An insight into port
November 3, 2008
People in Europe have no better alternative than a port after a meal. It is a wine which is considered as the best all over the world. The origin of port lies in Portugal. It was a time when British traveled to Portugal. They were quite fond of French wines, which theycould locate anywhere in Portugal. So, to develop a taste according to them, the British added brandy to heavy Portuguese wine; thus enabling the emergence of Port. However, this was not popular in Britain immediately, but was later accepted as one of the best among the wines.
Port is one of the various varieties produced in Portugal, in the same way as champagne is produced. It is basically produced in northeastern Portugal. The major source of it is grapes. The grapes are then sent to Rio Douro to the town of Oporto. Most of the port manufacturers are located in that area. The manufacturing of it takes plenty of time and is an extremely lengthy and complicated process. It is supplied widely all over the world. Many other countries, like Australia, U.S., Canada and South Africa, are involved in the production of fortified wines. However, these products cannot be named as port. The complete regulation of manufacturing port lies in the hands of Portuguese wine institute, the Instituto do Vinho do Porto (IVP).
Types of Ports
There are many types of ports that have been given certification by the IVP for production. The quality differs from port to port. It is dependent on various factors like time taken to make it, quality of grapes used, and the process of making it. Let us discuss about various types of ports.
• Ruby port- It is the least expensive and should be drunk immediately after the opening of the seal.
• Tawny port- It serves as a good starter for the beginners. It comes in 10, 20, 30, and 40 year old versions, out of which 20 year old version is considered as the best.
• Colheita- It is a kind of port which is rarely found and should be finished within a year. It has a flavor of rich dry fruits.
• White port- It should be consumed chilled. It has a unique taste, which is not accepted world wide.
• Vintage character port- It is the enhanced version of the ruby port. It has a fruit flavor.
• Single quinta estate port- It is available at very less price and kept for a longer period. It is the next best thing after vintage port.
• Late bottled vintage port- It should be drunk sooner after opening the bottle. Though, it can be kept for some time, but it is preferred to finish it up soon.
• Vintage port- It is the king of all the ports. It is the most expensive and is considered the best.
Thus, it is clearly visible that there are a variety of ports. A beginner should start with light ports, like tawny or ruby. Also, it is always advisable to go for a port from the recognized vendors.





























