This process takes up to 3 days and then the wine is transferred into fermentation tanks where they continue to ferment until the optimal sugar level is reached. The measure of sugar level is called Baumé.

Well, you can’t make port. In fact, even if your home was in Portugal, there would be a great number of hurdles to conquer first. We’ll talk you through the process of making this fortified wine, starting with picking the grapes. This Old Tawny is matured in Scotch Whiskey barrels.

Port is a Portuguese wine that is made by adding distilled grape spirit, usually brandy, to a wine base. The addition of the high-alcohol spirit stops fermentation and “fortifies” the wine. All grapes must be grown and processed in this specific region.

One of the most important qualities of true Port is the unique blend of Portuguese indigenous grapes. Port grapes include Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (aka Tempranillo), Tinta Barroca and Tinta Cão, and there are said to be at least 52 varieties! Each grape adds a unique flavor to the blend.

Properties. Port wine is typically richer, sweeter, heavier, and higher in alcohol content than unfortified wines. This is caused by the addition of distilled grape spirits to fortify the wine and halt fermentation before all the sugar is converted to alcohol, and results in a wine that is usually 19% to 20% alcohol.

If you want to explore more complex Port with some aging, you’ll find the best balance between aging and affordability with a 20 year Tawny Port. Expect to pay between $30 – 50. I realize this is higher than the typical price range of wines I normally write about, but it’s not a typical wine.

Cheapest Port Wine

Port wine is very versatile and can be paired with many different kinds of food. It is most commonly served at the end of the meal with a selection of fine cheeses, dried fruits and walnuts. It can, however, be served chilled as a delicious aperitif such as Taylor Fladgate’s Chip Dry and Tonic.

A bottle of Port has the advantage over a regular wine of having a longer open bottle shelf life. Depending on the style it can be kept for 4 to 12 weeks once opened. The full-bodied Founders Reserve Ruby Port may fade after 4 or 5 weeks, while Sandeman’s 10 or 20 Year Old Tawny will be great even after 10 or 12 weeks.

After opening, you’ll need to store port wine in the fridge in an upright position, since it won’t be tightly sealed any more. It’s up to you whether you wish to keep it in a dedicated wine fridge or in a standard kitchen refrigerator after opening.

A sign of Port losing its vitality and character – is the berry fruits and chocolate notes moving more towards nutty notes, which will get more pronounced and tired. A rule of thumb; the older the Port wine, ‘once opened’ – the shorter the time that it can be stored and enjoyed.

The simplest and most traditional way of serving Port is as an after dinner digestif in a cordial glass, or with ice in an Old Fashioned (rocks) glass. Put ice in a tumbler, add Sandeman Porto Founders Reserve over ice and stir well with a bar spoon. Garnish with a slice of Orange and a fresh sprig of mint.

Port wine is very versatile and can be paired with many different kinds of food. It is most commonly served at the end of the meal with a selection of fine cheeses, dried fruits and walnuts. It can, however, be served chilled as a delicious aperitif such as Taylor’s Chip Dry and Tonic.

You are correct! The better tawny ports are aged in oak barrels at least seven years. Ruby port on the other hand is younger and only spends around 2.5 years in oak barrels. It is a blend of grapes from various vintages and is meant to be enjoyed soon after bottling.

Since most Port is red wine, the rule of thumb of serving it at a cool room temperature around 64 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit applies. But aged, less tannic Ports can easily be enjoyed slightly chilled.

Late bottled and aged tawny port wines do not require aeration since they are matured in oak vats and casks. Being processes in oak vats and casks, they develop into their full flavors, so aerating will not add anything to the taste.

Foods that Pair Well With Port Wine

• Cheese. Wine and cheese is a common food-drink pairing, but switching out your bottle of red for a Port can enhance the experience.
• Chocolate Cake.
• Creating a Port Wine Sauce.
• Sorbet.
• Pickles and Olives.

Port Wine Health Benefits Port wine, when had in moderation, offers potential health benefits, including its ability to prevent heart disease, and lower overall cholesterol levels.

Because of that sweetness, the average serving size for a dessert wine is only 2 to 3 ounces. A fortified wine such as a 2000 Quinta de Roriz Vintage port from Portugal has about 6 grams of sugar in a 2-ounce serving and 24 calories from sugar and 83 calories from alcohol.

Wine & Weight Loss: The Reality. While some of the phenolic compounds in wine may help with weight loss there’s one essential fact never to forget. While wine doesn’t contain fat, if you consume more calories than you burn off, you won’t lose any weight.