Port

Taste one of the world’s most unique wines, Port—a fortified wine from the Douro Valley in Portugal where it has been made for centuries.

Port is fortified by adding up to 30% brandy— stopping the fermentation process—and leaving a fruity wine that is around 20% alcohol. We will taste different styles of Port–from white, to ruby, to tawny, to vintage.

We start off with a WHITE PORT cocktail. White port constitutes only about 10% of all Port production. Common white Port grapes include Mavasia Fina and Codega de Larinho. The cocktail is made by pouring the Port and tonic over ice in a highball glass with an orange slice and a sprig of rosemary, a perfect drink for hot Portuguese summers.

Next we move to a Taylor Ruby Port. RUBY PORTS receive little bottle age before release, but their ruby color and bold fruitiness make Ruby Ports an attractive aperitif. Ruby Port can be used as a sweet Vermouth substitute in a Manhattan or Negroni cocktail.

The next Port is a 10-year-old Tawny Port from Graham’s. TAWNY PORTS are blends of Ports from several years that are aged in the barrel a long time until they take on nutty, brown sugar and vanilla flavors and a soft silky texture.

Finally we explore VINTAGE PORTS, the most extraordinary Ports, and usually the most expensive. Made only in the best years and declared by the shippers, vintage Ports are first aged for two years in the barrel. To round off powerful edges, vintage Ports are then bottle-aged. It is said that a vintage Port in a good year is only ready to drink after 20 or more years in the bottle.  Vintage Port is often decanted and allowed to aerate for hours before drinking.  First we’ll taste a very young  Warre Vintage Port 2017.

Next comes a special horizontal tasting of three 2007 Vintage Ports. The first will be from Niepoort, a very old Dutch firm; the next two from Taylor Fladgate. The first Taylor is the regular cuvée from multiple vineyards and the second is their rare single vineyard, Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha.

The final two Vintage Port selections are 1994 vintage Ports from Dow and Warre.

This event promises you exploration of myriad Port styles from different Port shippers, new appreciation of various flavor profiles, and rare experiences of how Ports evolve over the decades—not something most of us can do from our home cellars.

We plan classic food pairings of Stilton and chocolate, and Chef Justin will also prepare dishes not traditionally associated with Port to exercise our senses and expand the Port experience.

Plan now to bring any sweet person you know to this ♥ Valentine’s Day ♥ weekend tasting.  Our reservation deadline is February 9^th.

Make reservations on the Shoppe Page of this website.

Members—$195

        Patrons—$190 

        Nonmembers—$215