What is Port Wine? Exploring Ruby, Tawny, Vintage Port, and More

A Rich Heritage: The Story of Port Wine

Origins and History

A fascinating, adaptable wine, undeniably traditional and resolutely modern, Port is one of those wines that boasts an immense historical heritage. The name suggests that it originates from the city of Porto. However, it is in the heart of the spectacular Douro Valley, located more than a hundred kilometers to the east of the city, that the birthplace of Port is found.

The vineyards of Portugal have been known since Antiquity, but the history of Port took an extraordinary turn thanks to trade with England, caused by the embargo set by Colbert, Prime Minister to France's King Louis XIV in 1667 on English goods, and the subsequent signing of the trade Treaty of Methuen between England and Portugal in 1703.

The Birth of Modern Port

Port wine did not take to sea travel well and often arrived to England spoiled. A British merchant, Job Bearsley, had the idea of increasing the proportion of wine brandy, modifying the wine and stopping fermentation, while retaining residual sugars. Port was born. The resounding success of Port would also cause its endangerment by threatening the quality of the production. In 1756, the Marquis of Pombal limited the Douro vineyards by imposing production criteria. Without knowing it, he had just created the first delimited and regulated wine region in the world, well before the birth of the first AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) in France in 1936 with Chateauneuf-du-Pape. More than 400 years after its creation, the prosperity of the Port trade continues thanks to a perfectly orchestrated and centralized commercial organization from Vila Nova de Gaia, the historic trading district of Port merchants, where one can find the finest Houses such as Taylor's, Croft, Dow's, Quinta do Noval, Ramos Pinto or Fonseca.

Where is Port made?

The Douro River Valley: An iconic terroir

The Douro region is where Port wine is produced, covering almost 30,000 hectares of vineyards with small producers owning an average of 1 hectare of vines. There is a saying about this region: "9 months of winter and 3 months of hell." The climatic conditions in the Douro Valley are indeed harsh, with severe winters and very dry summers with scorching temperatures.

This region is cut off from the coast by the Marao mountains, which also block the rain-bearing winds blowing in from the Atlantic. The area enjoys a continental climate. The estates that cultivate fruit for the production of Port wines are known as Quintas, with many of the most prestigious Port houses owning their own and using fruit from these as well as fruit purchased from other Quintas. These houses often produce Single Quinta Vintage Port bottlings, which bear the name of their Quinta of origin on the label.

Three areas in the Douro Valley

The Douro Valley wine region is subdivided into three areas:

1. The Baixo Corgo is the westernmost area and closest to the mountains, where the vineyards receive the most rainfall, resulting in the highest yields. The wines from here tend to be lighter in style, destined to be enjoyed in their youth.

2. The Cima Corgo is where many of the region's best Port vineyards are located, producing concentrated and age-worthy wines.

3. The Douro Superior has the driest climate, where some of the best Vintage Ports originate.

The best Port wine vineyards can be found on the very steep hillsides bordering the Douro River and its many tributaries. The soils are made of schist, a metamorphic rock similar to slate. These soils capture just enough humidity to allow the vines to thrive even during the very dry summer, naturally limiting their yields and leading to highly concentrated and flavorful fruit.

Port Styles and Modern Appeal

Port wine is made from a wide variety of indigenous grape varieties and comes in different styles. Although white Port is available, the finest is red Port. Tawny, Ruby, Late Bottled Vintage (L.B.V) and finally the most noble, Vintage Port. Port is the result of ancestral know-how which is expressed through its complexity and its exceptional aging potential.

A sweet red wine grown exclusively in the steep vineyards of Portugal's Douro River Valley with very traditional winemaking techniques, Port wines can seem intimidating even to the most experienced wine connoisseur. These are bottles steeped in local custom and molded by centuries of treaties and trade, with brand names that hint at a fascinating story of continued British involvement over time.

Today, Port wines are living the most illustrious chapter of their history, with demand growing among a clientele that is more curious and knowledgeable than ever. From the brooding dark fruit of an LBV to the toffee and nougat of a Ten Year Old Tawny, the wisdom and complexity of a decades-old Vintage Port to the candied orange peel of a dry white expression, Port unlocks a world of dazzling aromas through bottles unparalleled in their potential to age. A tried-and-true must-have at any holiday table, but also a treat to sip and savor year-round, Port fully encapsulates the ethos of the modern wine consumer: to drink less but drink better.

Which Port wine style should I choose?

Ruby Port - For Beginners

A Ruby Port is generally a blend of wines from different vintages with an average barrel aging of 3 to 5 years, with a Ruby Reserve (or Finest Reserve) benefiting from a longer maturation period. Here, the fruit clearly dominates, with notes of red and black currants. It is a comparatively affordable Port wine that pairs excellently with spicy cheese and sweet desserts. After opening, this ruby-red sweet wine should be consumed quickly as it otherwise loses flavor.

Tawny Port - For Advanced Drinkers

A Tawny ages for at least 5 years in 500-liter oak barrels. Contact with the wood and oxygen in the air has an oxidative effect on the wine. Depending on the aging time, there are various subcategories: The term Tawny Reserve is used for a Port wine that is 7 to 8 years old. But a Tawny can also be considerably older. There are Old Tawnys that have matured for 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years. Due to the longer barrel aging, it comes across as more mature than a Ruby. It often has notes of dried fruits or dark chocolate, with the fruit sweetness receding more into the background.

Vintage Port - For Connoisseurs and Collectors

This is the king of Port wines: The Vintage Port qualification is reserved for the finest examples from the best terroirs. These Port wines are produced only 3-4 times per decade and make up just 3% of Port wine production. All grapes used must come from the same vintage, and it is the only type of Port wine that matures exclusively in the bottle. After harvest, bottling typically occurs within two to three years; subsequently, the wine continues to mature in the bottle, which can take 10 to 50 years. Its aging potential is immense: Some specimens that are more than a century old are still absolutely exceptional in taste.

A Vintage Port should definitely be decanted before consumption to free the wine from its sediment, which forms during the long bottle aging.

Late Bottled Vintage Port - Between Tawny and Vintage

The Late Bottled Vintage (or LBV) is obtained like Vintage Port from a very good vintage and is aged 4 to 6 years in wooden barrels, allowing for slow oxidative development. These Port wines appear somewhat lighter in the glass and are ready to drink earlier.

The Different Quality Levels

Bottle-Matured Port Wines

Bottle-matured Rubys are entry-level Port wines. These Ports are ready to drink and vary in their maturation time and grape varieties used. The lower categories start with the standard Ruby, moving up to Reserve Ruby and Crusted Port (which contains sediment), up to LBV (long bottled vintage) and the exclusive Vintage Port, which matures exclusively in the bottle and represents the pinnacle of quality.

Barrel-Aged Port Wine Styles

Among barrel-aged Tawnys, there are also different quality levels. These range from standard Tawny to Old Tawny, which can mature above-average vintages in pipes (traditional barrels) for 10, 20, 30, or 40 years. Colheita Ports, which are aged for at least seven years and can also be up to 40 years old, differ from Old Tawnys in that they consist of a single vintage, while Old Tawnys are blends of different vintages from the same age group. For this reason, Colheitas are often referred to as vintage Ports.

Vintages Not to Miss

Some vintages remain unforgettable. One of the greatest years for Port wine is the 1994 vintage, considered one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century, with exceptional complexity and structure. The 2000 vintage also produced Port wines distinguished by their great aromatic and mouth-filling concentration, while the 2007 excelled with its racy, intensely fruity Port wines full of freshness.

The 2016 vintage represented the last exceptional vintage, declared for harvest in April 2018. The 2016 Vintage Port is the promise of a wine that will define its century due to its elegance, finesse, wonderful tannin structure, and vibrant acidity.

The Most Important Grape Varieties for Port Wine

Port wine is predominantly produced in red and includes grape varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cao, and Tinta Barroco. The sweet wine is usually made as a Porto Blend, a mixture of different grape varieties. White Port is made from the grape varieties Malvasia Fina, Codega, Arinto, Cercial, and Rabigato.

Touriga Nacional - Portugal's Royal Grape

The indigenous grape variety Touriga Nacional is one of the most prominent and widespread vines in Portugal and is a popular component for high-quality Port wines. It is increasingly being used in the production of dry red wines - and not just on Portuguese soil. The variety produces balanced, aromatically intense reds with velvety tannins and pleasant acidity. The diverse aroma spectrum ranges from bergamot to rosemary to violets. In addition, the grape is known for its outstanding aging potential.

Food and Port pairing

The many diverse types of Port wine make this a highly versatile food pairing wine:

• Younger Ruby Ports: Pair beautifully with classic desserts like cherry pie or chocolate ganache, along with blue cheeses.

• LBV Port wines: Traditionally paired with sheep's milk cheeses (like the local Queijo da Serra) but will also go nicely with dark chocolate desserts like German chocolate cake or a molten lava cake.

• Vintage Port wines: Pair beautifully with strong blue cheeses, like Stilton, Roquefort or Gorgonzola. Also good with desserts including dark chocolate, walnuts or figs.

• Tawny Ports: Their tertiary aromas of spiced toffee and dried apricots go beautifully with smoked cheeses or desserts featuring caramel, like crème brulee.

• White Port: A chilled glass will go perfectly with a handful of salted nuts or gourmet potato chips.

Port Wine FAQ

What makes a good Port wine?

Taylor's, Graham's, Niepoort, Dow's, Fonseca, Ramos Pinto: All these prestigious wine houses are synonymous with high-quality Port wine. What ultimately constitutes a good Port wine depends on personal taste and the occasion.

A classic, fruity-fresh Ruby is a popular aperitif in Portugal. Older Tawnys are perfect companions to hearty-noble appetizers: The French love it with foie gras. The fat harmonizes extraordinarily well with the oxidative note of the Tawny. Vintage Ports pair perfectly with dark meats such as game, goose, duck, or also with strong cheese or chocolate desserts, but can also be drunk solo as the highlight of a nice evening.

What is white Port wine (or White Port)?

White Port is a semi-dry variant with a subtle sweetness. The maturation time varies depending on the type. In taste, White Port often presents itself as woody with hints of exotic fruits. It pairs particularly well with light dishes such as salad, fruits, or cake and offers a refreshing alternative to the darker Port wines.

How high is the alcohol content of Port wine?

The alcohol content of Port wine is usually between 19 and 22 percent. It is thus higher than that of red wine, which is usually between 12 and 15 percent - and also exceeds that of sherry, which must have a minimum alcohol content of 15 percent. The sweet wine comes in at a proud average of 158 calories per glass.

Port vs. Wine: What is the difference?

The main difference lies in the production and alcohol content. Wine is produced by fermenting grape must, whereby the natural sugar content of the grapes is converted into alcohol. Port wine is a sweet wine from Portugal that is enriched with brandy during the fermentation process. This stops the fermentation, keeping the Port wine sweeter and giving it a higher alcohol content compared to classic wine.

Madeira vs. Port: What is the difference?

Madeira is produced on the eponymous Portuguese island. The subtropical climate and volcanic soils influence the taste and texture. Madeira is predominantly made from white grapes. The color varies between golden yellow, amber, and mahogany. After the interruption of fermentation, it undergoes a special heat treatment known as "estufagem," which simulates the conditions of a long sea voyage and gives Madeira wine its typical aromas of sweet fruit jam, vanilla, toffee, and chocolate.

Sherry vs. Port: What is the difference?

Sherry comes from Spanish Jerez and is enriched with brandy after complete fermentation, leading to a variety of dry to sweet styles. Port wine is fortified with brandy during fermentation, stopping the fermentation and keeping the wine sweeter. Sherry often matures in the so-called Solera system, which mixes different vintages, while Port wine generally undergoes a longer bottle or barrel maturation. Port wine is generally sweeter, while Sherry offers more dry variants.

Should I decant Port?

Tawny Ports typically throw their sediment before bottling so they will not need to be decanted. Fined and filtered styles, like most Ruby Ports, will also not need to be decanted. However, unfiltered LBV Port and Vintage Ports that have aged in bottle for a longer period of time will often have significant sediment, which must be removed before serving.

At what temperature should I serve Port?

To fully enjoy these sweet wines from Portugal, we recommend serving them in a Port wine glass, which is smaller than a regular wine glass. The typical serving size is roughly 3 oz. Younger Ruby Ports and LBV will be best enjoyed slightly chilled (55°F to 65°F), while Tawny Ports should be served cool (55°F to 60°F). Vintage Ports are best when served at cellar temperature (around 65°F).