Martinez 1997 Vintage Port1997 was an ideal growing year. There was plenty of rain in April and May and the spring was not excessively hot so the stage was set. The summer was hot and generally dry with temperatures reaching 40degC in August and September but some very welcome rain fell on 24th and 27th August which refreshed the grapes and gave them a great boost. When picking began in late September, this rain and ripening meant that the grapes were coming into the wineries