Port
Port is Portuguese fortified wine, typically a sweeter red wine. Many describe it as a dessert wine. It gets its name from the town of Porto, which is located at the mouth of the Duoro River. The Duoro region of Portugal is the area from which the grapes that find its way into the famous beverage are grown and where Port is produced. Porto, is the port from which Port was exported to the world.
The grapes used for Port are limited to 5 different varieties. They are:
- Tinta Barroca
- Tinta Cao
- Tinta roriz (aka Tempranillo)
- Touriga Francesca
- Touriga Nacional
For those of you who made the Selection Limited Edition, Duoro Tinto in 2011, the last 3 grape varieties were used to produce this excellent wine.
Port is produced by fortifying the wine produced from these grapes with a neutral grape spirit (alcohol) known as aguardente in order to stop the fermentation. The high alcohol content, 21-22% becomes toxic to the yeast, which dies.
When we make Port from a kit, we produce it like a regular wine, although an addition of corn sugar part of the way through fermentation in the primary is required. This results in an alcohol content of 14-16%. To achieve the higher alcohol content in the finished product alcohol such as brandy or vodka can be added. Brandy is added if you want a smoky, oakey flavour.
With the Chocolate flavoured ports we don’t suggest you fortify the end product with alcohol. This has been found to take away from the Chocolate and fruit flavours so sought.
Now is the time to consider one of these Chocolate Port kits. Great for Christmas entertaining or gift giving.