What is Port Wine, and what is it good with?

No, the name port wine has absolutely nothing to do with sailing or ports of call. It is, in fact, from a shorten version of where the vineyards that bottle this wine are located. Port wine is bottled in the Douro region of Portugal, and then shipped all over the world.

Port Wine Styles:

There are at least five different styles of port wine that a connoisseur may enjoy. These include the Tawny Port, Garrafeira, ruby, white and vintage. The Tawny Port is a mellow red wine that is aged in wooden barrels; as they age, they become golden in color—hence the name tawny. Tawny ports of the same vintage (year) are called Colheitas.

Another port wine style is the Garrafeira. This is what is considered an intermediate vintage as it spends approximately six years aging in wooden barrels, then several more years in glass demijohns before finally being bottled and sold to consumers around the world. This is not one of the most common fermentation style, and can, therefore, be a bit more expensive when purchased by the bottle.

The next style of port wine is one that is the most commonly seen and is referred to simply as a ruby port. A ruby port is aged for a short period of time in stainless steel vats. When bottled and sold, it is a rich ruby red in color. The cousin to the ruby port is the white port. This port, like all white wines is made from white grapes and can range in taste from sweet to dry.

The flagship wine of Portugal is her vintage port wines. These wines are aged the longest, but only spend two years in wooden barrels: this helps the wine to maintain its trademark ruby color. After it is bottled, it is aged another ten to thirty years before considered viable for drinking. This means that a when you buy that vintage port to help your son celebrate his college graduation, it was probably bottled near the date of his birth!

What is Port Wine good with?

The red port wines, like any other red wine are good with steaks and other hearty meals; however, if you have chosen a white wine, then you may want to find a meal that is lighter like poultry or Asian dishes. Port wines from Portugal are some of the most impressive wines to ever grace a dinner table or celebration. Whether you choose one of the less expensive varieties, like a ruby port or the flagship vintage port, you can rest assured the wine will be of the best quality made.