2002 Kopke Colheita White Porto, Portugal

ABOUT THIS WINE

Hand-picked at the optimum time, the grapes are then destemmed, crushed and converted into wine through a process of careful maceration, enhanced by constant churning during fermentation. This takes place in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature (between 28-30°C) until the right degree of sweetness (baumé) is achieved. At this point, grape brandy is added to create the final fortified wine. Made by blending wines of different harvests, with different levels of maturation in stainless steel and wood for a minimum of 3 years, the result is a rich and aromatic wine, with the perfect level of sweetness.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

In 1636 German diplomat Nicolau Kopkë travelled with his son, Cristiano, from Hamburg to Portugal, representing the Hanseatic League. Two years later, he founded Nicolau Kopkë & Co., a shipping company which would eventually become universally recognised as the first Port House in the industry’s history. In 1781 they bought a farm in the Douro, making the transition from shipper to major producer and gradually making Port Wine their main business focus.

In 1828 C. N. Kopkë, great-great-grandson of Nicolau, sided the company with the Liberal Party during Portugal’s civil war. Following the war, he was awarded the title of Baron of Vilar and a decade later his nephew the title Baron of Massarelos. In 1841 the company’s name was changed to C. N. Kopke and remains such to this day. Almost a century later, in 1940, the House was awarded official recognition as the oldest in the world. Kopke have an excellent reputation backed by many gold medals, particularly for their Tawny (barrel-aged) Ports. Befitting their status as the oldest Port House, their bottles are easily recognisable by their traditional and hand-stencilled style.