Fortified Wine

Vinho do Porto, Porto

Fortified wine is most commonly associated with Portugal. The name comes from the harbour Porto this harbour is located in the City of Oporto . Some say Port was named after the city. The original wine region from which Port first came is called Douro. Today port wine is made in numerous countries; Canada is building a reputation for fine Ports.

Port is a sweet red wine with about 20% alcohol (as opposed to table wine which is usually about 13%) and rather low acidity and tannin. Ideally a good port should have a rich spicy flavor and in spite of its 20% alcohol, taste very smooth. Port is created in a unique way that captures the fruit and flavor of the ripe grapes in wines that possess extraordinary longevity. During fermentation, prior to reaching the point where all of the natural grape sugars have been converted into alcohol, high-proof brandy is added to the vats to stop the fermentation. This leaves a wine with great depth of color and a high natural sweetness.

Port is usually divided into two categories casked aged and bottled aged. Port can also be classified by other factors such as whether red or white grapes are used.

Tawny Ports are wines made from red grapes that are aged in wooden barrels, exposing them to gradual oxidation and evaporation. As a result, they gradually mellow to a golden-brown colour. The exposure to wood imparts "nutty" flavours to the wine, which is blended to match the house style. Tawny Ports are sweet or medium dry and typically drunk as a dessert wine. A Tawny Port from a single vintage is called Colheitas. Instead of an indication of age (10, 20...) the actual vintage year is mentioned.

Bottle-aged ports receive limited maturation in cask, cement, or stainless steel before bottling. They are intended to mature in the bottle, usually after you buy them. The less expensive bottle-aged ports—Ruby, Reserve, and Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) are intended for consumption soon after purchase. True quality vintage port, on the other hand, is bottled without fining or filtration and will need decades to properly mature. These are among the world's longest-lived wines and will always require decanting.

Ruby port is the cheapest and most extensively produced type of port. After fermentation it is stored in tanks made of concrete or stainless steel to prevent oxidative aging, and preserve its rich claret color. The wine is usually blended to match the style of the brand to which it is to be sold. The wine is fined and cold filtered before bottling, and does not generally improve with age.

Vintage Ports are wines which age briefly in wood and then spend years maturing patiently in the bottle. Vintage port is made entirely from the grapes of a declared vintage year. The grapes may come from different vinyards. Single Quinta Vintage Ports are wines that originate from a single estate

There are more than 80 different grapes allowed to be used in the production of port

Officially, real port wine comes only from Portugal, very much the same way that true Champagne comes from the Champagne region of France . In time wine growing regions outside of Douro cannot name their fortified wines port. That is why Sumac Ridge is called Pipe and Stoney Ridge is called Forte

Gold medal winner at 2003 Intervin International

Only the best Marechal Foch grapes grown in Nova Scotia were chosen by Jost Vineyards to produce their premier port style red wine. It has a rich, full bodied, fruit character which lingers on the palate. Jost Vineyards Port is the perfect accompaniment to good friends and good food. It is ready for drinking now but will age gracefully for many years to come

Port Style Wines Produced in BC

Black Brant from Wild Goose
Odyssey III from Gray Monk
Sonata from Calona Wines
Quails' Gate Fortified Vintage Foch
Pipe from Sumac Ridge

Vintage One a port style Merlot from Black Widow
Hart from Stag's Hollow
NV Tawny Port from LA Frenz
NV Liqueur Muscat from LA Frenz
Starboard from Kettle Valley Winery Ltd

Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery-Comox Vally BC-Beaufort "Black"-90% blackberry and 10% blackcurrant
Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery-Comox Vally BC-Beaufort "Cassis"-100% Comox Valley grown blackcurrant

Port Style Wines Produced in Ontario

Lakeview Cellars 2005 VQA Vintage Starboard

Stoney Ridge "Forte" port-style wine

De Sousa Cellars Port

Port Style Wines Produced in Nova Scotia

L'Acadie, Soleil dessert wine made by drying grapes similar to a Recioto-style. Double Gold and best of category at the All Canadian Wine Championships 2009

Port Style Wines Produced in Quebec

Clos St-Ingnace - Muscat St-Ingnace Le contrôle de la température est crucial lors de la fermentation de ce vin de cépage. Un élevage sur lies fines suit. L’utilisation de fûts inox préserve le caractère primaire du fruit.

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