If you’re heading to Portugal soon, you’ll surely want to sample all of its delicious flavors - including its wines. Interestingly enough, the first time you sit down for dinner in a fancy restaurant in this incredible country, you’ll most likely be offered Port wine. Before anything, you shouldn’t worry at all about your choice as this wine is truly second to none. You must be wondering, however - what is port wine?
Let us properly introduce you then, Port is a special fortified wine produced in the Duoro Valley, specifically around the river that flows around the Iberian Peninsula in northern Portugal. Although Port wines are a staple for the country, the US, Spain, and Australia are also known to produce it as well, though they’re not allowed to label it as such.
There are so many complexities behind port wines. For that reason, we’ll give you all the details about this Portuguese drink so you know exactly what you’re in for.
How is Port Wine Produced?
We all know there’s a lot of thought that goes behind making wine. Ports, on the other hand, require much more delicate attention to detail. Now that you know what is Port wine, let’s take a dive in its production.
Namely, Port wines are made of 80 different grape varieties, most of which grow along the Duoro Valley. Some of the most popular ones include Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cao, and Touriga Franca. Once the wine is made and before the sugar turns to alcohol, a special neutral grape spirit is added to enhance its flavor. This stops the fermentation process, resulting in a fortified dessert wine.
Then, Port wines are put in oak barrels where they age for many years. The oak influences the flavor by giving hints of vanilla and cedar, while the oxygenation makes it even more tantalizing.
Port Wine Types
There are four main types of Port wines - Ruby, tawny, late-bottled, and vintage.
Ruby Port wine is the most common type and it’s the most accessible one. It’s stored in stainless steel bottles to preserve their unique flavor. Also, the lack of oxygen helps the wine maintain its captivating ruby-red color.
Late-bottled Ports are another variation of the Ruby, although it has aged much longer. The grapes are selected from a single-year growth and they’re aged for over six years. Once it’s in the barrel, it gets all kinds of special flavors and it’s ready to drink once you pop off the cork.
Unlike Ruby, tawny Ports are aged in oak barrels rather than steel ones. They don’t allow water, but oxygenation is present meaning the air gives it a special nutty flavor.
Lastly, vintage Ports are the most exclusive and can come with a mind-whopping price. These are usually found in special estates where the wine has to be determined that it’s indeed vintage. Interestingly enough, some port wines are kept in cellars for centuries!
We hope we’ve cleared the air and we’ve answered the question of what is port wine. Luckily, you don’t have to go all the way to Portugal to sample their delectable wines, including Ports! All you have to do is check out our store and browse our special Portuguese wines.
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