Port wine is one of those drinks you may not often encounter, but port gift sets can make perfect and sophisticated drinks gifts for someone if you’re looking for something different.
It’s a drink packed with history and flavour that can bring an air of tradition and prestige to every occasion.
Where does Port come from?
Port originates from Portugal. It’s a Portuguese fortified wine from the Douro region and aptly gets its name from the city of Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city. To make this drink even more unique, only a port made in Portugal can carry the name. This is because of the EU’s name protection law that bans the name port from being used elsewhere on any other product.
Fortified wine has been an important export for Portugal since the 1100s. However, it wasn’t until the 17th century that fortified wine exported abroad was first called port.
What types of Port wine are there?
There are different types of port wine that could be included in a port gift set. The main four categories of port are:
- White Port – white port is made from white Portuguese grapes and offers a range of styles for the drinker, ranging from dry to sweet.
- Ruby Port – ruby port is the most common type of port available. The flavour of a ruby port can be powerful, often evoking flavours of fruit and chocolate.
- Tawny Port – tawny ports are made from red grapes and can range in appearance, either appearing in colours of gold or brown. This type of port matures in wooden casks or barrels so they can age and last longer. They can often have very rich flavours.
- Vintage Port – this differs from the other types of port because they are left to age for up to two years before being bottled. Vintages from decades can still be perfectly okay to drink and may even have more depth and boldness of flavour and aromas.
What does a Port gift set go with?
A port gift set can be a flexible drink and served for several purposes. However, port is commonly served after the end of a sitting, usually with desserts or a delicious cheeseboard. The sweet, fruity flavours could complement the dense richness of cheeses very well, so this could be the perfect time to open your port gift set and enjoy it with everyone.
Should port wine be refrigerated after opening?
Port can last a long time. All of the different varieties have a lengthy shelf life. Tawny and Ruby ports can last for a number of months, for example.
It should be stored in the same way you keep wine. Horizontal in a cool place away from direct sunlight. Never store a bottle of port at room temperature.
Is Port vegan?
Whether the port is vegan or not can depend entirely on the port in question. If a port gift set from an in-store or online retailer sells a suitable port for vegans, it will state so.
If the ingredients aren’t listed on the bottle or on the port gift set packaging, it can be difficult to tell what ingredients are included. Therefore, they’re probably best avoided.
If port isn’t for you, read our guide on the best wine gifts instead.