Port - Port wine, the perfect wine digestif

Burmester Colheita Port 1952 0.75L Burmester Burmester is owned by the Sogevinus Group and the manufacturer can be found near the Alto Douro region. Interestingly, however, the company has German roots, as Burmester originally comes from the small town of Mölln in Schleswig-Holstein. The Burmester family has been producing port there since the 18th century and have held the office of mayor for generations. Colheita Port 1952 The amber-colored port wine has a distinctive, very elegant aroma. Predominant notes are dried fruit and candied orange peel, which are elegantly underlined by spicy notes. The Colheita Port 1952 is a very soft, creamy port wine with a long finish.

Andresen White Port 10 years 0.5L 20%

Dalva Colheita Port 1990, 0.75 L, 20% The history of Dalva Port Today's port wine house Dalva was founded in 1862 under the name Corrêa Ribeiro e Filhos and was a supplier to the Portuguese royal family for a long time. In 1933, Corrêa Ribeiro e Filhos was finally taken over by the Brazilian businessman Clemente da Silva, who also gave the house its current name. At the beginning, Clemente da Silva concentrated on trading with his home country and North America. There he was able to achieve great success, as port wine was otherwise mainly traded in Europe. Only when da Silva had built up a certain amount of capital did he also supply the European and Asian markets. Da Silva concentrated early on the production of high-quality Colheita Ports and white port wines. Thanks to years of experience in production, Colheita's Colheita and White Ports are among the highest quality bottlings available today. Colheita Port Colheita Port is, when produced correctly, a very high-quality port wine style. All the grapes for a Colheita Port must come from a single year and be stored in barrels for at least seven years. This long storage time gives it a very special color reminiscent of amber and is an unmistakable expression of the corresponding year. Older Colheita Ports in particular can achieve enormous quality and are so valued by port wine connoisseurs because they do not have to be stored in your own cellar for decades like vintage ports. A Colheita Port is fully drinkable after just a few days of resting after delivery. However, to ensure that it can develop its full aromas, you should decant the Dalva Colheita Port 1990 at least 30 minutes before drinking. The Dalva Colheita Port 1990 After the 1985 vintage, port wine lovers had to wait a full five years before Dalva bottled a Colheita Port again. It was not until 1990 that everyone agreed that the harvest had again reached the desired quality for a vintage bottling. The result of the long wait and the hard work in the cellar is a perfectly pronounced Colheita Port with ripe notes of dried fruit and nuts. There are also nuances of red currants and blackberries on the palate. The aftertaste is long and warming.

Dalva Colheita Port 1985, 0.75 L, 20% The history of Dalva The name Dalva is derived from the surname of the founder Clemente da Silva. Clemente da Silva was a Brazilian immigrant who joined the Corrêa Ribeiro e Filhos company through marriage in 1933. There, da Silva promoted trade with South and North America and was able to make large profits. Shortly afterwards, the European and Asian markets were also supplied with Dalva ports. Production focused primarily on high-quality Colheita Ports and long-aged White Ports. These two categories are still the flagship of Dalva Ports today. Colheita Port What exactly is Colheita Port? As with every port wine category, there are clear legal regulations here too. All grapes for a Colheita bottling must come from a single vintage, which must later be stated on the bottle. After fermentation has been interrupted by the addition of brandy during vinification, a Colheita must spend at least seven years in the barrel to develop its very specific aroma. For the sake of taste, however, many manufacturers, such as Dalva, let their ports mature for much longer. During this long storage time, the Colheita develops a very special color that tends towards amber. The aim of every port wine producer is also to bring out the taste of the respective vintage particularly well. This has been achieved extremely well with the Dalva Colheita Port 1985. The Dalva Colheita Port 1985 The Dalva Colheita Port 1985 opens up all the aromas to the connoisseur that they would expect from a Colheita Port of this class. Very ripe aromas of dried fruit and nuts are just as noticeable as nuances of fresh fruit such as plum and cherry. The aftertaste of the Dalva Colheita Port 1985 is long, warming and pleasantly strong. Its dark amber color also makes it a visual highlight in the glass. This vintage port from 1985 is a fine example of the quality of high-quality port wines!

Burmester Tawny Port 20 years 0.75L 20% Tawny Port Tawny Port - What is that anyway? To understand this, you have to look a little into the production of port wine. The production of port wine begins in the same way as any wine. Fully ripe red - sometimes white - grapes are harvested and mashed. However, the mashing of port wine must be very vigorous, because after just a few days of fermentation, wine spirit is added to the must to interrupt the work of the yeast. This produces a high-alcohol and sweet wine, because not all of the sugar from the grapes has been metabolized by the yeast. This young port wine still has a very fiery taste and is therefore filled into oak barrels for storage. After a prescribed storage period of at least three years, the port can be brought onto the market. This usually happens in the "Ruby Port" category, which includes very young port wines with a fruity taste and a bright red color. A "Tawny Port" is distinguished from Ruby Port by its longer storage time. With further years in the barrel, the port loses its strong red color and takes on an amber-like color, which is characteristic of Tawny Port. The fruity aromas also fade into the background with longer storage and the Tawny becomes more complex. Burmester When it comes to Tawny Port, you can't get away from the port wine house Burmester. Burmester was founded in 1730 by Henry Burmester and John Nash as a wheat trading company. A few years later, however, Burmester & Nash recognized the potential that lay dormant in port wine and concentrated on trading in this fortified wine. At the beginning of the 18th century, Burmester & Nash was founded. Nash was finally dissolved and Henry Burmester opened the port wine trading house H. Burmester & Sons with his two sons. Together with his sons, he concentrated particularly on the storage and blending of high-quality port wines. This art was perfected over the next 250 years and Burmester's tawny ports in particular are considered to be among the best available on the market in this category. The Burmester Tawny Port 20 Years The Burmester Tawny Port 20 Years is one of the company's highest quality tawny ports. It is considered a classic in the world of wine and an expression of the class of tawny ports in general. The amber color is perfectly pronounced and in addition to clear notes of aging, the Burmester Tawny Port 20 Years still shows nuances of fresh fruit. A flavor bomb that is suitable as a high-quality aperitif or with a hearty cheese platter.

Burmester Tawny Port 10 years, 0.75 L, 20% A "mayor" in the port wine trade Mayor - Not exactly a word that one associates with good port wine. And yet one of the most famous port wine houses in the world, Burmester, owes its name to him. Burmester was founded in 1730 by Henry Burmester and John Nash as a grain trading company. Henry Burmester's family came from the Schleswig-Holstein town of Mölln and their name is derived from the spelling "Burgmeester" that was common at the time. A few years after its founding, the company moved to the famous trading town of Vila Nova de Gaia. Vila Nova de Gaia was THE main trading point for port wine for several centuries. Until the 1980s, port wine even had to be shipped via Vila Nova de Gaia by law, which forced small port wine houses that had no property there to sell their goods to larger companies. In 1750, Burmester finally began shipping port wine to the British Isles and the rest of Europe. Presumably in order to concentrate entirely on trading in high-quality port wine, Burmester & Nash was dissolved at the beginning of the 18th century and Henry Burmester and his two sons founded a pure port wine trading company: H. Burmester & Sons. Burmester Tawny Port 10 years Over the decades, Burmester has made a name for itself with one style of port wine in particular - Tawny Port. Tawny Port matures longer in barrels than Ruby Port and thus loses its bright red color. After a few years, it takes on a color called "Tawny", which is reminiscent of amber. Tawny is one of the most popular port wine styles and is often enjoyed as an aperitif. The Burmester Tawny Port 10 years is one of the best known and most respected Tawny Ports on the market. It is made from grapes from old vines and carefully matures in small oak barrels. In the more than 250 years since the company was founded, Burmester has perfected the art of blending individual barrels and the Burmester Tawny Port 10 years is one of the best examples of this! The taste of the Burmester Tawny Port 10 years The Burmester Tawny Port 10 years is not only impressive due to its beautifully pronounced amber color. Its ripe but still fruity aromas make it the perfect aperitif. But the Burmester Tawny Port 10 years is not only suitable for enjoyment before a meal, it can accompany almost an entire menu. From hearty main courses to cheese platters, it goes perfectly with many dishes. Its good price/performance ratio also makes it the ideal port to enjoy between meals!

Quinta do Infantado White Port, 0.75 L, 19.5% The history of Quinta do Infantado Trading in port wine was not always as easy for port wine producing wineries as it is today. Until 1986, the export of port wine was strictly regulated. For example, the law stipulated that port wines could only be exported via the commercial port of Vila Nova de Gaia. This strengthened the position of the large corporations and made it virtually impossible for smaller producers to offer their port abroad. In order to be allowed to export, you had to have a commercial headquarters in Vila Nova de Gaia, which many small companies simply could not afford. Quinta do Infantado was one of them. Since the law was changed, however, things have been going steeply uphill at Quinta do Infantado and the company is now one of the leading suppliers of "estate-bottled" ports - that is, port wines that are bottled directly on the winery. The production of white port at Quinta do Infantado Quinta do Infantado has several terraced vineyards in the Gonthelo region, some of which are planted with white grapes. The work in the vineyard is laboriously done by hand. In addition to careful selection, this also includes harvesting the ripe grapes by hand. The grapes are then transported to the winery, where the vineyard workers crush them with their feet. This traditional method is far gentler than mechanical pressing, as it ensures that the grape seeds are not damaged and bitter substances cannot get into the pressed juice. Unlike red port, there is only a very short fermentation (mashing) or no fermentation at all, and the subsequent fermentation is also quickly stopped with brandy. The taste of Quinta do Infantado White Port This fine port is not only unmistakably a white port in terms of its color. Its taste also shows the typical characteristics of this port wine style. Floral and fruity on the nose, the palate has a fine sweetness that is also underpinned by fruit aromas such as quince and pear. The aftertaste is rather short but full of finesse. Slightly chilled, it is a perfect aperitif!

Quinta do Infantado Ruby Port, 0.75L, 19.5% The story of Quinta do Infantado It's actually hard to imagine, but until 1986, Portugal's law stipulated that port wines could only be exported via the port city of Vila Nova de Gaia. All wineries that could not afford a trading location within the city limits had to sell their ports by the barrel to larger producers. These mixed the wines and bottled them under their own label. Small wineries like Quinta do Infantado only had the option of offering their own wines within Portugal. Fortunately, the trade law has since been overturned, allowing smaller producers to offer their ports abroad. One estate that benefited greatly from the new regulation was Quinta do Infantado, which is now considered one of the leading suppliers of estate-bottled ports. The production of port wines at Quinta do Infantado The company's vineyards are located in the Gonthelo region of the Douro Valley, which is particularly known for the high quality of its soil. The production of port wines at Quinta do Infantado is very traditional. For example, the grapes are not only harvested by hand, but are then also stomped by the vineyard workers with their feet. If mechanical presses were used for this step, there would always be a risk that grape seeds would be crushed and bitter substances would get into the port. The human foot is so sensitive that only the grapes are crushed and the seeds remain intact. The subsequent intensive fermentation is stopped by adding brandy and the still young and fiery port is then stored. The Quinta do Infantado Ruby Port The Quinta do Infantado Ruby Port is particularly characterized by its deep ruby red color and its strong, fiery character. Like all Ruby Ports, it only matures for a few years so that all the fresh and fruity aromas are retained. The aftertaste is short but concise. This Ruby is a warming and uncomplicated port that can be enjoyed on many occasions.

Quinta do Infantado Reserva Especial Port, 0.75 L, 19.5% The history of Quinta do Infantado The port wine estate "Quinta do Infantado" is idyllically located in the Pinhão region, which is known for its high-quality port wine houses. More precisely, Quinta do Infantado is located in the Gontelho district on the Douro, about 60 km from the port city of Vila Nova de Gaia. This trading city plays an important role in the history of Quinta do Infantado, because until 1986 it was required by law to export port wines via Vila Nova de Gaia. However, this was only possible for those producers who had a branch there. Since they kept the prices for land extremely high, it was practically impossible for small producers like Quinta do Infantado to sell their port wines abroad. All they could do was sell the barrels to the big port wine houses and watch as their laboriously produced port wines flowed into their blends. After the law was overturned, they were able to quickly break free from their dependency and Quinta do Infantado is now one of the most successful producers of "estate-bottled ports", i.e. port wines bottled on the winery. The production of wines at Quinta do Infantado The Quinta's vineyards are terraced, steeply sloping and have solid soil. This means they are not suitable for the use of machines and all work steps in the vineyard are done by hand. This makes it possible to harvest the highest quality grapes, which are transported directly to the winery after the harvest to be processed there. This is also done in a very traditional way, as the grapes are crushed with the feet of the vineyard workers. In contrast to mechanical pressing, this protects the grape seeds and fewer bitter substances get into the must. The port wines are then matured in the so-called "medium-dry style". The fermentation takes longer than with traditional port wines, which means that the use of brandy to stop fermentation can be reduced. The port wine therefore contains less residual sugar and tastes drier. The taste of the Quinta do Infantado Reserva Especial Port The Quinta do Infantado Reserva Especial Port is a type of fine ruby port that was treated with great care in the cellar. This very harmonious port has a spicy character on the nose and palate with a lot of finesse and minerality. A port whose taste is memorable and which is best decanted for around 30 minutes before consumption.

Quinta do Infantado Reserva Especial Port, 0.375 L, 19.5% The story of Quinta do Infantado It actually sounds unbelievable, but until 1986, it was virtually impossible for small port wine houses to sell their goods outside of Portugal. Until that year, the law stipulated that port wine had to be shipped via the port city of Vila Nova de Gaia. However, this was only possible if you had a branch there. As land prices were naturally very expensive, this was only possible for very large traders and port wine houses. Small producers, such as Quinta do Infantado, therefore had little choice but to sell their laboriously produced port wines by the barrel to the large producers. They then blended them and produced their well-known blends. When the law was finally overturned, a new era began. Not just for the small quintas, but also for port wine connoisseurs who now have the opportunity to taste numerous new bottlings. The production of ports at Quinta do Infantado The Quinta do Infantado is idyllically located on the Douro, in the Gontelho district of the Pinhão region. The estate has several vineyards there. These are on very steep slopes, are terraced and have solid soil. These special conditions make the use of machines virtually impossible, which is why every step in the vineyard is traditionally done by hand. This is of great benefit to the end product, as the grapes obtained in this way are of the highest quality. Immediately after the harvest, these are taken to the winery and there, also traditionally, are crushed by the vineyard workers with their feet. The use of mechanical presses is deliberately avoided, as these damage the grape seeds and bitter substances enter the must. The must is then fermented and fermentation is stopped after a few days by adding brandy. At Quinta do Infantado, however, fermentation takes longer than at other manufacturers, which means that less brandy is needed and there is less fruit sugar in the end product. The ports are therefore drier than other bottlings and are also referred to as "medium-dry style". The Quinta do Infantado Reserva Especial Port The Reserva Especial Port is a high-quality Ruby Port, made mainly from grapes from one year. In terms of style, it is therefore similar to a Vintage Port, with all its complex aromas of dried fruit, dark berries, leather and vanilla. A great tipple!

Quinta do Infantado Port 10 Years Tawny, 0.375 L, 19.5% The history of Quinta do Infantado Quinta do Infantado is a small port wine estate from the town of Pinhão in the Gontelho region of the Douro Valley. Like many other small estates, Quinta do Infantado was severely limited in the sale of its port wines until 1986. This was due to a trade law that only allowed the export of port via the port city of Vila Nova de Gaia. Since many smaller producers could not afford a trading location within the city area, their only option was to sell their port wines domestically or to sell them by the barrel to large manufacturers. Fortunately, this law was overturned, allowing port wine lovers all over the world to enjoy high-quality port wines from previously lesser-known companies. In the area of estate-bottled ports, Quinta do Infantado is now one of the leading suppliers! The production of port at Quinta do Infantado Quinta do Infantado has several terraced vineyards which, due to their soil conditions, provide ideal conditions for growing grapes. The greatest emphasis is placed on manual work when harvesting and caring for the vineyards. After the grapes have been picked by hand, they are taken to the winery and crushed there in the traditional way. In this case, traditional means that the vineyard workers trample the grapes with their feet. This is still the gentlest method, as mechanical presses often damage the grape seeds and bitter substances get into the port. After fermentation has been stopped with brandy, the still young and fiery port is stored in barrels and tanks. The Quinta do Infantado Port 10 years This bottling is a 10-year-old Tawny Port. So in the end it is a Ruby Port that has been stored for a long time and which has transformed some of its fresh and fruity notes into mature notes of nuts, dried fruit and caramel during the long storage period. The aftertaste is very long and this 10 year old Tawny Port is quite rightly considered one of the best in its class!