Christmas shopping in the Vineyard


 
Port always makes me think of Christmas. It brings back memories of my Dad’s annual glass whilst watching Laurence of Arabia on TV for the umpteenth time. I never really understood the journey that the drink took to our table and knew even less of the tradition and importance it holds for the people who make it.
 
During this years harvest in September, I accompanied writer Will Lyons to the Douro Valley, in Portugal to both photograph and make a video for The Wall Street Journal. Watch the video below.
 

 
Riding in on a gorgeous train ride from Porto our stop in Vesuvio was remote but that made it all the more special. High in the Valley local families come together just like we do at Xmas for a their annual harvest in a tradition that has lasted generations. Starting early on the steep terraces they methodically work collecting the grapes.
 

 
After the harvest, the grapes are put in large stone tanks called “lagares” where the workers use their feet to squash them to release the liquid that will eventually produce wine. While some tread the grapes, others sing along to the accordion. The night that I attended with Will was particularly raucous; FC Porto had won in the Champions League which added to the atmosphere.
 

 
At the airport, whilst rushing through duty free a bottle of Grahams port wine made it’s way into my luggage. The bottle is now waiting for my parents arrival at Chez Jason this Christmas, following in the footsteps of my father and literally in the footsteps of the people who made it we’ll enjoy it over a game of Monopoly.
 
It was a real pleasure working with Will on this; I leant allot from the best in the business. Read his piece here.