| This sweet Portuguese fortified wine is from the | | | | Ruby Port: This is the cheapest style, only aged 3-5 |
| Duoro Valley in the northern regions of Portugal. There | | | | years in stainles steel. |
| are similar wines produced worldwide but the true port | | | | White Port, is made from white grapes and is found |
| is from Portugal. There are several styles to choose | | | | dry to very sweet, and is served cold or over ice. |
| from, so here is a little help navigating the aisle and in | | | | Vintage Port represents only 2% of port production |
| choosing a good port. | | | | but is the flagship of all Portuguese wine is made |
| Tawny Port: This amber color wine starts out red but | | | | entirely from grapes from a declared vintage year of |
| is aged and mellows to this golden colored liquid and | | | | production. These wines are aged in their barrels for |
| takes on a nutty flavor from the wood casks. The | | | | but a short time, so they retain their deep ruby colour |
| age indicated 'in woods' indicates the time it spent in | | | | and fresh fruity flavors. Fine vintage ports can for |
| the cask, which ranges from 10, 20, 30 and over 40 | | | | decades continue to gain complexity and drink |
| years. | | | | wonderfully long after they were bottled. These are |
| Garrafeira isa more aged vintage style of Port made | | | | particularly sought after and expensive wines. Vintage |
| from single harvest grapes ingle harvest that combines | | | | port should not be confused with 'Late Bottle Vintage" |
| both the maturation of years spent in wood and | | | | which is a lesser wine. |
| further aging in large glass vessels called demijohns, | | | | Late Bottle Vintage is a grape that was designated |
| the the bulk of the time spent in the glass storage. | | | | Vintage but was left in the barrel too long due to lack |
| Presently, there is but one company, Niepoort, that | | | | of demand. |
| markets Garrafeiras. The word Garrafeira may be | | | | One of my favorite port makers is Taylor's Port, |
| found on some very old Tawny labels, where the | | | | Taylor Fladgate, Portugal. |
| contents of the bottle are of exceptional age. | | | | |