Welcome to Port.

On the stormy seas of wintertime, there’s nothing that comforts on a cold evening like a glass of Port—the world-famous fortified wine from Portugal that is replicated, but never replaced, the world over.

Port starts with a base wine, usually anchored in the varietal Touriga Nacionale but often augmented by other grape varieties. About 1/3 through the fermentation process, the wine is “fortified” by adding a neutral grape brandy (called aguardente) that boosts the alcohol to around 20% and allows much of the residual sugar in the wine to remain, creating a sweeter desert-style wine.

Imitated across many New World vineyards, true Port comes from northern Portugal along the incredibly steep banks of the Douro River, terraces built by hand centuries ago. It is the most revered wine in that country, and for good reason: The process produces a wine of tremendous depth, color, flavor, and complexity.

Port comes in two distinct styles—Ruby and Tawny—and different levels of quality in each. The price, complexity, and age-ability of the wine depends on the quality of the vintage year, the length of aging, and the location of aging (cask or bottle)… so the best Ports come from an exceptional vintage, age at least some years in cask, and come from the best quintas (vineyards). The best Rubys will be labeled with a vintage year (most Ports are not) and will take on deep raison-y sweetness; the best Tawnys will be labeled 20 - 40 years, depending on cask time, and take on a nutty character.

The sweet spot (pun intended) for us is the Late Bottled Vintage Port that runs about $20, in comparison to a true vintage Port which will run you close to $100. But whatever your wallet will allow, warm up your palette this winter with a glass of your favorite.

Salute and Cheers!