| The Douro River Valley which is located in | | | | wine which makes the wine more expensive for |
| the northern part of Portugal is where the | | | | the bottle. Where rainfall tends to be about |
| mixture of grapes is grown to produce port | | | | 28 inches a year, which is very low for most |
| wine. The wine was made for shipping reasons | | | | counties, is where most of the high quality |
| and to some people's surprise reached beyond | | | | Tawny, LBV and Vintage ports are made. |
| Europe and into the United States, Asia, | | | | |
| Australian and several other places. Port | | | | Do You Like Chocolate with Your Wine |
| wine for the beginner, is traditionally | | | | |
| served as a dessert wine, it is known for the | | | | The years of association in various |
| sipping wine at home get-togethers and after | | | | capacities that I have with wine, I've heard |
| work outings. Port wine is different from | | | | numerous debates on the issue, both for and |
| other types of wine because it has an higher | | | | against the rather contentious chocolate and |
| than average alcohol content; the majority | | | | wine pairing. Spending several years in a |
| range between 19% and 22% by volume. The | | | | bottle helps the vintage port take on the |
| ingredients and flavors added to the wine can | | | | aromas of chocolate, cocoa and coffee. |
| make it a very sweet wine. The price points | | | | Traditionally, Port is served with a strong |
| very depending on the different styles of | | | | blue cheese such as Stilton, or fruit and |
| port wine you like. | | | | chocolate. |
| | | | |
| Tawny Port Wines | | | | Ports around the world are produced in a |
| | | | similar style like Champagne, but are |
| Tawny Ports are lighter in color, older, and | | | | considered fake Ports. While these pretenders |
| distinctly drier than Rubies. Tawny Ports, | | | | may be somewhat aromatic and flavorful, they |
| which is very similar to Rubies, have been | | | | fail to capture the delicate balance between |
| know not to improve with added bottle age and | | | | elegance and power of a true Port wine. |
| are remarkably stable once opened. The | | | | Remember that port wine is very flavorsome on |
| difference between a Vintage Port from one | | | | its own and can be enjoyed for several |
| producer and another is merely the difference | | | | different occasions. The best vintage port |
| in "house style," in the same way that the | | | | wines will not reach their peak of maturity |
| style of a Brut Champagne varies from one | | | | for 20, 30 and sometimes even 40 years. |
| house and another. Tawny Ports are often | | | | Vintage Ports, which account for only two |
| served after dinner, either alone or with | | | | percent of all Port wines made. These wines |
| desserts that are quite sweet like | | | | age briefly in wood and then spend several |
| chocolates. Tawny Reserve port has been known | | | | years maturing in a bottle. While aging in |
| to age for a minimum of seven years in wooden | | | | wood, port wine's fruity scent develops |
| barrels, this is where it takes on a more | | | | through oxidation to make a bouquet that is |
| nutty flavor. The older the Tawny becomes, it | | | | reminiscent of dried fruit, wood, and special |
| takes on more of a pale color, which adds to | | | | spices. |
| more of a delicate flavor and creates a drier | | | | |