The Lifestyle Blog of Table & Vine

  • Home
  • Our Favorite Wines
  • Recipes
  • Spirits and More
  • Website
  • World Travels
  • Contact Me
    • Michael Quinlan
  • Scots Gold

What is Port?

  • Spirits and More

What is Port

Port starts off similar to other still wines as far as the production process goes. Grapes are harvested in the fall after a season of significant struggle in low-nutrient, dry schist soil in the patchwork of Douro Valley vineyards.

Next, the grapes are pressed to extract the juice and initiate fermentation. Many Port producers still embrace traditional foot treading in open air lagares (large stone or cement tanks) for pressing the fruit, though there is increasing use of mechanical treaders, which are fashioned after the human foot. After treading, the grape must—the fresh-pressed juice along with the seeds, stems, and skins—ferments for several days, until alcohol levels reach around 7 percent.

At this point, the young wine is fortified with brandy to bring the fermentation process to a sudden stop and to capture the new wine’s youthful fruit nuances. This fortification will leave the residual sugar levels considerably higher than most still wines, typically in the 100 g/L range.

Finally, the batch of baby Port is pumped into large oak casks, typically for 18 months or so of aging. At the year and a half mark, these young Port wines are blended with other lots of Port wine to find complementary components that will ultimately deliver a delicious wine with well-defined fruit, friendly palate appeal, and overarching balance. The young Port may then be transferred to bottles for further aging or receive additional time in a cask.

How Port Tastes

Port is a sweet wine with flavors of raspberry, blackberry, caramel, cinnamon, and chocolate sauce.

There are several styles of port, but the 2 major styles of Port include a red Port with more berry and chocolate flavors (and slightly less sweetness), and a tawny-colored Port with more caramel and nut flavors (and more sweetness).

Older, fine Tawny Ports have an even wider array of subtle flavors including graphite, green peppercorn, hazelnut, almond, butterscotch, and graham cracker. Look for wines aged for 30 or more years for this level of complexity!

What are the Different Types of Port 

There are many different official categories of Port, but most fall under these 4 categories:

  • Ruby (Red) Port: a deeply-colored red Port which includes Vintage, Late-bottled Vintage (LBV), Crusted and Ruby Port
  • Tawny Port: a very sweet barrel-aged port with oxidative nut and caramel flavors
  • White Port: made with indigenous white grapes including Rabigato, Viosinho, Gouveio and Malvasia
  • Rosé Port: This is a new style of Port wine made like rosé wine with flavors of strawberry, violets and caramel

How to Serve Port

Port should be served just below room temperature, around 60 °F. A popular way to serve Ruby Port in the summer (with a meal) is on the rocks with a peel of lime!

Shop Port at Table & Vine

 

Credit:
Wine Folly

 

How to Learn More Port Port Wine What is
December 10, 2019 Table & Vine

Post navigation

DAY ONE – The Jack Frost → ← Vinus, Legend of the Heron

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Posts

Evan Williams Bourbon Ice Cream Float

Evan Williams Bourbon Ice Cream Float 2 scoops vanilla ice cream 1/2 cup carbonated beverage 2 tablespoons (1 oz.) Evan Williams bourbon Freeze a 16-ounce glass 10 minutes. Add ice […]

The Great Pumpkin

“It’s the Great Pumpkin, T&V customers!” Pumpkin is an Autumn staple, and the flavor is at the forefront of this cocktail. If you’re looking for a Fall themed drink, this […]

Apple Cider Margarita 

Our Apple Cider Margarita is a versatile cocktail that can served hot or cold. Regardless of your preparation preference, the warm fall flavors of apple and spices is sure to […]

Zombie Smash 

Our strongest drink of the bunch, the Zombie Smash, is also the easiest one to make. This cocktail is light, refreshing, and tastes similar to a strawberry lemonade. With only […]

Recent Posts

Stony Creek Brewery

Stony Creek Brewery

THE CRANKY’S Our Flagship IPAs. These things are crushable at all levels. Whether you’re feeling just a little cranky, or feeling like a big cranky, these Cranky’s are sure to […]

More Info
Rosé Wines

Rosé Wines

All about Rosé. Rosé should be drunk young, while fresh and vibrant, so look for a recent vintage. Ensure your wine is well chilled before serving, but not so cold […]

More Info
Caramelized Onion Lager Dip

Caramelized Onion Lager Dip

This Yuengling Caramelized Onion Lager Dip is perfect for game day or any day, actually. 1–2 large yellow onions, small dice (approximately 2 cups) 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter 1 tsp […]

More Info
Golden Pilsner Nachos

Golden Pilsner Nachos

Yuengling Golden Pilsner Nachos are perfect for game time – or anytime, actually! 1 bag corn tortilla chips Pilsner Beer Queso  2 Tbsp. butter ¼ cup yellow onions, minced ¼ […]

More Info
Powered by WordPress | theme Dream Way