As you may or may not know…I’m not a sweet wine kind of gal. I have tried various sweet wines in the past and they never did much for me. The only one that I enjoyed was a Tawny Port that I tried. It had been aged 20 years and it was lovely! It was sweet without being “candy” sweet. It had a nice blend of caramel and cinnamon. A very nice ending to my meal!

So, I thought that I’d switch gears and talk about this sweet elixir from Portugal.

First, a bit about Port wine in general. There are many different styles of Port that are made from various grapes grown mostly in the Douro Valley in Portugal. You can find White Port, Rosé Port, Ruby Port, and Tawny Port. We’ll explore the two most popular: Ruby and Tawny.

What’s the difference between these two? Well, Ruby Port has berry and chocolate flavors and is slightly less sweet, Tawny Port has more caramel and nutty flavors and is sweeter. But that’s just the beginning.

Some of the unique aspects of Port wine include the way it is fermented. Traditionally, the grapes are crushed in a lagar(a large trough) using foot power or stomping to crush the grapes. Recently they have switched to automatic “foot power” but some wineries revert to the traditional method of stomping. Sounds like fun, right?

Another aspect is that for authentic Port, the grapes must come from Portugal. This is similar to the champagne from France. True champagne must have grapes from the Champagne area of France.

Anyway, back to Port…

There are basically 3 levels of Ruby Port. All exhibit the berry/chocolate/cinnamon profile in different degrees:

  • Ruby Port: Sweet, fruity, and affordable. This wine is meant to be drunk right away. No aging needed.
  • Reserve: A Premium Port that has the fruity, sweet flavors but is meant to be drunk right away.
  • Late Bottled Vintage (LBV): A single vintage Port that has been aged for 2-3 years in the barrel, then bottled and aged for additional period. Best LBV Port is aged for 20-40 years.

Tawny Port has 5 levels and they are mostly about aging. The unique flavors evolve over time. These Ports are blended with different vintages.

  • Tawny Port: Basic Tawny Port has aged about 2 years and has subtle nutty notes.
  • 10-year Tawny Port: 10 years of barrel aging. Flavors of raspberry and cinnamon come through.
  • 20-year Tawny Port: 20 years of barrel aging. Caramel and cinnamon flavors and aromas become prominent.
  • 30-year Tawny Port: 30 years of barrel aging. A smoothness comes through with more nutty and caramel.
  • 40-year Tawny Port: 40 years of barrel aging. Smooth, nutty and the distinct flavors of butterscotch/toffee and vanilla. Sweet and can be expensive.

Port is a sipping wine to be enjoyed after a meal or with a cheese/dessert tray.

Pairings for this sweet wine include:

  • Cheese: Blue Cheese, Brie, Stilton, Aged Cheddar or Gouda
  • Desserts: Chocolate anything, Cherry Pie, Caramel Apple desserts
  • Fruits & Nuts: Salty nuts, figs, dried fruits, olives

Make a special charcuterie board!

Port should be served at around 60 degrees F in a smaller wine glass. The pour is about 3 ounces due to its higher alcohol content and sweetness.

After opening, a Ruby Port should stay fresh for about 2 weeks and a Tawny Port should stay fresh for about a month. They may stay fresh longer using a vacuum preserver pump. It keeps the oxygen out of the wine and allows it to remain fresh.

Try a Port wine the next time you are looking for something a bit different or extravagant…your choice! Sometimes it’s nice to have a smooth, decadent sip after a delicious meal or with a yummy dessert. Try one and introduce your friends to it…think outside your comfort zone. I did and was pleasantly surprised!

 Cheers!