There's A New Port Club That Launched Today And We Are The First Ones To Take a Look
Finishing 2020 with a bang, Port.Club have just announced the launch of their brand-new membership club - and from today… everyone is invited (apart for the little-ones, of course)! Consommé are super excited and extremely proud to have had the first look into this exclusive club before it launched - that we know you will just be begging to join.
Well… there’s absolutely no need to beg anymore as the club is finally open and is bringing the age-old classic port into the 21st Century. Designed by Churchill, this multi-generational-run family business, whom are the last founder-led port shipper and maker; hoping to introduce their delicious and exquisite port, from the incredibly beautiful Douro Valley to a new generation of wine drinkers.
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But what exactly is port?
Port is a type of fortified wine produced with distilled grapes found exclusively in the northern provinces of Portugal and best-known for being sipped after dinner. For me… I’ve always had this preconception notion of it being a bit… well, stuffy - probably given my childhood memories of my Grandparents passed out on Christmas Day with a glass of port in one hand, and a half-eaten mince pie in the other, but I’ve learnt that port is so much more than just a once-a-year-tipple. According to Churchil’s Founder and Head Winemaker Johnny Graham - “Port is messy. Port is art. Port makes a night into an evening and takes evening into morning.” It’s for “dinner parties; DMCs in quiet corners of loud rooms and that look in an old friends’s eye that says ‘the night is not over yet.’”
Wanting to prove that port is an historical and monumental part of our past but pathing a new way for its future, Port.Club have made it their mission to educate the old, and the new, and offer a new experience through their online membership club. Graham and his team of talented port craftsman, whose expertise spans multiple generations have perfected the art of port making and have found a way to bring that to your very own home in ways that will educate, delight and open new horizons, conversations and claim a firm and lasting spot on your liquor shelf.
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So How Does It Work?
This digital-first port club, which has been timed to coincide with the Christmas festivities (I know a few people who would love to gain membership as an extra special gift that keeps on giving throughout the year - want to find out some other membership gifts, check out our new gift guide.) and we have the know how on how to gain VIP access!
Created to encapsulate the wants and needs of the port lover and entice in the port curious, their mission is to share the fun of port - making it easy to identify, enjoy, shop, explore and even to make your own.
The membership works in two ways: quarterly (£70 - charged every 3 months, with the option to opt out at any time), or annually (£240 - 4x Port Packs a year, delivered every 3 months) - both include a super secret starter kit (even our best negotiating skills couldn’t get the team to give away any secrets on this one), but have been guaranteed it will include everything you need to kick-start your port journey; teaching you everything you need to know to get the best out of every bottle, access to special membership discounts on their online shop and an online port education. The annual membership also includes VIP access to Churchill’s Vineyard House in the Douro and special programs in Porto, plus a whole heap of extra goodies.
Each Port Pack, regardless of your membership level, will include three different ports carefully hand-selected and representing different styles and levels of complexity: The Anytime Port - made for everyday drinking, The Right Time Port - one that commands special attention to make any occasion memorable and The One Time Port - a unique club blend exclusive to members only, including a family favourite in the first ever pack and even more excitingly - an expertly crafted new-to-world blend created by Johnny Graham in the New Year (but that’s just between us!)
An Exclusive Look Into The First Ever Port Pack
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Consommé has grilled the Port.Club team and gained a little insight into the first three bottles that will be launched this month and found out from the people that matter, exactly why these three were chosen as the face of the club.
Anytime Port - Churchill’s Reserve
A port house is only as good as its entry ruby port (an identifiable traditional port based on its ruby rich colour, created by ageing in either bottle form or in large format tanks that can hold up to 50,000L of Port! - other principle styles include Tawny and White), or so we are told, and Churchill’s Reserve Port is the Rolls Royce of Rubies. This delightful pedigreed ruby is of a premium quality and is made exclusively from Grade A grapes and vinifed through the traditional method of foot-treading (stomping on the grapes to extract the juice) to create an all-rounder thats equally suited to a digestif or a cocktail topping. Another benefit of this port is that no corkscrew or decanting is needed - making it a home-bar staple.
Johnny Graham, Churchill’s founder and head winemaker loves this port due to its engrained history. ‘When I first started Churchill’s (in 1981), we used to call this port ‘Finest Vintage Character’ because it gets exactly the same treatment as our top vintages from vine to vat. It has a bright, full ruby colour with subtle violet tones. I describe the nose as fresh blueberries with hints of eucalyptus and gum cistus. And on the palette, it shows young and vibrant with plenty of natural acidity.”
Johnny recommends pairing this with dried fruits, dark chocolate, and, especially this time of year, Christmas Pudding.
The Right Time Port - Churchill’s 20 Year Old Tawny
Tawny ports, by contrast to the ruby are lighter and browner in colour and embody a soft nutty flavour, this is done by ageing in small oak barrels (up to 600L) compared to the vast vats of the ruby above and this smooth and mature bottle is sure to impress. Combining a refinement born of two decades worth of ageing in seasoned Portuguese oak barrels it also has a touch of Johnny Graham’s signature Churchill’s house style that gives it a youthful freshness. Serve with any pudding course to highlight the evening or finish the night with a nightcap that just oozes relaxation.
Zoe Graham, Johnny’s daughter and Port.Club co-founder wanted to include this in the first pack due to its “deep complexity and gravitas but [also, because] it’s refreshingly drinkable. I love sharing this perfectly-aged tawny with friends… it’s pale red with a golden rim and… has a nose of almonds and red cherries. On the palate it is rich and savoury, with finesse and a long finish” making it the perfect inclusion to the first Port Pack.
Zoe recommends pairing this with dessert, like a Portuguese leite creme (Créme Brulée anywhere outside of Portugal), almond tart, or just sipped with a side nibble of salted almonds.
The One Time Port - Club Blend - Quinta da Gricha 2009 Vintage Port
Launching as the first exclusive membership-only club blend, this 2009 Single Quinta Vintages (SQV) micro-produced only 500 cases. It has a unique character that pays homage to its namesake and their flagship vineyard in Quinta de Gricha and producing a fresh, good acidity and wild flavour.
Ben Himowitz, Johnny’s Son-In-Law (Zoe’s Husband) and Port.Club co-founder is proud to have chosen this port for the first ever club blend because “it’s such an awesome port, and so very few people have tried it. SQV’s, by definition are only sourced from one vineyard… meaning this port has a less formidable structure… but results in maturity to peak drinkability sooner. I personally love this vintage…. it has a beautiful dark cherry colour, raisins and ripe figs on the nose and a rich juicy palate, marked by five-grained tannins and crushed red berries”
Ben recommends pairing this with a stilton cheese or roasted chestnuts, but also loves drinking it unaccompanied and letting the vintage do all the talking.
How Can I Get The Best Out Of My Port?
Johnny Graham © o Revelador / Port.Club
Now you’ve got the bottle, you need to look after it. And port, generally, is served too warm. The style of port, however, can dictate the serving temperature, as with any wine, but as a good all-rounder tip it should be served cooler than you think it should. Try to find a cool place to store your port, or a quick stay in the fridge on short notice is just as good.
Make sure to inspect your port before purchasing. Look for a vintage year or age designation on the label for anything above a Ruby Reserve. The best late-bottled Vintage, and Vintage ports should all be attached to a clear vintage year (or bottling year in case of a crusted port). Tawnies operate in 10 year designations, so for premium quality look for something 10 years and up.
Once opened you want your port to embody and exude freshness straight from the word go. The fresher the note on the nose, the more vibrant the port.
On the palette you are looking for a balanced acidity and a great structure. Both of these are essential building blocks for any port.
But don’t worry if any of the above made you want to reach for your trusted supermarket vino - Port.Club’s entire ethos is about teaching you how to identify and respect quality, through fun and interactive sessions with every Port Pack - so you will be a port expert and the envy of all your friends quicker than you can finish your first bottle - that’s not a challenge, but feel free to try.
If you purchase the full VIP Annual Membership before January 15th 2021, you will be able to gift an additional pack worth £70 to friends or family (or even keep for yourself - it is all about #selflove and all that).