An overview of Porto

Port wine is a type of fortified wine produced solely in the Douro region (Porto) of Portugal. The wine begins as a blend of many different grapes (Touriga Nacional being the primary grape used) and becomes a “fortified” wine during fermentation when alcohol, usually brandy, is added to the wine to cease fermentation and allow high amounts of residual sugar to remain. The outcome? Seriously rich, sweet wine that is served with desserts or with blue cheeses. Non-port fortified dessert wine are made in other areas of the world, but by international law can not use the term “Port” or “Porto” on the label.

The following are the major types of Port:

• Tawny port - Aged in Oak for some time, Tawny port takes on a light, brownish yellow color and tends to have “nutty” flavors which are from the long time spent in oak. Most people new to Port really like Tawny ports which are often very elegant. A 10 year Tawny Port is a blend of wines that are at least 10 years old. Often, older wines are combined with younger wines to create good complexity, bringing young ripe fruits into an oaked, developed older wine. The result can be elegant layers of fruit and spice.
• Ruby port- The least expensive of the Ports, Ruby is aged in concrete vats or stainless steel tanks, preserving the characteristics of the fruits. The result is a wine with a rich color and is drunk young. Some Ruby Reserves can be great wines and are usually less than $20.
• White port- As the name suggest, this is made from all white grapes and is very light in color. It can be dry (which is often mixed with tonic water, lime and mint leaves as a cocktail) or can be sweet and served chilled on a warm summers night. White Port is a great alternative to the dark stuff and can be quite refreshing and enjoyed as an apertif.
• Vintage port- The most sought after type of Port, Vintage Port consists of grapes that are all from one particular vintage. These are only made with outstanding vintages of Port and therefore are quite rare. Vintage Port is rich and elegant, and usually requires decades of aging to reach full potential.
• Late Bottled Vintage (LBV)- LBV Port is made from wine that was harvested as a vintage Port, but for one reason or another did not make it out of the Oak barrels in the time frame required (i.e. low demand). Nonetheless, LBV Port can be very good Port that can be a touch sweeter than Vintage Port, a lighter style of wine, and is usually about half the cost of the Vintage type.

A final note: Port wine is great with or as a dessert, and also with pungent cheeses. Don’t be afraid to try a few different styles and see what you prefer. Although they can be costly and are not usually drunk in large quantities (maybe a small glass or two in a night), Ports tend to save well in the fridge and can be enjoyed over days, an in many cases even a few weeks. With all wines, always store them in cool, dark places when unopened, and once uncorked, kept with a good seal in the fridge!

Saude!