HOW IS PORT WINE SERVED?

"God created man and water, man created wine, and men from Douro created port"wrote Alfredo Saramago.

I have been a man of wine for more than 35 years and Portuguese from birth, as such I hear the same questions again and again. One of them is how is port served. Whenever I get this question, I smile, I breathe deeply and I try to approach the subject with the seriousness it deserves. Here's why.

I understand people's interest in Port and a few years ago my answer was based on th rich history of this wine, the Douro region, and Portugal... Today I try to answer the question in a simpler way, but still with gravity, explaining that Port is a world unto itself. 

HOW TO SERVE A RED PORT WINE?

Ruby, Vintage, Late Bottled Vintage, Tawny. After brandy has been added to the fermented grapes, the Red Port wine has two possible destinations: either stainless steel vats or barrels, which in this region hold 550 liters. We will review each type of Red Port, how to serve each of these wines,how they are aged and how they are classified within the different categories?

How is Ruby Red Port wine served?

For a Ruby Port: Served chilled to 13 or 14 degrees, this is perfect as an aperitif or with a meal, for example a melon cut in half in which a generous dose of Ruby (Red) Port wine is poured,the famous Melon au Porto.  

There was also a port-based cocktail served in England,after the First World War. This cocktail was prepared with Ruby (Red) Port, lemon juice, ice cubes and soda.

After fermentation, the Ruby (Red) Port is aged in stainless steel vats; it takes its name from ruby gemstones, most likely because of its color. Ruby Ports are characterized by the aroma of young, vigorous fruit, and have a muscular feelin the mouth because, these red Port wines have an alcohol content which can vary between 16% and 20%.