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According to the Malvedos blog http://malvedos.wordpress.com/2012/01/2 ... mment-1465 - today (apparently) is #PortDay

But nowhere does it say why they chose January 27th - I've Googled for clues, but to no avail...

- Any ideas?

Tom

Roy has been championing it in this thread on for the past four weeks or so.

It is an initiative by the Centre for Wine Origins, who announced it here in December 2011.

Some of the faithful are trying to drum up interest here and here.

Happy #PortDay

Oh! - missed that thread..

- But why today?

January 27th is a very sensitive date for those of a certain faith..

Presumably you are referring to the Liberation of Auschwitz?

I very much doubt that the organisers of the event have made that link (whether it is relevant to do so or not) and have simply chosen a date and gone for it.

Presumably you are referring to the Liberation of Auschwitz?

Yes - it's the International holocaust rememberance day.

Without historical justification, it would seem crass and insensitive to call it anything else..

uncle tom wrote:Oh! - missed that thread..

- But why today?

January 27th is a very sensitive date for those of a certain faith..

I have lots of Jewish friends here in L.A. and in all the years I've known them I can't recall any of them ever saying this was a sensitive day for them....which has been well over 30 years. Matter of fact one (maybe two if he gets off work in time) is coming over tonight to celebrate Port Day at my house.

uncle tom wrote:

Presumably you are referring to the Liberation of Auschwitz?

Yes - it's the International holocaust rememberance day.

Without historical justification, it would seem crass and insensitive to call it anything else..

Whilst every day is nowadays an "international" something or other day, i must confess it did also do a double-take when i saw they picked January 27 of all days, given its significance.

But i did not feel it was quite in the same league as when Decanter held a London-based Champagne masterclass tasting straddling 11am on Remembrance Sunday in 2010, which i thought at the time was pretty odd.

RAYC wrote:Whilst every day is nowadays an "international" something or other day, i must confess it did also do a double-take when i saw they picked January 27 of all days, given its significance.

I've never heard of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

As you said, there's an International Day for pretty much everything, and just about every day of the calendar is booked. I would not be the least bit surprised if someone told me that December 25th is International #SomethingDay, nor would I be offended.

I personally don't see how this day can affect a buddhist looking to celebrate with some port though if someone wishes to spend the day in remembrance, by all means.

I can't believe that Andy will allow a JEW into his home, no less to share Port with him!

I am well aware of the duality of today, but must say that it doesn't lessen the effect of that other rememberance. I feel safe in saying that!

Regardless of the overlap, don't let that destroy the momentum. I can tell you this has gone viral across not only the USA, but I know of events all over Portugal and the rest of Europe and So. Africa, one in the Middle East, one in Hong Kong and many more too. Although the Center for Wine Origins is obviously an American organization that has been the liaison for the IVDP to the USA in recent years, their efforts to protect the name of Port is huge.

So break out some bottles my friends and enjoy a day that is doing exactly what we have all hoped for: spreading the word of Port globablly. I have let the Center know that next year they need to provide a date for this event, three months in advance so we can better plan. If you look at FB today ... you will see hundreds of posts since last night about #PortDay.

I hope all of your bottles show well. I opened six to pour for people that show up to the event that Glenn and I are doing locally. Andy has one going on too, Jeff G. has one ... etc. Lots of importers, distributors and retailers and even a couple of restaurants are involved in promoting an putting on events today. So please let's not get caught up in confusing the Holocaust Remembrance Day and #PortDay as they are 100% distinct and separate and no slight was implied or intended.

There is plenty of room for both!

Roy Hersh wrote:I can't believe that Andy will allow a JEW into his home, no less to share Port with him!

What Jew drinks Port?

Aside from the insensitivity of the date choice, the lack of any apparent port significance to the date begs another question:

Why pick a date in the middle of winter, when the Douro is a cold grim place, and Porto equally grim but soggy..?

- It all seems idiotic..

If one were not allowed to enjoy oneself on any anniversary of a big earthquake, on any anniversary of some day particularly associated with one of many wartime atrocities, on any anniversary of anything that upsets any group of people (plenty of groups have defeats to mourn), then life would be more miserable than it needs to be.

Andy Velebil wrote:

Roy Hersh wrote:I can't believe that Andy will allow a JEW into his home, no less to share Port with him!

What Jew drinks Port?

Apparently this joke, started by Roy, was lost on some. Since Roy is a very good friend of mine, and my boss on FTLOP, and someone who's stayed in my home many times, and who I've stayed in his home many times, and who I've shared many a bottle of Port and wine with in more than one country, and who just also happens to be Jewish. Nuff said!

uncle tom wrote:Why pick a date in the middle of winter, when the Douro is a cold grim place, and Porto equally grim but soggy..?

- It all seems idiotic..

As does standing in the rain with screaming over-tired children in near freezing conditions watching colourful explosions in the sky in early November. It's really best not to think too deeply about all these things otherwise we wouldn't do them and life would just be dull.

Whether it is right or wrong, well planned and organised or not, I applaud those who have stepped up to the plate and tried to do something to promote Port, the Douro and protect the name of the product. Perhaps next year will be better planned. But hurling insults and un-constructive criticism at these people seems, well, what is the word I'm looking for? Idiotic?

Roy Hersh wrote: one in the Middle East

Did I miss something?

DRT wrote:

uncle tom wrote:Why pick a date in the middle of winter, when the Douro is a cold grim place, and Porto equally grim but soggy..?

- It all seems idiotic..

As does standing in the rain with screaming over-tired children in near freezing conditions watching colourful explosions in the sky in early November. It's really best not to think too deeply about all these things otherwise we wouldn't do them and life would just be dull.

Whether it is right or wrong, well planned and organised or not, I applaud those who have stepped up to the plate and tried to do something to promote Port, the Douro and protect the name of the product. Perhaps next year will be better planned. But hurling insults and un-constructive criticism at these people seems, well, what is the word I'm looking for? Idiotic?

+1

C'mon, it's just another silly celebration like all of the other silly celebrations that already saturate the calendar. Don't over-think it.

Tom,

You need to get out of your home and away from the computer!

I can certainly see why some people, including Tom, may feel this to be an inappropriate date. And I do not feel it is in any way right for me to criticise that.

Likewise, having accompanied my grandfather to Remembrance Sunday for many years as a kid, I would find it slightly untasteful for that day to be heavily promoted (in the UK) as a day to commemorate anything else.

I personally don't know how much of a big deal Auschwitz commemoration day is (for various reasons I was aware of it, though like Andy, i have not read anything in mainstream press, so it can't have a huge profile...) But I can see why there may be people who think the date is genuinely inappropriate.

And the comparison with "having fun" in a real straw man argument - no one is saying you should not have fun on any particular day, including this.

This may be an occasion to agree to disagree, since there are obviously some strongly-held feelings on each side.

(Nb I trust Tom is posting from within sight of some white-sand beach in the Eastern hemisphere!)

RAYC wrote:This may be an occasion to agree to disagree

Agreed.