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uncle tom wrote:When did Crasto first produce and market their own SQ's?

The earliest record I have is '94, but I suspect they pre-date that..

Tom

According to Suckling's book SQVP's were produced in 1958, 1978, 1985 and 1987. The 1958 was labelled "Constantino" but the corks were branded "Crasto".

The text states that the owners decided to enter the SQVP market after a shipping law change in 1986. This explains the 1985 and 1987 releases but not the 1978.

Derek

A passage from : '' Port in a Storm '' 1945-2000 , Richard Mayson .

On the back of Portugal's entry to the EU in '86 , a new law came into force permitting independant growers to export thier wines directly from the Douro without having to pass through Vila Nova de Gaia .
. . . for the 1st time in nearly 60 yrs , single quintas were now permitted to sell their Port abroad without having to usea Port shipper as an intermediary .

IIRC, Crasto was one of the first to export under their own label after the law changed. Until then they sold almost everything to others...namely the aforementioned Constantinos.