# Port wine is... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345 "2004-01-27T22:49:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![charade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@charade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/charade)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/1 "2004-01-27T22:49:49Z")
what? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/2 "2004-01-27T23:01:53Z")
Red wine for which the fermentation has been halted partway by the addition of brandy, then matured in wooden casks (Ruby and tawny ports) or in the bottle (LBV and vintage). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/3 "2004-01-27T23:02:11Z")
A fortified wine, originally from the Douro valley of Portugal, made by adding brandy to stop the frementation process. [Enjoying Port](http://www.intowine.com/port.html#history) ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/4 "2004-01-27T23:02:04Z")
> [@charade](#): > > what? 😕 It’s a sweet, fortified (normally red) wine originally made in Oporto, Potugal. The wine is partially fermented. When tha alcohol level reaches around 7 or 8%, brandy is added to bring the alcohol level to around 20%. You can learn more [here](http://www.lojaviva.com/cgi-bin/OportoWines.storefront/4016eb16002f6bb0273f0a010a010596/UserTemplate/23). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/5 "2004-01-27T23:05:25Z")
…wonderful with almonds and Stilton cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/6 "2004-01-27T23:07:33Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Red wine for which the fermentation has been halted partway by the addition of brandy, then matured in wooden casks (Ruby and tawny ports) or in the bottle (LBV and vintage). Nitpick LBV is aged in cask. At least that what the [chaps who invented it](http://www.taylor.pt/lbv.asp) claim. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/7 "2004-01-27T23:07:34Z")
> [@charade](#): > > what? 😕 A range of fortified wines produced in the Douro region of Portugal around Oporto. [This will tell you more](http://www.intowine.com/port.html). ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/8 "2004-01-27T23:18:23Z")
… made in [Texas](http://www.messinahof.com/docs/new%20wines/prport.pdf), and we don’t need to add any brandy :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/9 "2004-01-28T00:48:43Z")
Ah, so it’s a _fortified_ wine made in Portugal? Do they add brandy to it? ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/10 "2004-01-28T05:04:18Z")
Yes. It is partially fermented first. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/11 "2004-01-28T08:51:24Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > … made in [Texas](http://www.messinahof.com/docs/new%20wines/prport.pdf), and we don’t need to add any brandy :eek: I am surprised that this Texas company is allowed to call their product\* Port\*. I would have thought that this name would be protected under international agreements just as \*Sherry \* and _Champagne_ are. Perhaps this slipped through the net. ---
**Author:** ![mkl12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@mkl12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkl12)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/12 "2004-01-28T11:10:52Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > I am surprised that this Texas company is allowed to call their product\* Port\*. I would have thought that this name would be protected under international agreements just as \*Sherry \* and _Champagne_ are. Perhaps this slipped through the net. The US did not join those agreements. They make their own champagne, too. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/13 "2004-01-28T11:17:34Z")
> [@Rayne Man](#): > > I am surprised that this Texas company is allowed to call their product\* Port\*. I would have thought that this name would be protected under international agreements just as \*Sherry \* and _Champagne_ are. Perhaps this slipped through the net. I don’t think it is so protected. You can get Australian and South African ports also. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/14 "2004-01-28T11:49:45Z")
> [@Manduck](#): > > I don’t think it is so protected. You can get Australian and South African ports also. According to this link the EU are trying to remedy this situation and have been successful in stopping South Africa from using these names. :- [http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08292003/Business/87754.asp](http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08292003/Business/87754.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/15 "2004-01-28T12:54:21Z")
…the nectar of the gods. Yum! Stopping the fermentation with brandy means there is plenty of grape sugar still in the (~20%ABV) final product. Thick, rich and alcoholic, just like \<_Name removed on legal advice by The Straight Dope_\> 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/16 "2004-01-28T13:27:43Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > Nitpick LBV is aged in cask. At least that what the [chaps who invented it](http://www.taylor.pt/lbv.asp) claim. You’re right, in fact it looks like they are all matured in casks for various lengths of time; Tawny and Ruby ports are _fully matured_ in the cask and are ready to drink right after bottling, LBV and Vintage ports should be matured further in the bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/17 "2004-01-28T13:40:42Z")
Port wine is fantastic! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fezpp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fezpp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fezpp)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/18 "2004-01-29T11:30:03Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **mkl12** > The US did not join those agreements. Now there’s a surprise! ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/19 "2004-01-29T12:59:56Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Ah, so it’s a _fortified_ wine made in Portugal? Do they add brandy to it? 😃 And the brandy stops the fermentation, I believe. Well, it did in the 1920s… ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345/20 "2004-01-29T14:31:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Thick, rich and alcoholic, just like \ Durn spoilsports 😉 Now I’ll just have to guess… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/port-wine-is/226345.md?page=2)