Producers in Portugal are optimistic that 2010 could be declared a classic for vintage port, due to the high quality of this year's harvest.

Unusually dry conditions but relatively low temperatures made this year something of an anomaly for grape growers in the country, the Drinks Business reports.

Paul Symington of Symington Family Estates - the owner of the Warres, Dow's, Graham's and Cockburn's brands - said the Touriga Nacional grape is adaptable and capable of ripening without water.

"We now have the ability to be pretty certain by mid-October if it is a phenomenal wine," he told the news provider, adding that a raspberry aroma around the wineries is also a good indicator.

However, producers traditionally wait until 18 months after the harvest before officially declaring a vintage, so port lovers have some time to wait yet.

Warre's 2000 late bottled vintage won the Port trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2010.