Emiliano di Renzo, the Symington Family’s envoy, recently visited Malta to conduct two events showcasing Portugal’s ports and DOC wines from the famed Douro Valley – a tasting at Farsonsdirect’s The Wine Shop in Mriehel and a dinner at Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Golden Sands’ award-winning Essence Restaurant in Ghajn Tuffieha. The Douro Valley is a World Heritage site and one of the oldest established wine-producing regions in the world. Without doubt it is one of the most distinctive terroirs in the history of world viticulture.

Graham’s is the story of two families across three centuries. For almost two hundred years W & J Graham’s has been an independent family business renowned for producing the finest Port wines. Prats + Symington (P+S) is a project between Bruno Prats, former owner of the great Cos d’Estournel from Bordeaux and the Symington Family. 

Guests at the tasting session started off with P+S’s Prazo de Roriz 2010. Next were a selection of Graham’s ports – Fine White, 10YO Tawny, Late Bottled Vintage 2009 and a 1983 Vintage Port.

The Port wine dinner started off at Essence’s bar area with Graham’s Fine White Port topped with tonic water and fresh mint. The kitchen brigade prepared some great dishes which were paired with some of the best wines the Douro has to offer – Scotch Quail Eggs with Graham’s Fine White Port, a Forest Mushroom Consomme with the great Graham’s 20YO Tawny, Roasted Beef Fillet with P+S’s Post Scriptum de Chryseia 2012 and a selection of chocolate creations by patissier Jimmy Aquilina were paired with the impressive Graham’s 1977 vintage port.

Farsons Beverage Import Company (FBIC) Limited imports, markets and distributes Graham’s Port and Prats + Symington wines locally. Available in selected restaurants, wine boutiques and Farsonsdirect in Mriehel (www.farsonsdirect.com).