One of the most cherished wines in the world holds several assumptions that are not entirely accurate. The first is that when talking about Port wine, our minds wander to the beautiful city of Porto, when in reality, Port wine is produced in the Douro wine region and stored in Vila Nova de Gaia, not in Porto.
Another widely spread idea that leads to keeping bottles of Port wine at home for decades is that the older Port wine is, the better it becomes, which is not entirely true as it depends on the style of Port wine; not all Port wines are made to last for years.
Regarding service, there are also some misconceptions:
– Port wine is consumed in very small glasses; indeed, there are specific glasses for Port wine, but using larger glasses allows one to better sense its aroma and experience a more enjoyable tasting.
– Port wine is consumed at room temperature; this is a very common mistake, as Port wine should be served chilled. Depending on the style of Port wine, the serving temperature varies between 6°C for Whites and a maximum of 14°C for Tawny.
– Because it is a very sweet wine, it is only served as a dessert. The idea that Port wine is always very sweet is not 100% correct because in terms of sweetness, it can be very sweet, sweet, medium-dry, dry, or extra dry, depending on the moment of fermentation interruption during production. In reality, Port wine is very versatile, as although it is generally served after a meal, it pairs very well before a meal with foie gras, a cheese and nut platter, on its own, or in a delightful aperitif like the Port and tonic. And even during a meal, trying a Dry White Port with a fatty fish drizzled with a creamy sauce, an LBV and a Vintage with a peppered roast beef, or a Tawny with a meat stuffed with dried fruits can be surprising.
– Regarding its shelf life after opening, there is sometimes the notion that, because it has a higher alcohol content than a still wine, Port wine lasts forever. However, to maintain its qualities, a Vintage, once opened, should be consumed immediately or the next day, a Ruby can stay open for eight to ten days, while a Tawny, from one to four months, depending on whether it is younger or older.
And finally, to confuse even the most knowledgeable, Port wine has two days of celebration.
The Center for Wine Origins, based in Washington, USA, designated January 27 as International Port Wine Day. And the Institute of Douro and Port Wine (IVDP) established September 10, the date when the Marquis of Pombal created the world’s oldest demarcated wine region – the Douro Vinhateiro.
It’s best to celebrate both days with excellent Port wines!
