Port Wine: All Types of Port Wine and Food Pairings

By tradition, taste, and popularity, Port wine ranks among the best in the world. The peculiarities of its production, the land of its vineyards, its centuries-old cellars, and the blend of Portuguese and British culture result in a unique product served on the best tables around the globe.

Casa De Pablo Neruda Isla Negra Adobestock 278856524

Douro Valley Wine Tour: 2 Wineries, Tastings, River Cruise and Lunch

Best of Porto Full Day Tour with Wine Cellar, Cruise and Lunch

Poças Guided Visit and Wine Tasting of 3 Port Wines

Poças Guided Tour and Tasting of 2 Douro DOC Wines and 2 Port Wine

Beyond the main things to do in Porto, there’s another essential element to know about in this city in northern Portugal: Porto wine.

While it is true that white and rosé wines are also produced, the majority of Portugal’s winemaking tradition relies on red wine. Port wine originated thanks to a significant English contribution, as they were the ones who added brandy to the wine to protect it during its journey across the sea.

Due to England being at war with France, the importance of Portuguese wine gained relevance in the British Isles, but the wine was not always of adequate quality.

To solve this problem, in 1756, the Marquis of Pombal founded the General Company of Agriculture of the Upper Douro Wines. Since then, many Port cellars continue to produce wine to this day.

Most of them are located in the Ribeira district of Porto, one of its most emblematic neighborhoods. If you visit the city, we recommend booking a wine tasting at Poças cellar in advance.

Douro Valley: Where Port Wine is Produced

Viñedos Valle Del Duero

For a wine to have the designation of origin DO (Port), it must come from one of the 45,000 vineyards currently existing in the Douro Valley, one of the best places to visit near Porto.

The importance of these vineyards is so significant that they are even classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is also worth noting that this designation is the oldest, most controlled, and regulated in the world.

Types of Port Wine

Tipos Vino De Oporto

The designation of origin “Port wine” encompasses several varieties that we will explain below:

Ruby Port Wine

Ruby Port is the most economical and widely produced. It is made from red grapes. After fermentation, it is stored in cement or stainless steel tanks to preserve its garnet red color and the natural aroma of young wines. Rubies do not improve with age in the bottle.

Reserve Port Wine

These are the highest quality ruby wines. Typically, reserve Port wines are a blend of several of the best ruby harvests.

Tawny Port Wine

When a Port wine is Tawny and does not specify age on the bottle, it generally means it has been aged in oak barrels for two to three years.

On the other hand, if the wine comes from Borges, Calem, Croft, Cruz, Graham, or Kopke cellars, they are usually aged for seven years. There are higher quality tawny wines that can be aged from 10 to 40 years.

Barricas Vino De Oporto

Port Wine Barrels

Colheita Port Wine

Essentially, these are tawny wines from a single vintage, meaning the year will be on the label, but not the age. They are generally aged for seven years. Their color ranges from red to golden, and their flavors and aromas evolve independently to create a unique tawny.

Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port Wine

Late Bottled Vintage Port is a wine that was meant to be bottled as Vintage Port but ended up aging in barrel longer than stipulated. Typically, it is produced by aging a single harvest for four to six years before bottling.

We could say that LBV is like a Vintage Port wine without too much aging time in the bottle.

Vintage Port Wine

This is the highest quality and most expensive Port wine. This is because it is the only Port wine that ages in the bottle. It is made from the best grapes from a single harvest and several estates. It is left in barrel for almost three years before being bottled. The bottle can age from 10 to 50 years before being sold.

You can learn all about the fascinating world of Port wine by visiting one or several of the porto wineries in Porto. Usually you can take a guided tour through the premises, discover the production process and enjoy a port wine tasting. They're also the best place to buy port wine or have it delivered to your home.

Port Wine: How to Serve it and Food Pairings

Degustación de vinos

The ideal temperature to drink Port wine is between 10ºC and 12ºC. When it comes to pairings, the best way to taste a Tawny, for example, is with ham, nuts, aged cheeses, and pâtés. A Ruby and Colheita are perfect to accompany red meats or cheeses.

Another way to enjoy Port wine is to serve it very cold, even with ice during the summer.

If you want to enjoy wine tastings, see an authentic fado show, take a boat ride and explore the vineyards of the Douro Valley, don’t hesitate to check out the tours in Porto that we offer for you.