Taylor’s 2003 Vintage Port: A Stellar Wine Born from Earth’s Atmosphere and Crafted for the Cosmos
Taylor’s is commemorating the inaugural journey of a Port Wine into the cosmos by unveiling a ‘space-themed’ limited-edition gift box containing their 2003 Vintage Port.
This celebration comes in response to Taylor’s 2003 being recognized as the first port wine to transcend Earth’s atmosphere, journeying into space in August 2022. This was made possible by Mário Ferreira, a Portuguese businessman and entrepreneur.
Housed in a custom-made 50cl container and secured with a natural cork, Taylor’s 2003 Vintage Port reached a lofty altitude of 107 kilometers above mean sea level. The origin of the port lies in two of Taylor’s vineyards in the Douro — Quinta de Vargellas and Quinta de Terra Feita. Grapes harvested from these locations are combined in years when an exceptional vintage is declared.
The 2003 vintage was fortunate to have experienced sunny warm weather at the end of May, encouraging successful vine flowering. This was further boosted by extreme summer heat in early August, a sign often indicating a remarkable port vintage. The moderate temperatures in late August, followed by warm, dry harvesting season in September, offered a balance and complexity to the final wines.
The Vintage Port, sourced straight from Taylor’s cellars, is set to awe with its fresh ‘celestial’ packaging. It’s poised to be either a unique 21st birthday gift next year, or a valuable addition to a wine cellar, serving as a memento of this groundbreaking moment for Vintage Port.
In light of this notable achievement, Taylor’s CEO Adrian Bridge deemed the selected Port Wine as ‘a superb selection and an ideal vintage to venture into uncharted territories’. In his words, ‘The Taylor’s 2003 Vintage ranks among the most critically lauded Port Wines of recent times – a monumental Vintage that, in the words of renowned wine connoisseur Robert Parker, can proudly rival the best Taylor’s has ever produced’.
