Kopke has launched two very old Ports, a 1940 Colheita & 1940 White Colheita. Curated by winemaker Carlos Alves and his team, this special edition pair of Colheitas was launched at an online tasting across Europe.
“As is the case with many of the Houses in the Douro and in the history of Port, many facts, figures and documents have, unfortunately, been lost over time,” says Joao Belo, International Business Manager for Sogevinus. “However, it is likely that the 1940 White Colheita is made from Viosinho, Gouveio, Rabigato, Malvasia Fina grapes, a true ‘field blend’.” The 1940 Colheita is likely to be composed of Tinta Cão, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional.
1940 was an important year for Kopke as it was the year Kopke was officially recognised as the oldest Port wine House by the Trade Association of both Porto and Lisbon. Of the vintage, Carlos Alves states “1940 is recalled for being very wet, both in winter and spring, and very hot in the summer, causing several damaging fires in the vineyards. The harvest of 1940 is a rarity and it is extraordinary that these wines have survived the passage of time, wars and revolutions to be released to the market.”
A video of the tasting can be found here https://youtu.be/jy3XMuK4U5g.
Sogevinus has also been awarded the accolade of Fortified Producer of the Year at this year’s Sommelier Wine Awards with Kopke, which won half of the category’s Gold medals. From the 10 Years Old Tawny (Gold – £23.50), to the 2003 White Colheita (Gold – £60) and the 1980 Colheita Port (Gold – £120), the judges commented on the freshness and vibrancy of these wines, and this is only the second time in the competition’s thirteen-year history that this title has been awarded.