Port Wines Come From Portugal

The Douro River Valley is located in the northerly part of Portugal and is where the mixture of grapevines are grown to make port wine. The wine was made for merchant vessels  and to some people's surprise reached all over the world. Port wine for the novice, is traditionally served as a dessert wine, they are known for the sipping wine at social events. Port wine is different from other types of wine since it has an higher than normal alcohol content; the majority range between 19% and 22% by volume. The elements and flavours added to the wine can make it a really fragrant wine. The cost  depends on the different styles of port wine.

Tawny Port Wines

Tawny Ports are lighter in colour, older, and clearly drier than Ruby Port. Tawny Ports, which is very similar to Ruby Port, have been known not to better with added bottle old age and are outstandingly stable once opened. The difference between a Vintage Port from one producer and another is simply the deviation in "house style," as is the way that the style of a Brut Champagne varies from one house and another. Tawny Ports are often served after dinner, either alone or with desserts that are quite sweet like chocolates. Tawny Reserve port has been known to mature for a minimum of seven years in wooden casks, this is where it acquires a more nutty flavor. The older the Tawny becomes, it acquires more of a pale colour, which adds to more of a delicate flavour and produces a drier wine which brands the wine more expensive for the bottle. Where rainfall tends to be approximately 28 inches a year, which is very depleted for most countries, is where most of the high quality Tawny, LBV and Vintage ports are produced.

Traditionally, Port is served with a strong blue cheese such as Stilton, or fruit and chocolate.

Ports around the world are made in a similar style like Champagne, but are considered fake Ports. While these pretenders may be slightly fragrant and flavourful, they fail to seize the delicate balance between elegance and mightiness of a honest Port wine. Remember that port wine is very tasteful on its own and can be relished for several different functions. The best vintage port wines will not accomplish their pinnacle of maturity for 20, 30 and occasionally even 40 years. Vintage Ports, which account for only 2%of all Port wines created. These wines mature briefly in wood and then spend many years maturing in a bottle. While maturing in wood, port wine's fruity aroma evolves through oxidation to make a bouquet that is evocative of dried fruit, wood, and special spices.