Hail effects in the Douro

A brief visit to the Douro last month yielded some interesting tastings of both ports and table wines, on which I will be reporting, but also these snapshots of the tribulations of life as a vine.

In June, there was a localised hailstorm in the Cima Corgo, narrowly missing some of Quinta do Passadouro's best sites. The photos below show vines from their less fortunate grower neighbour. You can clearly see the shredded leaves, but also the bright new growth to compensate. The berries, however, are clearly ruined.




Where the vines were spared, veraison is healthily underway, as you can...