Fortified wines - Part 2

Fortified Wines - Part 2 - Port

The other classic type of fortified wine that definitely deserves a mention is port, which has its own special story to tell.

Port

Port is made in the Douro Valley in northern Portugal, which is, in my opinion, one of the wildest and most beautiful wine regions in the world. Owing to the dramatic landscape, the vineyards are inaccessible for machinery, so each grape is picked by hand.

A blend of grapes will go into port, but two that are worth looking out for are Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca.

The main difference between sherry and port is that the alcohol is added to port during the fermentation process rather than after. This means the natural sweetness is preserved.

Vintage port is one of the most popular styles, and as the name suggests, it's made from grapes that are all from the same vintage. This wine is made to age in the bottle for a number of years for a really big and robust flavour.

If you're looking for an inexpensive option, try ruby port. It's not aged for as long and it tends to be much fresher.

Morrisons The Best Aged Tawny Port, £12.50

• My favourite style of port is tawny. It's aged in oak barrels rather than the bottle, so it's exposed to the air a little more, which gives it a lighter colour.
• You still get a hit of red fruits, but also a subtle nuttiness provided by the oak barrel. A small glass served chilled is a great pre-dinner drink.
• This particular port has the number 10 on the label, which signifies that the average age of the wine in the bottle is 10 years.
• If you want to try a tawny port from a single vintage, look out for Colheita port.

Other Styles of Port to Try

LBV

This stands for 'late bottled vintage' and means that the port has only been aged for a short time. It's not as rich or complex as vintage port, but it does offer a similar character at a fraction of the price.

White port

I would highly recommend trying white port with tonic water and a slice of fresh lime for a really deliciously refreshing drink.

Your Assignment

Both LBV port and ruby port are affordable ways of sampling port as they've not been aged for as long, so are less expensive. Have a go at trying Tesco Finest Late Bottled Vintage Port and Cockburn's Fine Ruby Port and note down how you think the flavours differ.