Port wine: A Sweet and happy Accident
Port is a fantastic style of sweet wine that's delicious sipped on its own, enjoyed with a dessert, or even mixed into a cocktail. What makes this wine so unique and different? It's a fortified wine, meaning it has a little extra somethin'.
A sweet version of wine!
Hundreds of years ago, when the British were getting their wine from Portugal instead of France, they added a small amount of brandy to the wine during the fermentation process. Originally, brandy wasn't done to add flavor but to ensure that the wine would survive a long sea journey from Portugal to Britain. But with this process, the delicious sweetness of the original wine remained, and Port wine was born.
Port gets its name from the city Oporto, where it's produced. The vineyards are located in northern Portugal's hot, mountainous Douro Valley region. The Port style has been copied and labeled as Port, but they're not quite as good as the real thing. Look for the word Porto on the label to know if you're getting an authentic Portuguese Port.
SO many types of Port Wine to try!
Don't worry about what types of grapes are used in making Port. There are too many to mention, but about five wide varieties show up pretty consistently: Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cão, and Touriga Franca.
Now, let's get down to choosing and drinking Port. There are vintage-dated Ports, non-vintage Ports, single-estate varieties, and more categories. Generally, ports made from grapes harvested in a single year cost more and, for the most part, are of better quality. But you don't need to spend much or do such a deep dive to choose and enjoy a Port.
Barrels of delicious flavors ready to explore!
Ruby Port: This brightly-colored style is aged in the bottle and is delicious no matter the vintage. After fermentation, they're aged in stainless steel or concrete tanks that help preserve the fruity flavors. Ruby's are the most popular style, and it's an excellent introduction if you're new to Ports in general. They're fruit-forward and have notes of berries and plums.
Tawny Port: These lighter-bodied, amber-colored Ports are aged in wooden barrels for 10, 20, 30, or 40 years and then bottled. Add a Tawny to a Manhattan or Martini instead of vermouth, or sit back with a small glass on the rocks. (No smoking jacket and cigar necessary.) In this Port, you'll notice hazelnuts, dried fruit, and butterscotch notes.
White Port: Most Port is red, but you can find some made from white grapes. Like other Ports, enjoy this as a dessert wine, but it's best when served chilled with tonic and ice as a warm-weather aperitif or mixed with other creative cocktails.
Have fun exploring the many ways to enjoy Port other than just sipping after a meal. They're low in alcohol and can add complex flavors, interesting mouth feel, color, and body to a cocktail.
There's a wine for every taste! Enjoy a wine tasting at the Boston Winery and discover new flavors and types of wines.
