If you haven't yet ventured to explore our famous Port wines, then today is your chance!
Understanding the different categories of Port wine can be quite challenging, and this is often what prevents people from trying Port wine for the first time. So today we've decided to make everything crystal clear.
Port wines are divided into three types: Red, White and Rosé.
Reds are the most sought after by our customers. These are divided into two styles: Tawny and Ruby. The difference between the two? Tawnies are aged in barrels, while Rubies are mostly aged in bottles, which gives them very different aromas, as Tawnies have more aromas of dried fruits and spices, while Rubies preserve more of the aromas of red and black fruits.
Within the Tawnies, we can find entry-level Tawnies, Reserves (which age for at least 7 years in barrels), Tawnys with age indication (which age in barrels for 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 years) and Colheitas (wines from a single harvest that age for at least 7 years in barrels).
As for Ruby, we have entry-level Ruby, Ruby Reserve, Late Bottle Vintage (which, as the name suggests, are wines that are bottled later, between 4 and 6 years) and Vintage (the highest category of Port wines, these wines are from a single harvest, made only in very special years and of great quality).
Entry-level white wines can be classified as Extra-dry, Fine White or Lágrima. Here, what varies is the sugar content, with Lágrima being the sweetest style. Then we have the Reserve whites, which have a minimum mandatory ageing period of 7 years.
The highest categories of White Port are the Aged whites and the Colheitas, whose production criteria are exactly the same as for tawnies.
Finally, Rosé Ports are wines produced with a short maceration in order to obtain little colour extraction. This wine is then aged in stainless steel in order to maintain all its freshness and lively fruitiness. Perfect for summer or for a delicious cocktail.
We hope we have cleared up any doubts and that this is the moment to venture into this wonderful world!
