Port Wine

How much do you know about Port Wine?

 

You must have heard the name of 'Port Wine' off and on as a special type of wine. Why do we call it "port" wine, what type of wine is it and what is it all about?

 

Demystifying The Port Wine

 

The history of this wondrous wine can be traced to the Douro Valley wineries in Portugal. It is commonly served with dessert because of its sweetish qualities. You will find this wine richer, heavier and more sweeter than other wines. There are many variations of this wine, but two tower above the others, i.e. the oxidative aged and the reductive aged port wines.

 

There are five grape varieties that go into the making of the port wine and these are, the Tinta Roza, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Fanacesas, Tinot Cao, and Tina Barroca all of which are grapes that grow in the Douro Valley (Portugal).

 

The port wine which has been matured within the barrel with very limited exposure to oxygen is known as wine that is oxidative aged wine while the wine that has not been exposed to oxygen at all is known as reductive aged wine.

  

Some Great Port Wines

 

The name port wine encompasses a vast number of different types of wines of all color and taste. White Port is aged for about three years and it has a dry type flavor. Another port wine is aged for about seven years, this is called Colheita Port. Only one year's harvest grapes are used to make this wine, whereas other wines are made from grapes from different harvest years.

 

Among the more expensive one are the Tawny Port which is aged for a very long time – anything between ten and forty years and the Vintage Port which can be aged for about 50 years in the bottle itself; the Single Quinta Port is another wine that is aged for about 50 years as well. Port wines are in great demand all over the world, and correctly so.

 

The Crusted Port is another type of wine that needs mention. There are always sediments in the bottle as the wine is not filtered when it is bottled. 

 

To learn more about different wines go to Understanding About the Different Types of Wine and Red Wine Is A Wonderful Beverage