![]() ![]() Porto is a beautiful city to explore and visitors are welcome at many of the lodges for tastings and tours, which I highly recommend. Adding the spirit also increases the alcohol content of Port wine which is usually in the 18-20% ABV range, whereas non-fortified red wines are typically 12 to 15%.Īfter fermentation, most producers transfer their Port wine to their cellars (known as lodges) in the city of Porto, a three or four hours drive away and closer to the sea, where the humidity is ideal for aging the wines. During fermentation, a clear grape spirit (usually brandy) is added, which stops the fermenting process, thereby preserving many of the grapes’ natural sugars and giving Port its signature sweetness. Unlike traditional still wine that is fermented dry, Port is fortified. But don’t worry, you won’t be tested on these names!įrom Grapes to Port: The Fortification Process White Port, on the other hand, comes from obscure white wine grapes like Códega, Gouveio, and Malvasia Fina. Port is always a blend of different native grape varieties, and there are dozens of them, most of which you probably haven’t heard of, with the most common being red: Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinat Barroca, Tinto Cão, and Tinta Roriz (aka Tempranillo). Douro also has the distinction of being the world’s first officially demarcated wine region, created in 1756, the only place in the world that can produce authentic Port. ![]() ![]() To be called Port, the grapes must be grown in the Upper Douro region of northern Portugal, the most mountainous wine region in the world and a Unesco World Heritage Site. In very basic terms, Port can be divided into three categories: ruby, which matures mostly in the bottle and is named for its dark purplish ruby red color, tawny which ages in wooden barrels and has a tawny brownish color, and white, made in both aged and unaged versions, and like white wine, is pale or golden yellow in color. Port is one of the world’s greatest fortified sweet wines, yet getting a handle on its many styles and knowing which type to buy can be difficult. ![]()
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