Welcome to port for beginners! In this handy guide, we take you through the essential aspects of this delicious drink, so that you can talk with confidence about all things porto...
A bit of history...
Port wine (also called port or porto) is originally from Portugal, and is named after the city of Porto - a major port city by the sea, at the mouth of the Douro River. It is a fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. The exact origins of port are not fully documented, but it is widely believed that the English played an important role in its development.
During the 17th century, the English were already importing wine from Portugal. To better preserve the wine while travelling by sea, traders in the 17th century began adding a little brandy to the wine, increasing its alcohol concentration and shelf life. This process of fortification made the wine more resistant to spoilage during the long journey across the Atlantic to England.
Today, port is appreciated all over the world and there are different styles, ranging from dry to sweet and from young to long-aged port wines. And this blog wouldn't be 'Porto for dummies' if we didn't delve deeper into this,right? Lets go!
How is porto made?
The magic of port begins with the harvesting of grapes in the beautiful Douro Valley, usually from September to October. After the grapes are carefully pressed, the fermentation process begins where natural yeast cells convert the sugars in the grape juice into alcohol. But here comes the interesting part - halfway through this process, a powerful brandy is added, stopping the fermentation and giving the wine its distinctive sweetness and higher alcohol content. The port is then aged in large wooden barrels, where it develops its complex flavour before being bottled and ready to enjoy.
What is the difference between port and wine?
So in fact, port is also wine, but with a twist! While ordinary wine is made by letting nature take its course during the fermentation process, port wine is fortified by adding brandy. This not only gives it a higher alcohol content, but also that sweet, luscious flavour we love so much.
What types of port are there?
We distinguish between 5 different main categories of port in this blog: Ruby Port, Tawny Port, White Port, Vintage Port and Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port.
Ruby Port
Ruby port, also called red port, is a young and fruity style of port. It is characterised by its vibrant red colour and intense fruity flavours of cherries, raspberries and sometimes berries. Red port is usually aged briefly in barrels and is often bottled and sold as a young wine, without further maturation in bottle.
Graham's Six Grapes is a specific variety of ruby port produced by Graham's. It is a blend of different vintages and grape varieties, mainly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. Six Grapes is known for its quality and is considered one of Graham's most accessible and affordable port wines. It is therefore highly recommended, especially for lovers of fruity, young port wines.
An opened bottle of Ruby Port can generally be kept in the fridge for about 1 to 2 weeks before the flavour starts to wane.
Tawny Port
Tawny port is a style of port wine characterised by its amber hue and complex flavour profile. Tawny port is obtained through long maturation (sometimes even decades) in wooden barrels. It can be divided into several categories based on age, such as Tawny port, Tawny port with an age indication (such as 10, 20, 30 or 40 years) and Colheita port, which is produced from grapes from a single vintage and aged for a long period, usually at least seven years, but sometimes even decades.
Tawny Port, especially if it has been aged for some time, can last slightly longer than Ruby Port. An opened bottle of Tawny Port can usually be stored in the fridge for about two to four weeks.
White port
White port is a style of port wine produced from white grape varieties rather than red grape varieties, as is common with red and Tawny port. White port can be further divided into three categories: dry white port, medium white port and sweet white port. It is produced in a similar way to red port, but with a shorter ageing time in wooden barrels to preserve freshness and fruitiness.
Vintage Port
Vintage port is the crème de la crème of port wines, known for its unparalleled quality and exclusivity. It is made from grapes from just one harvest season, making each bottle tell a unique story about that particular year. Only in exceptional years, when the grapes are of exceptional quality, is Vintage port produced. As a result, the growing conditions of the grapes, including the weather, soil and health of the vines, are vital to the final taste and quality of the wine.
Unlike other port styles, Vintage porto is aged for a relatively short time and usually not filtered before bottling. This gives the wine a chance to continue to evolve in the bottle and develop its natural sediment. Vintage portos stored properly are often the gems of the port world, and each glass offers an unforgettable experience.
Because Vintage porto has a higher alcohol content and more tannins, it can last longer than Ruby or Tawny porto after the bottle is opened. It can stay good for several weeks or even several months if properly sealed and stored in the fridge.
Late Bottled Vintage Port (LBV Port)
Like Vintage porto, LBV porto is produced from grapes from a single vintage. Unlike vintage porto, which is bottled after only two years of barrel maturation, LBV porto undergoes a longer maturation period in wooden barrels. This usually ranges from four to six years. Late Bottled Vintage porto generally has more complexity and depth than Ruby porto, but less than Vintage porto.
LBV porto is a popular choice for port wine lovers looking for a compromise between the youthful freshness of Ruby porto and the depth and complexity of Vintage porto.
How to drink port?
Port wine is not just a drink to enjoy as an aperitif before dinner or as a digestive after a delicious meal. It is also a versatile ingredient that can add a sophisticated touch to culinary creations. Port's rich flavours and complex aromas make it a perfect addition to a variety of dishes: from enriching sauces to refining desserts - the possibilities are endless.
How long can you keep a bottle of port?
The shelf life of an open bottle of port depends on the type of port and how well it is stored. It is important to always seal the opened bottle of port well with the original cork or an airtight stopper and keep it in the fridge to minimise oxidation. It is also recommended to store the bottle upright to prevent the cork from coming into contact with the port, which can lead to changes in flavour and aroma.
Discover our Graham's starter kit
Now that you've become a porto pro and know all the ins and outs, it's high time to move on to the fun part: tasting port! Luckily, we are ready to get you started with our awesome Graham's starter set.
In this ultimate Graham's set, you'll discover the following references in the Graham's range, and can also discover the differences between Graham's numerous Tawny ports: Fine Ruby, Fine White, Fine Tawny, the Six Grapes Reserve, Tawny Reserve, Tawny 10y, Tawny 20y and a Late Bottled Vintage 2018 .
Your first steps into the porto world with a sample kit
Rather not bet on a full set right away, but first carefully take your first steps into the port wine world? Then these sample kits might be of interest to you!
Graham's Bicentenary Collection
To celebrate its bicentenary, leading porto house and Royal Warrant holder Graham's has launched a collection of world-famous portos in a specially designed piece of furniture. The project was due to be announced in 2020, but was postponed due to the pandemic.
The Bicentenary Collection consists of six Single Harvest Tawny Ports and six classic Vintage Ports, including wines from 1963, 1994 and 2011, which have been hailed as some of the greatest "declared vintage" vintages of the past two centuries. All Vintage Ports were aged under ideal conditions at Graham's cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. Single Harvest Tawny Ports have been specially selected and bottled for the Bicentenary Collection, including two from 2000 and 2006 that have never been released before.
Each wine has been carefully selected by members of the 3rd, 4th and 5th generations of the Symington family - port producers since 1882 and owners of Graham's since 1970. The collection is presented in a cabinet made of extremely rare santos rosewood by Portuguese master joiners WeWood. The collection is complemented by a hand-blown decanter and a set of wine glasses produced by Jancis Robinson MW in collaboration with renowned British designer Richard Brendon, further a stylish two-piece Durand corkscrew and a custom-made decanter by Porto-based silversmith Ourivesaria Coutinho.
Marketing • Blogger
As a creative jack-of-all-trades in the marketing world, I also bring that imaginative flair to my drink choices. Whether on a night out, sunny vacation or social gathering with girlfriends, I'm always in my element with a refreshing cocktail in hand. Cocktails have stolen my heart because of the endless possibilities to experiment and explore. My favorite cocktail of the moment is the "Lazy Red Cheeks"! A delicious cocktail using vodka as a base. I love vodka because it mixes perfectly with non-alcoholic drinks. My favorite spirit? Rum!
