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Good port wine11/11/2023 ![]() Similarly, some types of port wine aren’t filtered when bottled, which allows for it to continue ageing with its sediment. Consequently, its flavours are significantly spicier with notes of dried fruit, fig, cinnamon, clove, and vanilla.Īs port wine is often blended from several grape varieties, it can produce a spectrum of different flavours. The micro-oxidation causes the alcohol to evaporate while also imparting the wood’s influence. Meanwhile, tawny port is aged in oak barrels. As a result, it delivers notes of blackberry, cherry, plum, and occasionally spices like cinnamon and clove. Otherwise, port wine’s flavour can vary according to a variety of techniques that can be used by producers.įor instance, ruby port typically retains a distinctive fruitiness by stored in inert stainless steel containers for at least 18 months. However, the addition of spirit alcohol renders it both strong and sweet. Had fermentation been stopped by other processes such as sulfites or filtration, it would have instead resulted in a weak but sweet wine. The General Company worked in partnership with the Portuguese government to supervise and regulate its production in order to restore its reputation.īy the 19th century, port had become synonymous with English fine living and “three-bottle men” were a staple in most social clubs.Īs we highlighted above, port is distinguished from other fortified wines by its characteristic sweetness. In response, the Marquis of Pombal founded the “Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro” (CGAVAD) or the “General Company of Viticulture of the Upper Douro or Douro Wine Company” in 1756.Ĭonsequently, the Douro region became the third oldest protected wine region in the world. On some occasions, grapes from Spain and other Portuguese regions were shipped in to make port.Īs rumours of the illicit practices spread to England, it caused a scandal that resulted in its imports halving within 30 years. Eventually, unscrupulous producers started responding to high demand by adulterating the wines with sugar, fruit juice, and spices. With few competitors, port wine boomed in popularity. Since Portuguese wine was now much cheaper, it further encouraged English merchants to trade port.Īs conflicts continued with the French throughout the following decades, taxation on its wines continued to rise until all trade was severed with the War of the Spanish Succession. Meanwhile, abbot of the Lamego monastery instead added sugar while the wine was still fermenting as described above.Īlthough the 1679 ban was eventually lifted, the Methuen Treaty imposed significantly higher import duties on French wine. However, the neutral grain spirit was often added after fermentation, which resulted in a strong and dry fortified wine. Indeed, it was a technique often used by Dutch traders when importing cognac before it was entirely distilled. In the following year, English merchants discovered a unique fortified wine in Lamego while seeking new products to ship back to England.įortifying wine by adding spirit alcohol to improve its longevity was a relatively common practice. Therefore, he partnered with English merchants to source wine from Portugal. In order to limit his expenses, English Parliament banned all French wine imports in 1679 while also requiring Charles II to ask it directly for money. However, he had picked up a rather expensive taste for French wine while under the protection of his cousin, Louis XIV. The pact between the two countries, which still existed until 2009, allowed Portuguese wine to effectively replace France whenever the two countries fell into conflict.įollowing the Civil War and the execution of his father, Charles II was restored to the crown in 1660. Nevertheless, the 1386 Treaty of Windsor proved particularly lucrative for Portugal and the start of a much closer relationship. Although some Portuguese wines were occasionally exported to the United Kingdom, it often spoiled due to the difficult journey along rough seas. Throughout its early history, most of the wine consumed in Britain was imported from France thanks to its geographical proximity. Indeed, much of modern Portugal was a Roman province named “Lusitania” after Lusus, the son of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. ![]() ![]() Portugal has been cultivating wine since it was conquered by the Romans.
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