Sogrape Declares 2022 Vintage for Three Port Houses

Originally posted on Men's Journal | Last updated 10/6/24

One of the most delicate tasks a Port House faces is whether or not to declare a vintage. The guidance is simple: only declare a vintage when you have extraordinary wine for a brand. Samples are then sent to the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto (IVDP), where they are assess the wine and ultimately approve the sale as Vintage Porto. All things being equal, around three vintages per decade are declared. What makes a Vintage Porto special is its ability to age in the bottle for decades upon decades. I've had them back to the 19th Century, and they continue to evolve with bottle aging for a unique experience once opened.

So image the excitement for Sogrape, as the company was able to announce the declaration of Vintage 2022 for its three Port houses: Ferreira, Sandeman, and Offley. After a wine-growing year with favourable climatic conditions for a long and balanced ripening of the grapes, we now have excellent wines that reflect each brand's authenticity and style.

"More than a milestone in time and a promising announcement, each Vintage declaration is a celebration of the best that nature offers us in exceptional years". "Each vintage in this category is the writing of a new and exciting page in the centenary history of Port, a tribute to our ongoing commitment to tradition, quality, and excellence", said Fernando da Cunha Guedes, President of Sogrape.

In 2022, the Douro region had a rainy winter, followed by a mild spring and summer. There was some rain in April and June but no heatwaves ailed the vines. The 2022 seasons had a series of meteorological factors favorable to even grape-ripening. In September, a little bit of rain meant that the harvest date had to be precisely managed to guarantee the desired quality in each plot. What resulted was a classic Vintage that you'll be able to age in the bottle for 20-50 years, easily.

Luís de Sottomayor, Sogrape's Head of Winemaking responsible for Douro and Port wines, who signs these three 2022 Vintages, speaks of exquisite wines with good acidity, which respect the history of excellence of previous vintages. "Porto Ferreira Quinta do Porto Vintage 2022 and Sandeman Quinta do Seixo Vintage 2022 reflect the typical terroir where they come from. The former is full of structure, depth, and intensity, while the latter stands out for its elegant, harmonious, and complex profile. Offley Vintage 2022 also reflects the characteristics of the climatic year, as it has exceptional volume and remarkable structure", according to Sottomayor.

Visit sogrape.com to learn more about their brands, and find out how to schedule visits the next time you're in Porto/Vila Nova di Gaia, Portugal.

This article first appeared on Men's Journal and was syndicated with permission.

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