When talking about wine in Portugal it would be impossible to discuss the subject without at the very least mentioning Port wine.
Port is a fortified wine and for it to be actually acknowledged as a Port it must be made in the Douro Valley in the north of Portugal and although similar fortified wines are made in other parts of the world it is only ever Port if it is made in this region. This is thanks to guidelines from the European union Protected Designated of Origin but does mean that drinks labelled as “port” in the US do not have to come from this region to hold the name.
Port grapes come from the Douro region and wine is made from these grapes and then fortified with aguardente, a natural grape spirit drunk as a strong liqueur at times in Portugal. The adding of the grape spirit to the wine stops the fermentation process and leaves the new form of wine tasting much sweeter than normal wine while it is also now higher in alcohol content.
Many people talk about how port is fortified with brandy but this aguardente is very far from what people would normally associate with brandy and should not be confused with this other spirit.
After fortification the port is then stored and aged in barrels before finally being bottled and ready to serve.
Port got its name back in the 17th century because much of the port was brought for export to the city of Porto and it was at this time in 1756 that the Douro valley was established as a protected wine region making it the oldest wine region in the world thanks to its demarcation rules associated with it.
There are more than a hundred different grape varieties that can be used in the making of port however only five are really widely used. Of these the Touriga Nacional is the most desirable of all the grapes to use but these grapes are difficult to grow and cannot always be relied upon for a crop.
When looking for a suitable grape for the port growers seek out small, dense grapes to produce concentrated flavours and grapes that will also be suitable for long aging processes.
Port is a fantastic after dinner drink and is enjoyed across Portugal and the world. If you visit a restaurant in Portugal you will often be offered a port after your meal and port makes a great gift to take home to friends and family after a visit to Portugal.
When buying port you can pick up a bottle for as little as €5 however some of the oldest and most specialist ports can sell for several thousand a bottle!