About this deal
If you’re a fan of red wine, we’ve also got Shiraz, Merlot and Pinot Noir to add to your collection. Shiraz is sweeter in nature whilst others are semi-sweet. Sherry Port wines also make great cooking wines. So wear your chef’s hat and whip up recipes like orange and Port red cabbage or a tatin of shallots with Port to please a crowd. Traditionally, grapes were trodden by foot in huge lagares. While this still happens for some ports, mechanisation is now standard procedure. In the spring after harvesting, the wine is taken to the coastal town of Vila Nova de Gaia, where it matures in lodges. There are two main styles of port: ruby (aged mainly in the bottle) and tawny (aged for many years in oak casks). The best ruby ports (crusted and vintage) will age for many years and should be decanted before serving. Tawny ports are aged for 10 or 20 years in cask and are ideal served with a cheeseboard.