Characteristics of the Port wine

The most prestigious generous wine in the World, the Port wine,  is produced exclusively in the Region Demarcated Douro Region in the northern Portugal.

The Port wine with its unmistakable character of aroma, flavour and body, depends on the high quality of grapes, and the agro-climatic features of the region. The Douro Valley Region, has been demarcated by royal licence, the September 10, 1756. "Port wine" is essentially a geographical designation of origin.

History of the Port wine

The best Ports are produced in craggy, rocky edges of the Douro River and its tributaries. The grape groes on these slopes since the pre-Roman times in Portugal.

In the seventeenth century, due to successive wars between England and France, the English traders , deprived of their usual wines of Bordeaux, turned their attention to the robust and fruity Portuguese nectars. However, these wines do not, always, arrive at their destination in the best conditions and traders mixed them brandy to protect them against the rigours of sea crossing to England. Later, it became usual to add brandy during fermentation and thus was born the Port wine as we know it today.

With the passage of time, the pioneers have also discovered that, the addition of brandy during fermentation in must carried other benefits beyond the simple protection of wine, highlighting their qualities, allowing  to grow old in the fresh and calm stores of Vila Nova de Gaia.

The Douro Valley wine estates (Quintas) with their narrow and steep terraces separated by stone walls, are the product of centuries of the most perfect combination between Mankind and Nature. Recently classified as World Heritage site by UNESCO, this is one of the most dramatic and inspiring landscapes of the wine world.

The Douro is a the land of a wide range of varietals. Among the best are the Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, producing wines of great and aromatic concentration, the Tinta Roriz, rich in tannins and distinctive aromas of cedar, the subtle fragrance of Tinta Barroca, and the reliable  Tinto Cão.

The Vintage Port

The Vintage Port is the rarest and the most exceptional - the real product of a single harvest of superior quality.

Wine bottled, still, very young and powerful and can be immediately consumed, but also ready to age for years or decades in the bottle, a cellars, which slowly develops the powerful aromas and opulent sublime taste that characterizes a Vintage Port mature.

The Vintage is traditionally served at the end of the meal, with cheese or nuts and dried fruits. According to an old custom, the wine is passed around the table in order-clockwise, from each invited to turn to serve.

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