Collection: port wines

What is port wine?

The port was named after the Portuguese port city of Porto, which is an important trading center for the transport and sale of wine. However, port wine was invented in England, in the 18th century. There they came up with the idea of ​​stopping the fermentation of the wine prematurely by adding grape brandy in order to obtain a sweet wine with a high alcohol content.

The Portuguese recognized this as a lucrative business. Even today, production still takes place exclusively in Portugal, more precisely in the Douro Valley. And after port wine gained popularity throughout Europe over the years, England was replaced by France as the main buyer of dessert wine.

The growing area in the Douro Valley is located at the mouth of the Douro and covers a vineyard area of ​​250,000 hectares. The mild and humid climate there is well suited for the aging of the wine.

The term port wine is protected in Europe and a wine can only be called so if it was also made from grapes that come from the northern Portuguese Douro Valley.

Today more than 80 grape varieties are approved for the production of port wine. However, the main red varieties of port wine are Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Cão and Tinta Barroca. Port wine is rarely found in white, this is often made from Malvasia Fina, Rabigato or Codega.

Another way to categorize port has to do with its style. Depending on your preference, you can enjoy so-called Ruby, Vintage, Tawny, White or Rosé Port.