Port Wine

This is a fortified wine. This is usually a dessert wine that goes great with cheese, dark chocolates and nuts
Port wine is a fortified wine from Douro valley in Portugal; it is a classical way of ending a meal .this wine is partially fermented after adding about 15-20% of brandy or alcohol. Depending upon how n when the fermentation is stopped the wine gets its taste from sweet to semi sweet or dry. It holds a spicy taste low in tannins and acidity yet very smooth.

Before all the natural sugar is converted into alcohol, high grade alcohol is added to it, this stops the fermentation and brings out a deep sweet color and flavor to the wine along with its existing sweetness.                                                                                           This method helps the wine soak up fruity flavor and gives it grater longevity. After this they are allowed to rest in oak casks.

Now we come to different varieties of this wine:

Vintage port: they are very grapy due to storing them in oak barrels up to 2yrs .these have to further be held in bottles for up to 20years for that great vintage taste. These years provide it the smoothness.

Ruby port: they are younger (avg 2yrs) and soak the brandy and yet retain their rich red ruby color .with a fruity aroma they leave a lingering freshness in ones mouth.
Tawny port: they are aged for 3-4 years in wooden barrels. They have more of nutty taste than fruity as they tend to lose their fruity flavor and develop an amber color. It is also called as “ports of the vintage”.
Wood port: they are finest of all and solely allowed to age in barrel and not in bottles.
Tinto barroco, Malyasia preta, Tinta roriz, Mourisco etc are some of the red varietals that are used for making port wines.