Port Tasting

If you are visiting Porto, you need to include a wine tasting in your itinerary. Port is wine made exclusively in Portugal’s Douro Valley. The grapes are native to Portugal and include red grapes such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, and Tinto Cão—though there are 120 unique grape varieties. Port starts out the same as wine—the grapes are crushed and fermented. But in the process aguardente (brandy) is added to the red wine and the fermentation process stops which increases the alcohol content to about 20%. The industry is heavily regulated by the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto.

There are several cellars that offer tastings. The port houses are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, situated on the opposite side of the Douro River from Porto. In the 13th century, the church was the only institution to benefit from taxes on trade in Porto, so the King permitted the port wine makers to move across the river to escape the taxes.

I visited Graham’s Lodge. The company was founded in 1890. They have invested in their own vineyards and are 4th and 5th generation port producers. They give a tour of the cellars, explain the process and pair the tasting experience with a beautifully set table (great for pictures). If you want to buy, they will ship it home for you.

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