Many years of port wine expertise: Niepoort Taylor's, Niepoort, Churchills & Trenz

Red port, and rarely white, originates in the Douro Valley of Portugal.

Warm summers and cold winters. This is how the approximately 30 permitted grape varieties for the popular wines from Portugal ripen along the river.

Among them

• Tinta Roriz (a synonym for the red wine Tempranillo),
• Gouveio,
• Touriga Nacional,
• Touriga Francia,
• Tinta Cão,
• Tinta Barroca
• and Síria.

However, the name port wine refers to the port city of Porto. Here, port wine is traditionally stored in cellars, sometimes in huge barrels.

From Porto, ships loaded with the durable port set sail in all directions. And there lies the origin of why port wine is what it is. A seemingly eternally durable sweet wine that can easily withstand long crossings.

By sea, Vinho do Porto reaches all sorts of ports in mainland Europe. And thus also the tastes of connoisseurs.

English, Dutch, Germans were greedy for the fruity sweet wine from the Douro Valley. Therefore, they built in the port Portos warehouse.

Port wine is therefore firmly in the hands of large investors.

Taylor's, Niepoort, Churchills, Trenz - not very Portuguese-sounding names. But with first-class and long-standing expertise in production.

Production, type, taste of port wine (Vinho do Porto)

Fortification, or fortification, is what turns wine into port. During fermentation, high-proof brandy is added to the must, in a ratio of 1 to 4. This kills the yeast cells and stops fermentation.

What remains is the residual sugar, which manifests itself in the subtle sweetness of the port. When the port reaches the necessary alcohol level of 19 to 22% by volume, the sweet wine is ready for storage.

First, for half a year in the Douro Valley. Then in the cellars near Porto for at least two more years. In the large wooden barrels, which hold up to 550 liters, the port matures until the first tasting. This is when the further course of action develops.

If the vintage appears mediocre, there is a risk of loss of flavor with long storage. This port wine becomes Ruby. Ruby Port remains in the barrel for a short time and is then bottled ready to drink.

Better vintages gain aromas and flavor with longer storage. Port remains in the barrel until it is poured into pipe (small barrel for faster oxidation) or bottle. Depending on the container, the port matures into different classes. For example, Old Tawny and Colheita are produced from the pipe. In the bottle it develops into LBV (Late Bottled Vintage), Crusted Port and Vintage Character.

Absolute top vintages, when recognized by the Port Wine Institute, are considered Vintage. Ports of this grade are bottled as soon as possible and aged for at least 10 years. In terms of taste, Vintage Ports develop over decades.

Port Wine Variants

Thus, the differences of the port wine variants lie in the time and container of storage. Depending on this, there are different classes of port wine:

1. Ruby is a young, fruity port wine that matures in wooden barrels and goes on sale after a few years. Its bouquet shows fruity berries and forest aromas.
2. Tawny matures longer, both in wooden barrels and in small pipes. The amber to golden body of the dessert wine shows nuances of dry fruits, nuts and plums. These result from contact with air.
3. Colheita is considered a specialty and matures in wooden barrels for at least 7 years. This gives it a very spicy note. Unlike many other port wines, Colheita is not a cuvée of several vintages.

Our port wine recommendation

Tawny Port - Osborne

From the finest grape varieties of the Douro Valley springs the Tawny Port of Osborne. It shows a wonderful golden brown color. The full ripe and sweet body, with subtle hints of honey and wood. The Tawny matures 4 years in small pipe wooden barrels. It is a super finish after any meal.

Vintage Port 2011 - Churchill's

From the extra class comes the Vintage Port from Churchill's Estate. It convinces with deep dark red color and complex bouquet. Ripe dark berries with strong spice and nuances of fine chocolate provide a harmonious experience. Goes well with dry fruits and sweet pastries. Or simply to store, for several decades.

What is the best port wine?

The supposed best port wine carries a proud price tag of about €100,000 and comes from Niepoort. For those who lack the necessary money for such expensive port wines, the Vintage Ports are worthwhile. These are generally considered the best Port wines. Only great vintages are declared Vintage vintages. But: until the vintage ports have reached their full potential, they are stored for a while. A good 10 to 50 years.

Buy port wine online at VINELLO

A ship already departs from Porto to deliver your Port. Through VINELLO it is guaranteed to arrive safely and quickly at your home. Order port wine cheaply and easily, by insured shipping, and enjoy the delicious dessert wine from Portugal.

Experience sweet harmony or store top port wine for a special event. From Alto Douro to you - a sweet journey from VINELLO, your wine online store for delicious drops.