Port wine: where it came from
August 29, 2011
Though Port Is not produced in the UK, it is regarded historically as a thoroughly British drink. Many of the leading brands were originally British owned and some major producers still are. Surprising for a country that has embraced drinking Port since the 17th century, is that most Brits buy only one bottle a year – at Christmas
Where it Comes From
The wine comes from the spectacular terraced hillsides of the Douro valley in Portugal and takes its name from Oporto which lies at the mouth of the Douro river. The bustling suburb of Vila Nova de Gaia lies opposite Oporto on the steep south bank of the river and is the true home to Port. Gaia is dominated by the Port wine lodges, with over fifty wine companies based in its narrow, twisting streets. Here, the aging and blending of most of the world’s supply of Port wine takes place.
History
No one knows exactly when port, as we know it, appeared. One story is a wine merchant in Liverpool, in 1678, sent his sons to Portugal to find a wine source. In the Douro Valley they came on a monastery in Lamego. The abbot was adding brandy to the wine during rather than after fermentation producing a port-type wine. In any event, sometime during the end of the 1600’s or beginning of the 1700’s, someone came up with the idea of stopping the fermentation with brandy while the wine was still sweet, fruity, and strong.
Port and Food
Port is traditionally consumed as an accompaniment to cheeses, with desserts or as a digestif. It is, however, much more versatile. Consider it as any other wine when matching with food.
A Late Bottled Vintage Port (LBV) or a 10-year Tawny with ‘gamey’ dishes, such as venison, buffalo, pheasant, and partridge.
Chill down a 20-Year Old Tawny Porto with foie gras and are also good with any desserts containing nuts and dried fruits.
A heavenly match is LBV with chocolate and desserts based on strawberries, raspberries, cherries and currants.
The best and most classic combination is Vintage Port served with a good quality Stilton but also consider blue cheese or a Cheddar, Gloucester or aged crumbly Parmesan.
Walnuts, chestnuts, cashews, and hazelnuts all bring out the best in port.
Port can also be a dessert on its own with a small bowl of nuts or as a digestif after dinner. It is not however a wine for fast drinking. It demands a leisurely pace, contemplative sips and the company of good friends.
Styles of Port
White Lovely served in a tall glass with crushed ice, tonic water, a sprig of fresh mint and a twist of lemon.
Ruby Simple, young and fruity best used in cocktails, mixers or for cooking.
Tawny Barrel/cask-aged ruby port. The aging causes the color to change from purple to tawny brown. Aged tawny Can be aged for 10, 20, 30 or 40 years.
Colheita Aged tawny from a single vintage.
LBV- Late Bottled Vintage From a single year, bottled four to six years after harvest. Designed to be in a vintage port style but consumed much earlier because of the late bottling process.
Single quinta Made from a single estate (quinta). Single quinta is made the same way as vintage port but comes from grapes originating from only one farm.
Crusted A blend of different years, bottled young and developing like a vintage port.
Vintage The best wine, made with the best grapes from a single harvest. Aged for only two years in wood before bottling, these wines develop slowly over a long period (20 to 60 years) and develop heavy sediments or “crusts” that should always be decanted.
Serving Port
Treat Port as any other fine wine. Store at 55-65°F on their side so the cork doesn’t dry out.
Both wood aged and bottle aged port wines are most often served at cool room temperature (64° to 68°F). Special Reserve, Fine Tawny and Aged Tawny Port may also be served slightly chilled in warmer weather. Place the bottle in the refrigerator for about 45 minutes to one hour to chill slightly.
Decanting Port
Vintage port needs decanting. Before opening, the port should be stood upright for at least 24 hours to allow time for the sediment to settle on the bottom. Remove the cork carefully, old corks inevitably break up. If this should happen simply strain the wine while decanting.
Decanting the port is not difficult. It just needs a steady hand and a good eye. Pour the wine in one continuous stream into a decanter. When the sediment begins to appear in the neck of the bottle, stop pouring and discard the rest of the port.
The Ideal Glass
The ideal glass to taste and indeed serve Port wines in, needs to maximize the tasting and drinking experience. Glasses with large openings at the top allow too much air into the glass and, like the original Port flute, heighten the alcohol and lose the fruit components. Glasses with narrow rims don’t allow enough air into the glass and need much swirling and shaking to get any bouquet. The traditional port glass is slightly smaller than a standard white wine glass, holding about 5 or 6 ounces. It is best to use a tulip shaped glass with a U-shaped bowl for proper tasting and appreciation of the wine
.Source: http://britishfood.about.com/od/drinksandspirits/a/port.htm
Although wines are widely available in most Asian countries, especially in Hong Kong which has eliminated import tariff on wines altogether, the availability of fine vintage wines is still very scarce. Most wine merchants offer big names, young vintages and cheaper wines for everyday consumption. Wine lovers and connoisseurs looking for something special often travel to Clark Pampanga Philippines to do their shopping at this Wine Shop in Manila.
At Yats Wine Cellars we believe that a little bit of knowledge in wine goes a long way to developing expectations in the wines we choose to buy or drink. Without expectation, it is difficult to really enjoy wine to its fullest. With this in mind, efforts are made by Yats Wine Cellars to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible for our clients to learn more about wine.
Birthday wine gifts is one of the most popular birthday gifts to give someone living in the Philippines. Fine Vintage wine from Yats Wine Cellars is a sure winner and it does not have to cost a great deal to send someone a bottle in Philippines
To avail of wine catering service of Yats Wine Cellars, just contact this wine supplier in Manila or Angeles Clark Philippines for a meeting to design a theme for the event. The venue for a wine event can be in the privacy of a home, the convenience of an office in Manila for example or in a clubhouse of a subdivision. Wine glasses and accessories necessary for wine service are included in the wine catering service. Moreover, interesting wine notes accompany the wine to help participants enjoy the event even more by learning a little bit about wine while enjoying the party. A wine steward will be present to serve the wine.
There is also an exciting collection of white wine from Burgundy at this wine shop in Clark Pampanga such as Meursault, Chablis, Chassagne Montrachet, Puligny Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne and St. Aubin. Red wines from Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rhone are also available with a good depth of back vintages too. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.
Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
(045) 841 4006 / 0922-870-5173 / 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com
While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.yatsleisure.com
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasions
Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.
www.YatsRestaurant.com
Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.
Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion
www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
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