Port: how to choose and other tips for the buyer
The Iberian fortified wine triad: sherry, madeira, port has received a very peculiar refraction in the post-Soviet space. The last of the above drinks is especially "lucky" in this regard. Perhaps, only in the countries of the former USSR you can hear the question: "where can I buy Portuguese port"?" or "what is the difference between port and wine?". Vzboltai will tell you about the reasons for this paradoxical phenomenon and much more in this article.
Learn about port wine much more.
Port wine, port sherry, mumbo jumbo
To begin with, according to generally accepted legal norms, there is no port wine other than Portuguese in nature, simply, there is no. This drink can be produced only in the northeast of the above country.
However, in the regions of the Russian Empire, and then the USSR, suitable for winemaking, starting from the end of the XIX century, the production of vintage fortified wines using port technology was widely practiced (i.e.е., fortification of wort with grape alcohol at the fermentation stage).
As a result, such concepts as Azerbaijani port wine, Armenian port wine, Crimean port wine, as well as such diverse wine brands as Agdam, Kurdamir, Inkerman, Livadia red port wine, Anapa port wine, etc. have appeared. п.п.
In Soviet times, the name of Portuguese wine was extended to more unpretentious ordinary drinks, which received a digital code instead of a full name; for example: port wine 72 or port wine 33.
As you can imagine, all these drinks, which have nothing to do with Portugal, cannot be called port by definition.
But in their case, it would be quite appropriate to use the diminutive nickname portveshok, which originated in long lines at the counters of Soviet wine and vodka stores.
Over time, vintage port wines slipped to the level of ordinary ones. The latter turned into a completely low-grade drink, called in Soviet everyday life mumbo jumbo.
A kind of "classic" of the genre in this case was port 777 (also known as Three Axes port because of the shape of the sevens depicted on the label)...
And "Agdam" and "Anapa" were not far behind. A significant difference between portveshk and bormotukha is the use of grain and beet distillates instead of grape alcohol in the latter.
Today, even under the guise of vintage and relatively decent ordinary wines, products are produced devoid of any hints of wine materials.
It consists of ethanol diluted with water, flavored with dyes and flavors.
Given this state of affairs, the question of the differences between wine and port, unfortunately, takes on real meaning.
How to choose port and other tips
Of course, real quality drinks should be sought out either in trustworthy specialized boutiques or in trusted supermarkets.
Before starting the process, it is desirable to have an idea of the most famous brands of Portuguese wine we are interested in. Among them, it is worth highlighting:
Sandeman
Offley
W. & J. Graham
Cálem
Cockburn's
Croft
Dow
Taylor
C.N. Copque
Real Companhia Velha
A quick reference on labeling
Any port wine can be classified into one of two styles - ruby (let's call it ruby in Russian) or tawny (tawny).
Ruby ("ruby") port wines are characterized by an expressive character, their taste is dominated by fruit tones, and the most serious categories of these wines continue to develop in the bottle.
Tawny ("light brown") port wines have a soft, rounded character, their taste is based on tones of nuts and dried fruits, and the wines do not require additional aging in the bottle.
In fact, all categories of port that fall between Reserve and Vintage (perhaps the latter should include barrel-aged Aged Tawny with a maturation period of 20 years or more) are a kind of lottery. Such drinks can either fully correspond to the money spent, or turn out to be rather mediocre, or exceed all your expectations.
A Colheita-style drink, with the vintage year indicated on the label, is considered a spectacular gift for a birthday or anniversary of a significant event. It can be immediately put on the festive table.
Porto Vintage - is a truly win-win option; regardless of its producer. The quality of the drink is guaranteed by the Portuguese State Wine Institute of Douro and Porto.
If you are lucky enough to have a full-fledged vintage wine of fresh bottling and at the same time you prefer young, bright drinks, you can open the bottle immediately. According to experts, vintage port should either be consumed immediately after bottling or sent for at least 15 years to be "refined". Other variants are excluded due to the capriciousness of this aristocratic drink.
If you are planning to save your purchase for the future, opt for unfiltered options. They are more prone to further development than their filtered "colleagues".
Port wines that have matured in barrels should be stored in an upright position; while drinks that continue to mature in bottles should be kept horizontal...
Unfiltered port requires mandatory decantation before consumption.
The opened bottle should never be closed again. At the same time, unfiltered drinks should be sold on the day of opening, while filtered drinks can be kept open for up to four days.
And, of course, do not get carried away. Remember that port is a rather strong drink, and that in its homeland, lighter wines are preferred in everyday life.
Update: 29.06.2017
Category: Wine and Vermouth