Wine Exploration: Port Wine

Overview

Taste and learn about the alcohol-high port wine ("Porto"), a drink known mostly for being a bit of an aperitif and dessert wine.

True Porto comes from the Douro River Valley in Portugal, although port-style fortified wine is made in Argentina, Australia, South Africa, the US, Canada and India. Porto is made mostly from five variations of grape - the Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cão, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Touriga Francesa, and Touriga Nacional.

As a drink, port wine is usually a lot richer, sweeter, heavier, and with a higher alcohol content than normal unfortified wines, around 19 to 23%. The extra alcohol content is due to the addition of distilled grape spirits which  halts the fermentation before all the sugar is converted to alcohol.

Punters attending will taste White Port, the more traditional Ruby & Tawny, some Vintage Port, and have a nibble of the tasting platter which include blue cheese and sticky date pudding.