(Online tasting) How to Enjoy Port

There is nowhere quite like the Douro Valley, one of the wonders of the wine world.

Between viciously cold winters, summers in the Douro are so dry and the slopes so steep that few plants can flourish. Deep-rooted vines, often on painstakingly constructed terraces, manage to burrow their way through fissures in the rock to find the underground moisture necessary to grow.

Yields are naturally low and the grapes are very concentrated in colour, tannins and sugar.

The peasant farmers who inhabit this wild, silent valley are fully dependent for their livelihood on Port shippers like Cockburn, Croft, Dow, Graham, Sandeman, Taylor and Warre.

If you think of Port as old fashioned, join us for an evening that may surprise you. White Port has become fashionable in these times with tonic and there are distinct foodie situations that cry out for a Ruby or Tawny Port (we'll try them).

So join us as we sample all three colours: white, ruby and tawny. For a Tawny, we have a delicious 20-year-old from one of the best names in the valley (Quinta do Noval) AND we'll try a 22-year-old 'second' vintage Port from Sandeman.

HOW IT WORKS

You buy the wines separately and need only consume a tasting sample of each wine during the tutorial. You can follow our preservation tips to keep any leftovers for another day.

James Thorne has put together a 3-bottle pack at an exclusive 15% discount.

The price here on this website is for TWO connecting with one video feed. To book just ONE space, please use the promotional code 'Online1' at checkout, reducing the price by £8. (For three or more people using one video feed there is no additional charge beyond the price for two). 

After you book your spaces, we'll send a link for ordering the wines. We will also send instructions for joining Zoom calls from a desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile phone. Zoom is proving to be a very sociable medium for wine tasting, so we can guarantee you'll have fun! Each session will last just over an hour.

Note - the best value way to access our online tastings is by joining our monthly subscription club (20% discount). This gives you access to our weekly classes and if you need to skip sessions we give you credits (use these to pay for other events, give free spaces to friends or arrange a private party we'll host for you). Plus you get free access to our WineBrain tutorials included! 

Click here to read more about our Wednesday Wine Club membership programme (just £50/month for one, £80/month for two).

The Wines (in serving order):

• Quinta do Noval, Dry White Port £13.99
• Sandeman, Vau Vintage Port 1999 £27.99
• Quinta do Noval, 20yr Tawny 37.5cl £28.99

The special pack price is £60.32 (the normal price is £70.97 - 15% off). You only need to buy one pack to share between two people. Delivery is free in the Cambridge area (inside A14, A11, M11, Girton, Histon, Milton and Impington).

NOTE - cut off for national wine deliveries is Mon 11 Oct.