Port wine is a fortified wine produced in Portugal's Douro Valley. It is made by adding brandy to wine during fermentation, resulting in a sweet, strong wine typically with 19-20% alcohol.
History
Port wine originated in the Douro Valley in the 11th century when Henry of Burgundy married into the Portuguese royal family. Initially, wines from the Douro were rough and couldn't withstand sea voyages well. The breakthrough came when someone discovered that adding brandy stabilized the wine during transport. By the 18th century, this became part of the production process, and after 1820, the modern style of port wine was developed by interrupting fermentation to preserve residual sugar.
How it is made
Port wine production involves fermenting grape juice for just two to three days, then adding grape alcohol to stop fermentation while about half the natural sugar remains. This creates a fortified wine with 19-20% alcohol and 70-140g/l residual sugar. The wine ages in oak barrels, with the type of oak (Portuguese, French, or American) affecting its development. After initial aging, wines are classified into categories like Vintage, Tawny, Ruby, and others, with different aging processes.
Types and styles
Port wines are classified by their aging process. Ruby ports are aged in large barrels and maintain their fruitiness. Tawny ports are aged in smaller barrels and develop nutty flavors over time. Vintage ports are made from exceptional years and continue aging in bottles. Other styles include Late Bottled Vintage, Colheita (single vintage tawny), and Aged Tawny (10, 20, 30, or 40 years old). All ports must be aged in oak barrels for at least three years by law.
How it is served
Port wine can be served neat as an aperitif or dessert wine. It pairs well with cheese, nuts, and chocolate. Port is also a key ingredient in cocktails such as the Porto Flip, Malecon, and Hot Rum Punch. The wine is traditionally served slightly chilled, except for vintage ports which are served at room temperature to fully express their complexity.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Портвейн, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.