post by **CPR 1** » 20:36 Fri 13 Jan 2017

Yes please, I am in

Do the festivities start on the 20th or earlier?

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 21:11 Fri 13 Jan 2017

I haven't even paused to reconsider- I'm simply hitting the 'yes' button

Weird thing is I was thinking just earlier of posting for an update of where we were on this tasting.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 23:36 Fri 13 Jan 2017

CPR 1 wrote:Yes please, I am in

Do the festivities start on the 20th or earlier?

It is likely to depend on what is available when. I suspect that a full itinerary - if we're lucky enough to be able to organise it - will start on Wed June 21st and finish at about 4am on Sun Jun 25th.

I've just been able to add a private guided tour of one of the port lodges to the itinerary.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 00:02 Sat 14 Jan 2017

I should also add that anyone who is a member of the port forum at the time of this post is welcome to express an interest in joining. Places are limited so if we become oversubscribed I will prioritise offers of places to people with the longest active membership, but I'll also take into account how quickly people expressed an interest.

forest26 · Post by **forest26** » 07:33 Mon 16 Jan 2017

yes please count me in

Post by **PhilW** » 11:09 Mon 16 Jan 2017

Alex, I've sent you an email.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 13:19 Mon 16 Jan 2017

AHB wrote: ↑18:39 Fri 13 Jan 2017 'Kay people, I have been busy looking into options. I'm thinking of celebrating our anniversary in Oporto in June.

In the unlikely event that everything I have asked to be made available to us is, and we decide to do everything, the cost before flights and hotel accommodation could be rather expensive.

But for this, we would get:
- drinks reception and guided tour of the Factory House
- lunch at Vinum
- buffet dinner at the Yeatman (with as much buffet port as you can drink, within reason; last year's buffet port was Morgan 1977) on the evening of Sao Joao and a spot on their balcony to watch the fireworks on Fri 23rd June
- a good view of the Barco Rabello race on the morning of Sat 24th June
- the opportunity to attend (as a spectator) the induction ceremony of the Confraria do Vinho do Porto in Oporto's Palacio de Bolsa at which the new Cavaleiros are welcomed on Sat 24th June
- a seat at The Port Forum table at the Confraria dinner and dance following the induction ceremony

It's unlikely that we'll be offered everything that we ask for, but could anyone interested given what I've outlined above please let me know either in this thread or by PM. Incidentally, other halves would be welcome - my wife has said that if she's not going then I'm not going

If anyone is interested and wants more details, PM me.

I've been advised that because of tide timings, the Confraria ceremony and dinner will be the evening of June 22 as it was not possible to hold the boat race and Confraria ceremony on the same day. This change of timing has also meant that Mrs B will not be able to accompany me.
The time table is therefore likely to be:
21st June - hopefully drinks reception at the Factory House
22nd June - Confraria ceremony and dinner
23rd June - dinner before Sao Joao street party and fireworks
24th June - Sao Joao barco rabelo race
With a tour of one of the lodges thrown in for good measure at one point.

Axel P · Post by **Axel P** » 22:09 Mon 16 Jan 2017

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 18:54 Thu 19 Jan 2017

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 23:35 Sun 19 Feb 2017

Have I missed this boat?* I was unable to commit previously but I discover now that I'm on annual leave for the whole of June, prior to terminating my contract. I have a couple of engagements the following week (speaking at a conference, pouring gargantuan quantities of liquor down the throats of everybody who's put up with me in Ireland for the last quarter of a century), but it seems these dates are free for me. I consulted with my player's agent, Mr Turnbull, this evening, and he thinks it would be a good pre-season fixture for me.

*I should point out that I don't want to get on a boat.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:04 Wed 22 Feb 2017

djewesbury wrote: ↑23:35 Sun 19 Feb 2017 Have I missed this boat?* I was unable to commit previously but I discover now that I'm on annual leave for the whole of June, prior to terminating my contract. I have a couple of engagements the following week (speaking at a conference, pouring gargantuan quantities of liquor down the throats of everybody who's put up with me in Ireland for the last quarter of a century), but it seems these dates are free for me. I consulted with my player's agent, Mr Turnbull, this evening, and he thinks it would be a good pre-season fixture for me.

*I should point out that I don't want to get on a boat.

We are still flexible on numbers as I have not yet had to commit to final numbers. You will certainly be welcome for dinner on the Wednesday, hopefully for dinner on Thursday (Thursday's dinner being one where we have to have combinations of multiples of 8 or 10) and should be able to join us for dinner on Friday night. Assume you're in and book your flight and hotel now!

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 20:38 Wed 22 Feb 2017

OK.. I'm onto it...!!

forest26 · Post by **forest26** » 16:46 Mon 27 Feb 2017

PM sent - Everything booked. Looking forward.

Deleted_User_1 · Post by **Deleted_User_1** » 08:43 Fri 10 Mar 2017

I believed I had signed up for this but it appears not...I was sure it was arranged through another thread relating to a cricket match or is my memory playing tricks.

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 00:58 Sat 11 Mar 2017

I've booked flights and can't wait!

Deleted_User_1 · Post by **Deleted_User_1** » 09:23 Wed 15 Mar 2017

Cookie wrote: ↑08:43 Fri 10 Mar 2017 I believed I had signed up for this but it appears not...I was sure it was arranged through another thread relating to a cricket match or is my memory playing tricks....I did mean to add...if there is space could I be included please.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 09:30 Wed 15 Mar 2017

Can I check that I have the correct list of people who have either replied in post or have replied to me by email as wanting to participate in our anniversary party on Wednesday night. I'm about to start committing to spend (and therefore collect) money.

AHB - Wednesday to Saturday am
MPM - Tuesday to Sunday
CPR - Tuesday to Sunday
IDJ - Tuesday to Sunday
JDAW - Wednesday to Saturday
TC - Tuesday to Sunday with +1 from Friday pm
AP - Wednesday only
CMAG - to be confirmed
ADV - Tuesday to Sunday
DRT - Tuesday to Sunday
WS1 - Wednesday only
DJ - to be confirmed
RLC - to be confirmed
PW - tentative

I am only organising Wednesday night (dinner), Thursday afternoon and evening (Confraria ceremony and dinner) and Friday night (buffet dinner and fireworks display). You're on your own apart from that but I would be more than happy to give pointers to fun things to do while in Oporto / the Douro Valley.

Deleted_User_1 · Post by **Deleted_User_1** » 10:02 Wed 15 Mar 2017

AHB wrote: ↑09:30 Wed 15 Mar 2017 Can I check that I have the correct list of people who have either replied in post or have replied to me by email as wanting to participate in our anniversary party on Wednesday night. I'm about to start committing to spend (and therefore collect) money.
AHB - Wednesday to Saturday am

MPM - Tuesday to Sunday

CPR - Tuesday to Sunday

IDJ - Tuesday to Sunday

JDAW - Wednesday to Saturday

TC - Tuesday to Sunday with +1 from Friday pm

AP - Wednesday only

CMAG - to be confirmed

ADV - Tuesday to Sunday

DRT - Tuesday to Sunday

WS1 - Wednesday only

DJ - to be confirmed

RAYC - to be confirmed

PW - tentative
I am only organising Wednesday night (dinner), Thursday afternoon and evening (Confraria ceremony and dinner) and Friday night (buffet dinner and fireworks display). You're on your own apart from that but I would be more than happy to give pointers to fun things to do while in Oporto / the Douro Valley.

Alex could you confirm if RAYC is me or Rob...if it is me I need to book flights ASAP.

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 13:22 Wed 15 Mar 2017

Alex,

Reconfirming albeit Charles,Tony and I are heading out on the Monday.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 18:21 Wed 15 Mar 2017

Cookie wrote: ↑10:02 Wed 15 Mar 2017Alex could you confirm if RAYC is me or Rob...if it is me I need to book flights ASAP.

Whoops. RLC it is. I will correct.

Post by **DRT** » 19:11 Wed 15 Mar 2017

AHB wrote: ↑09:30 Wed 15 Mar 2017 Can I check that I have the correct list of people who have either replied in post or have replied to me by email as wanting to participate in our anniversary party on Wednesday night. I'm about to start committing to spend (and therefore collect) money.
AHB - Wednesday to Saturday am

MPM - Tuesday to Sunday

CPR - Tuesday to Sunday

IDJ - Tuesday to Sunday

JDAW - Wednesday to Saturday

TC - Tuesday to Sunday with +1 from Friday pm

AP - Wednesday only

CMAG - to be confirmed

ADV - Tuesday to Sunday

DRT - Tuesday to Sunday

WS1 - Wednesday only

DJ - to be confirmed

RLC - to be confirmed

PW - tentative
I am only organising Wednesday night (dinner), Thursday afternoon and evening (Confraria ceremony and dinner) and Friday night (buffet dinner and fireworks display). You're on your own apart from that but I would be more than happy to give pointers to fun things to do while in Oporto / the Douro Valley.

I am Wednesday to Friday. I will be at the two dinners but not the boat race or Festival event at the Yeatman.

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 09:01 Thu 16 Mar 2017

Sorry Phil, your tentative has turned into first reserve since Tom has now confirmed he will attend at least the Wednesday night dinner.

AHB - Wednesday to Saturday am
MPM - Tuesday to Sunday
CPR - Monday to Sunday
IDJ - Monday to Sunday
JDAW - Wednesday to Saturday
TC - Monday to Sunday with +1 from Friday afternoon
AP - Wednesday dinner only
CMAG - Wednesday night confirmed, Thursday and Friday tbc
ADV - Wednesday to Sunday
DRT - Wednesday and Thursday dinners only
WS1 - Wednesday dinner only
DJ - to be confirmed
RLC - to be confirmed
THRA - Wednesday night confirmed, Thursday and Friday tbc

Reserves:

PW - tentative

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 17:54 Thu 16 Mar 2017

I arrive Tuesday evening in Porto and leave Thursday morning if I am not missing the plane.....

So Wednesday confirmed assuming I do not miss the Tuesday plane either.....

regards

WS1

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 15:53 Sat 18 Mar 2017

Could anyone attending the 10 birthday celebrations please let me know if they have any dietary issues I need to account for. Thanks.

Post by **DRT** » 23:07 Sat 18 Mar 2017

AHB wrote: ↑15:53 Sat 18 Mar 2017 Could anyone attending the 10 birthday celebrations please let me know if they have any dietary issues I need to account for. Thanks.

No salad.

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 23:19 Sat 18 Mar 2017

Meat, lots of red meat.

Ditto on no salad. I'm highly allergic to that stuff since it takes up valuable red meat space.

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Post by **jdaw1** » 09:36 Sun 19 Mar 2017

DRT wrote: ↑23:07 Sat 18 Mar 2017No salad.

Is this the moment for a life-coach intervention?

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 19:09 Sun 19 Mar 2017

jdaw1 wrote:
DRT wrote: ↑23:07 Sat 18 Mar 2017No salad.
Is this the moment for a life-coach intervention?

I think you're gonna be on suspension in the near future.

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Post by **jdaw1** » 19:13 Sun 19 Mar 2017

Andy Velebil wrote: ↑19:09 Sun 19 Mar 2017I think you're gonna be on suspension in the near future.

Agreed: a statement from management is imminent, probably saying “We have complete faith in the coach.”

Post by **DRT** » 23:53 Sun 19 Mar 2017

jdaw1 wrote: ↑09:36 Sun 19 Mar 2017
DRT wrote: ↑23:07 Sat 18 Mar 2017No salad.
Is this the moment for a life-coach intervention?

The Chairman has issued a statement to the effect that he and the Board have complete faith in the Life Coach and his continued good influence on the situation.

Post by **flash_uk** » 09:19 Mon 20 Mar 2017

DRT wrote: ↑23:53 Sun 19 Mar 2017
jdaw1 wrote: ↑09:36 Sun 19 Mar 2017
DRT wrote: ↑23:07 Sat 18 Mar 2017No salad.
Is this the moment for a life-coach intervention?
The Chairman has issued a statement to the effect that he and the Board have complete faith in the Life Coach and his continued good influence on the situation.

Uh-oh. Sacked by end of the week!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:28 Mon 20 Mar 2017

Other than Ian, who would be willing and able to contribute a couple of bottles of 1997 vintage port to the dinner on Wednesday night?

Does anyone other than me have any 2007 vintage port on hand, which we could include in the line-up?

Some people have already offered port for consideration for the Wednesday night line-up, which is themed along the lines of "10 Consecutive Vintages Ending in 7" but if you have access to any port which fits the theme and would like to contribute towards the line-up then please let me know as soon as you can.

Post by **flash_uk** » 17:31 Mon 20 Mar 2017

Alex, I have a Tukes Holdsworth '47 which I could add. Also have some G97 which would need to be yanked from EHD. And various '77 although expect we all have a lot of that!

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:46 Mon 20 Mar 2017

flash_uk wrote: ↑17:31 Mon 20 Mar 2017Alex, I have a Tukes Holdsworth '47 which I could add. Also have some G97 which would need to be yanked from EHD. And various '77 although expect we all have a lot of that!

We're going to need to bottles or a magnum of anything we open as there will likely be around 20 people. If your TH47 can be matched up against another one from someone else's cellar than that would work.

Unexpectedly it seems to be the '97s and '07s which are less easy to get hold of - presumably because they are all in storage under bond! (And I know that Ian has offered lots of '97s, I'm just rather keen to use Ian's generosity on one of his other bottles and not to abuse it by asking for too many bottles.)

'77s are not a problem. Oddly enough there seems to be quite a number of offers of magnums of Smith Woodhouse and Gould Campbell '77.

CPR 1 · Post by **CPR 1** » 21:00 Mon 20 Mar 2017

Alex, I have a number of 97 and 07 in my cellar. I have sent you an e-mail with details

Andy Velebil · Post by **Andy Velebil** » 00:18 Tue 21 Mar 2017

AHB, I have some 1997's as well. Will check whats accessible (and in quantity needed to bring) and let you know.

I have very few 2007's (mostly single bottles) so can't help there.

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Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:38 Sun 26 Mar 2017

Does anyone have, or know where we could get, two bottles of 1937 colheita from the same shipper (or a magnum)?

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 17:41 Sun 26 Mar 2017

Updated attendee list

AHB wrote: ↑09:01 Thu 16 Mar 2017
AHB - Wednesday to Saturday am

MPM - Tuesday to Sunday

CPR - Monday to Sunday

IDJ - Monday to Sunday

JDAW - Wednesday to Saturday

TC - Monday to Sunday with +1 from Friday afternoon

AP - Wednesday dinner only

CMAG - Wednesday night confirmed, Thursday and Friday tbc

ADV - Wednesday to Sunday

DRT - Wednesday and Thursday dinners only

WS1 - Wednesday dinner only

DJ - Wednesday dinner only

RLC - to be confirmed

THRA - Wednesday to Friday dinners

WG - Wednesday dinner only
Reserves:
PW - tentative

Axel P · Post by **Axel P** » 16:46 Fri 07 Apr 2017

With Alex's permission I am organising two small side events:

The first being a "complete" vertical of the Dalva Golden White Ports. As I want to be the first man alive who sailed on all boats at the regatta, this time it is Cruz time and Elsa Couto will organise a tasting on 22nd June around noon. As these are only half bottles and I only have one half bottle from 1952, I will limit this to 8 tasters.

The second being a tour at the new Pocas cellar at Gaia. On 23rd at noon. Here is no limit for participation.

Whoever wants to join, sends me an email to axelprobst@worldofport.de

Looking forward to seeing you all over there.

Axel