 Port is the most famous fortified wine in the world. The history of Port is closely related with England and the Ocean. In fact, after the wars between England and France in the 17th Century, the English merchants started to import into their country Portuguese wines in order to avoid the heavy taxes which had been established on French wines. Therefore, during their trip on the ocean, the wines spoiled frequently. As a remedy the English merchants started to add some Brandy to the barrels before beginning the trip in order to "fortify" the wine. In a little while the tecnique changed and improved. The Brandy was added directly into the wine before the fermentation was over and the result was what we today drink as a Port. Nowdays obviously the tecnique is slightly different and Port is made by adding to the wine a neutral grape spirit instead of Brandy. There are several different types of Port available in the market and everyone has some particular characteristics. The law allows to use more than 80 grape varieties to produce Port and some of them are white varieties. The different Port available are: Ruby, Vintage Character, Late Bottled Vintage, Vintage Port, Crusted Port, Single Quinta, Tawny Port, Colheitas, Aged Tawny and White Port.
RUBY
Ruby Port is the basic Port and is made with a blend of several harvest products aged for up to two years. Ruby refers to its color.
VINTAGE CHARACTER
Even though the name refers to "Vintage" this category of Port is made, like the "Ruby", from a blend of several vintages. The only real difference is that these Port are aged for a period close to 5 years.
LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE
These Port are truly made with a single vintage and are aged for a period which is average 5 years. This category is a step below "Vintage Port" and the wines are made when the Vintage is not good enough to allow the production of real "Vintage Port" (DECLARED VINTAGE).
VINTAGE PORT
Vintage Port is a high quality single-harvest product. It is generally aged in casks for three years and for a longer period in the bottle before being ready to be enjoyed. Some of these bottles age for several decades.
CRUSTED PORT
This strange appelation indicates the "crust" of sediments which forms in the bottle. It has been created by an English producer but is not so popular in the markets.
SINGLE QUINTA
Single Quinta is basically a Vintage Port but made with the grapes coming from a single "Quintas" (Estate). It can be made both in Declared or Non-Declared vintages.
TAWNY PORT
This term indicates a blended port aged for several years. This long aging period produce a Red-Garnet color in the Port and sometimes the same result is obtained adding some white Port to a normal Ruby. The longer the aging the more intense is the flavour of pecans and other nuts in the Port.
COLHEITAS
It is a Vintage Tawny Port aged at least 7 years in casks.
AGED TAWNY
It is a Tawny Port aged for many years in casks.
WHITE PORT
This Port is made only with white grape varieties and can be dry or sweet.
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