These cold weather snaps have been anything but a snap to endure. During the last bitter cold wave, I smartly hunkered down and took advantage of tasting through a backlog of wine samples that had been piling up in my queue. Of course, given the cold, dark days and even colder darker nights the Port wines from Portugal sort of snuck up to the front of the line.
Fortunately, these fortified wines proved to be just what the doctor ordered as the perfect indoor companion for the harsh winter conditions. While my thinking may have been justified, it certainly is not unique. Port, that delicious elixir from Portugal, has warmed countless souls for eons.
John McDonald January 16, 2021
This week is about Port – but don’t turn the page. Unfortunately, too many read or hear Port and think of a sweet, expensive red wine. Port producers are actually some of of the most versatile winemakers around. Most make a wide range of Douro River Valley reds and whites, which are in the $8-$20 range, in addition to their Porto. You see, Port is not a varietal wine but a blend, and as such, it is quite dependent on the winemaker’s art and palate. Rather than attempting to enlighten in a few hundred words, please visit this website for a fairly comprehensive overview: www.liquor.com/what-is-port-wine-5075584. In addition, let’s review several wines I have sampled that are not found in the article.