ThePortForum.com

I stumbled across this essay today following a discussion with AHB and thought others here might enjoy reading it...

https://people.ischool.berkeley.edu/~du ... _and_K.pdf

Interesting to read that the challenge of judging port at a young age was recognised way back:

"Fortification further complicated the negotiations between links because it took quite skilled palates to assess the potential of young wines."

"The changing character of the wine and the knowledge required to assess future quality and set current prices made it hard for honest merchants to deal with inexperienced clients. Equally, it made it easy for unscrupulous merchants to cheat unsuspecting clients. In both cases, the nature of the wine put a premium on experience and knowledge in the chain."

Source: HoS: letterbook of Offley & Co., Offley & Co. to Thomas Harridge, May 6, 1793

Thanks, DRT, a very interesting read.

That's a great read! Mind if I cross-post it on FTLOP as well?

Glenn E. wrote: ↑18:11 Wed 20 Apr 2022 That's a great read! Mind if I cross-post it on FTLOP as well?

No problem

Thank you, great read.

Very interesting read, thank you for sharing!

This paper provides a bit of a broader view of the development of the port trade from the economic perspective: https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/247044