Making the traditional St George's Day announcement, Fonseca's Managing Director, Adrian Bridge, said:  "I am very pleased to say that we will be making a limited release of 2012 Guimaraens Vintage Port.

A major rain storm hit the Douro region last Friday dropping 34 mm of rain on Pinhao.  This was only the second day of rain since May.

Our parent company, The Fladgate Partnership, today acquired the family owned Port firm of Wiese & Krohn, adding another distinguished Port house to its portfolio of world renowned Port brands.

Fonseca is pleased to announce that it has declared the 2011 vintage. The Fonseca Vintage Port blend is based on the reserve wines of Quinta do Cruzeiro in the Pinhão Valley.

The low vigour and extremely healthy vines this year, with very balanced temperatures during the ripening of the grapes, combined with small bunches and berries resulted in Ports being produced with great freshness of fruit and excellent natural acidity.

Fonseca is proud to partner with Ruth's Chris Steak House to host an exclusive five-course
Port Dinner on October 18 at 51 participating Ruth's Chris Steak House restaurants across the U.S. 

Saint George's Day is the day chosen by Port houses to announce the release of a new Vintage Port from the harvest two years previously.

Fonseca's longest serving taster, Mario Fernando Araújo, today celebrates 50
years working for the firm.

At this early stage the wines appear very promising.