ABC’s about Port – 10 things to know
Port requires some appreciation and the cool weather helps remind us to “drink more port!”
Rules – ABC’s – and the “10 things to Learn About Wine of Oporto”
1. Port can now only come from Portugal, the region of Oporto is on the Douro River Valley of Portugal.
2. Cabernet Port, Napa Port and Zinfandel Port are “styles” and not location based names.
3. Vintage Port only occurs during the best vintages (1960, 63, 66, 70, 75, 77, 83, 85, 91/92, 94, 97, 00, 03, and 2005).
4. Never have more than 3 vintages been declared in a single decade (that is threatened in the current decade) and never have back to back vintages ever been declared “universally” in Portugal.
5. Port wine is fortified by the addition of a spirit to 20% alcohol – leaving the ripeness and sweetness.
6. Vintage Port is made for long term “bottle aging” and represents the legacy of a winemaker (pressure is on!). A minimum of 10 years is recommended for a nice mature wine experience (and ideally 20 or more!), but drinking young vintage port can be fun until it shuts down and asks for cellaring (about 4-5 years after vintage).
7. Tawny Port is barrel aged and blended to create wines that are characterized in age styles – 10 year, 20 year, 30 year and 40 year.
8. Single vintage barrel aged wines are called “Coheitas” (sadly, not very common)
9. LBV – Late Bottle Vintage and branded house style ports – (Fonseca “Bin 27,” Grahams “Six Grape,” Warres “Warrior”) are made to be drank now and use a Non Vintage approach to blending, much like the Champangne region – crafting house styles from reserves and proper blending.
10. Port is not made for a cigar, port is made for drinking and conversation. It is healthy for the body to finish a meal with a glass of port, and it is healthy for the mind to continue conversation until your point is made clear or the person your trying to convince succumbs to superior worldly charm, enhanced of course by a nice glass of port.
Suggested foods
Vintage or Ruby – Chocolate and cheese, especially a nice blue veined cheese.
Tawny – Fruit pies like Pumpkin, Apple tarts, Carmel desserts, and ripe Cheeses
Questions
What is the most important grape used to make port wine?
What is the name of the liquor added to fortify port wine?
What else would you like to know about port?
Come back and see the answers and responses soon…. or visit our special class on Port – this Saturday 12/20 in Orange County California, or Sunday 12/21 in Los Angeles.
For information visit our calendar at www.learnaboutwine.com- Learn About Wine – The Source for Wine Education and Events.
