Since the formal retirement of his father in 2005, Dirk Niepoort has run the family's wine business that he joined in 1987. Dirk, with his sister Verena, are the fifth generation of this Dutch family that produce, not only some of the finest ports - try their 20 year old Tawny, it is the best I have ever tried - but some benchmark Douro wines as well. We asked him six questions...
What would you do if you hadn't joined your family company in the wine trade?
I would start working in a restaurant cleaning dishes……and would by now own my restaurant
What is the best wine you have ever made and what is the worst?
The best I believe is the vintage 2005. The worst……probably a few that were never bottled..
Describe yourself in three words.
Stubborn, naive, in love with good wine
Aside from Portugal, what countries wines do you like drinking on a regular basis? Burgundy, Burgundy, Burgundy, Rhone, Riesling from Germany, Riesling from Austria ………….
What is your most prized possession?
My health and a fantastic family
Name three people, real or fictional, living or dead, that would make your ideal dinner party guests, and what would you be drinking?
Nina, Luis, and I leave a third person open because there would be too many to choose from. In fact the ideal number would be 6 people. (he would be drinking) 1964 Krug, 1990 Chablis from Raveneau, 1995 Meursault Coche Dury, 1990 Cote Rotie Jamet, 1991 DRC La Tache, 1948 Taylors Vintage Port & 1975 Fritz Haag Auslese Goldkapsel.
(Originally posted on The Tasting Note, 2010)
