Porto

The name Port (Or Vinho do Porto) is one of the wines of liqueur the most famous and most protected mutants in the world.Products from the delimited region of the Upper Douro (Douro Vinhateiro) in northern Portugal — the oldest regulated wine-growing region in the world, created in 1756 by the Marquis of Pombal —, These wines are aged and then marketed from the historic cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia. facing the city of Porto.

Terroir and Climat

Region : The vineyard stretches along the Douro River and its tributaries, divided into three sub-regions:

Baixo Corgo: The westernmost one, cooler and more humid, producing lighter port wines.

Cima Corgo: The historical heart of the appellation (around Pinhão), home to the greatest terroirs.

Douro Superior: Very hot and dry. extending all the way to the Spanish border.

Geology: Floors of shale spectacular, shaped into terraces (footpads) on the sides of steep hillsides. Shale stores heat and allows roots to grow very deep to draw water.

Climat : Mediterranean with continental tendencies ( Nine months of winter, three months of hell »), characterized by scorching summers and very cold winters.

Grape Varieties and Winemaking Method

Port is a fortified wine : the fermentation of the must is stopped by the addition of a wine brandy with an alcohol content of 77° vol. (aguardente), This preserves some of the grape's natural sugars while bringing the final alcohol content between 19% and 22% vol.

Main (native) grape varieties: Touriga Nacional (the noblest), Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo),Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão, as well as Malvasia Fina or Rabigato for white ports.

Traditional treading: Although mechanization is progressing, The largest port wines are still trodden underfoot in large granite basins called lagares to extract the color and tannins without breaking the seeds.

The Great Styles of Porto

The appellation is divided into two main farming categories:

Reducing Ports (in the bottle) — "Ruby" style

Aged briefly in large oak barrels or vats to limit oxidation and preserve the brightness of the black fruit.

Ruby / Ruby Reserve: Young wines, fruity, passionate and approachable.

Late Bottled Vintage (LBV): Born from a single exceptional year, aged 4 to 6 years in large oak casks before bottling. Ready to drink, fruity and fleshy.

Vintage: The pinnacle of the appellation. Produced only during declared great vintages, Bottled after 2 years in wood. It requires decades of bottle aging to reveal its complexity.

Oxidatively Aged Ports (in casks) — "Tawny" style

Raised for a long time in small oak rooms (pipas of 550 liters). Upon contact with air, The color lightens (tile/amber hues) and the aromas evolve towards dried fruits.

Tawny / Tawny Reserve: Lighter blends with aromas of hazelnut and fig.

Tawny with age statement (10, 20, 30, 40 years, 50 years): Blends of several vintages with an indicated average age. They offer great complexity (nuts, caramel, coffee, spices orange peel).

Colheita: A Tawny from a single vintage, aged for a minimum of 7 years in wood (sometimes several decades) before bottling.

Other Styles

White Port (Branco): From dry to very mild (Tears), Perfect as an aperitif or served with tonic water.

Rosé Port: Modern and fruity style, focused on freshness.