Niepoort to release organic vintage Port

Boutique Port producer Niepoort is to release an organic vintage Port in the UK.

The fortified wine, appropriately named "Bioma", is made from 22 different grape varieties from over 100-year-old vines.

The principal grapes in the 2008 vintage – the first vintage to be commercially bottled, are Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Tinta Amarela.  

Speaking at the Big Fortified Tasting at Glaziers Hall in London yesterday, owner Dirk van der Niepoort told the drinks business: “The wine is being bottled tomorrow. It’s very small production from 62 hectares, only around 3,500 bottles.

“I’ve always believed we should go organic. I’ve done some experiments with organics in the past, and I wanted my organic practices in the winery to be carried through to the vineyard.

“I was working with someone who didn’t really take an interest in organics, but in the end I decided to impose my green agenda in the vineyard.

“Since 2004, I’ve really been pushing organics. We’re not certified yet, but we will be. I wanted to call the wine Pisca, after the vineyard, but we weren’t allowed to so my sister suggested Bioma, which I liked. The next vintage will be labelled ‘Bioma from Pisca’.”

In keeping with Niepoort’s quirky branding, the label features a spider hanging from a silk thread attached to the ‘r’ in Niepoort.

Niepoort also plans to bottle an organic still red next year called simply Bioma Red.

The 20% abv Bioma will be available through Raymond Reynolds in May, with an RRP of £50.

Lucy Shaw, 07.04.2011