The Wine Ladies

Talking About Port

Dear Wine Ladies,

Is Port considered a wine and how do they make it so high in alcohol? What is the range of alcohol levels found in Port?

Germaine

Dear Germaine,

Port is actually considered a fortified wine that owes its higher alcohol content to the addition of brandy. Port starts off being made as with regular table wines; the grapes are harvested, crushed and de-stemmed leaving one with the must available for fermentation. In the case of Port the wine is only partially fermented, generally to the point at which approximately half of its grape sugar has been converted to alcohol. The wine is then poured off into a vessel that is a quarter full of brandy. The brandy stops the fermentation and leaves a blend that is both strong and sweet.  “The fortified wines are then shipped to the Port shippers’ lodges where they are tasted and classified into lots according to sweetness, color and style. Some lots will be destined for blending while the best casks will be earmarked for aging on their own with the hope of being selected to become a vintage Port.  Port wines range in alcohol from 19%-22%.