Espresso Martawny to finish this years summer 2024

Port Wine Lovers - friends from the moment they meet. #drinkport

Climate change, flooding, heavy rainfalls, and drought. Nothing seems to be ‘normal’ anymore. Winters that used to be cold and freezing are now mild and gentle. That means no more ice skating in the Netherlands, but also better wines, even in the north of Europe.

This summer was unusual for the Netherlands, with very wet months in May and June, causing rivers to almost burst and overflow into cities and villages nearby. Then came hotter days in July and August, leaving the land dry and thirsty for rain. Massive floods hit central Europe at the beginning of September, while very hot temperatures scorched northern Portugal. It’s all happening—extreme weather is the new normal.

But the summer is officially over, both here in the Netherlands and in Portugal. Harvest started very early this year, and "the quality of the grapes looks very promising," says winemaker and owner of Quevedo, Oscar Quevedo. That being said, we are looking forward to a new classical vintage for this year’s 2024 harvest, as it has been several years since we had a classic declaration.

Almost ready to harvest - White grapes for a new season of fresh white wines from Wijngaard Kötter

Summer gone - Autumn is here

Now that summer is over, we are entering the best season of the year—autumn. Why is that? Because we begin to feel cozy again after a few rainy days, spending time outdoors in forests, on the land, and by rivers. This makes us long for warm drinks and comforting food to warm our souls and bodies.

Celebrating the end of summer is therefore very important, and we were hosted at the yearly Twents Wijnfeest in the east of the Netherlands, where around 1,100 people celebrate wine and the end of summer with lots of great entertainment such as live music, wine tastings, and our own Port Wine Cocktails.

800 people gather on Saturday to drink wines, dance and create memories with Port Wine Cocktails

This year, we wanted to reach a new crowd of port wine enthusiasts by introducing them to the world of Port Wine Cocktails. It was a great success, and we even discovered a new favorite Port Wine Cocktail! We’re becoming more familiar with the #Portonic port wine mix, and that’s great news—especially when our mission is to introduce more and more people to the world of port wine, particularly younger generations.

Port Wine Cocktails

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Port Wine Cocktails 〰️

Together with Cockburn's we've created the perfect summer cocktails

Port Wine Cocktails are the perfect way to achieve this, as the flavors are incredible versatile, the occasions to enjoy them are countless, and the alcohol content is, on average, much lower than other cocktails.

Red Ruby - Portonic & Espresso Mar-Tawny

Introducing two new Port Wine Cocktails at the yearly Twents Wijnfeest was a great success. The Symington Family Estate was a huge contributor to this success, and we especially want to thank Rosalie for helping us find the perfect cocktail port wine—Cockburn’s Tales of the Unexpected.

The Line up of 'Tales of the Unexpected' Ruby Soho, Tawny Eyes & White Heights

We created three cocktails for this event, the first was the world-famous Portonic, we always make people smile as they are trying White Port Wine for the first time in their live! It’s such a satisfying feeling to give people a new experience.

Next up was our own creation, the Red Ruby. A very sweet and delightful cocktail, perfect for the late summer evenings we enjoyed both days at the event. It featured fresh forest fruits from the Netherlands, a dash of grenadine syrup, and a splash of Italian Prosecco to add a touch of bitterness and bubbles, making it sparkle!

The Red Ruby - Ruby Port from Cockburn's, with a dash of grenadine and prosecco 

But the real winner of this year’s event was our Espresso Mar-tawny. So many people came from the dance floor, stopping by to order this powerful, tasty, and especially cool-looking drink. Garnished with three freshly toasted coffee beans, it perfectly symbolized the transition from summer to autumn.

A perfect Espresso Martawny - The perfect Portwine Cocktail

This cocktail is made with a freshly brewed shot of espresso, two shots of Cockburn’s Tawny Eyes Port Wine, and two shots of coffee liqueur. The result is a perfectly balanced, smooth, and round drink that’s so delicious you’ll want to come back for more. Many guests were amazed by this cocktail and kept returning for another.

It showed them not only that port wines are exceptional, but also that there’s so much more you can do with a standard port wine—readily available in most supermarkets across Europe. With its inherent sweetness, port wine is truly the perfect base for cocktail mixology, all around the world.

Do you wish to make this cocktail yourself? Then just check this video and you will make the perfect Espresso Mar-Tawny in no-time.

How to make a tasty Espresso Mar-Tawny Port Wine Cocktail? Look how it's done