It was set to be a normal year in Portugal when three enterprising vintners began a competition to have the best overall performance over the next nine years. Each of us gradually established vineyards over the first two, normal years. Low-quality wine started to trickle, and started to counter our losses in establishing new vineyards. We were all hopeful as the third year drew near, because it was going to be our first wine fair! What did the harvest forecast indicate? Phylloxera. Tiny, sap-sucking insects would swarm in and absolutely destroy our harvest in year three. Our hopes of ceasing to be destitute were dashed by a pale yellow, winged pestilence. The best wine was worth merely 20 points, even with good performance from winemaker awards. Mine was abysmal.
With the first fair (and the phylloxerae) behind us, we were desperate for some income and some wine. So, what was year four's forecast? Mildew. We set our oenologists to work, and managed to get wine out of some of our vineyards, but most were overcome by the mildew. Year five, at last, was a good year, as was year six. By now, I had all but drained my bank account to try to become solvent again via better investment in the port vineyard I was nurturing. Going into the second fair, I put a fresh, high-quality batch of port in the cellar, and took a Dão red to the fair. With the strong Dão advertising campaign, it was comparable in market value to the port. A competitor chose the same (which was the reason the campaign in Dão was so strong anyway). This time, the best wine was worth about double the best from the first fair. Again, mine was last, even though it was significantly better than last fair's best. I resolved to take my best port to the next fair. It was my only hope.
Amazingly, the judges were rumored to be looking for port next fair. I re-inflated my hopes, and worked diligently through the coming year of frosts. Year eight was an exceptional year. Everything was going to produce beautifully, so I managed to produce a perfect port, as my prior good port aged in the cellar. Our final year, the third fair year, was a good year. Due to the particular supply the wine bars and restaurants had received, my best bet was to export, which I did. The challenge was that I wanted to be sure to send my oenologists to the fair in order to take the prize, rather than being last for a third time. ...but I had nearly no money. It was then that I remembered the barrel I received when I put my port in the cellar. I started making arrangements with the black market, and just at payday for the oenologists, I sold a fresh batch of Dão red in my handy barrel, giving me enough to send all my oenologists to the fair. At least this time I tied for second - which meant I was last all three fairs. Embarrassing. Our best wine ended up being a Trás-os-Montes white of near-perfect quality, tweaked exactly to the judges' liking. Did I mention that the judges at the final fair were morons? Their taste buds were utterly insensitive, and they barely registered any of the other traits, which was just as well for me, but it robbed the second Trás-os-Montes white of victory, dooming its maker to the same rating as my perfect port did me. It was a respectable rating, but not a prize-winner.
Our final scores were: 158 148 131
I never fully recovered from that first fair, but it was the best winemaker's financial management that propelled her from just-above-third to a solid first.
We had a great time, and all really enjoyed the experience. As soon as we have another nine years to spare, I'm sure we'll do it again. I'm hoping for Friday....