Port wine

Port is a fortified wine from the Douro valley in northern Portugal. Grape spirit added during fermentation stops it and keeps the natural sugar. Here you will find white, ruby, aged tawny, LBV and vintage Port, mostly from Vieira de Sousa.

If you think you do not like Port, start with a chilled 10 year old tawny at our bar in Graça.

Which Port style to choose

Ruby styles age in large vats or in bottle and stay dark and fruity. Tawny styles age in small casks, take in a little air and turn amber, with notes of walnut, dried fig and caramel.

• White: made from white grapes, the aperitif. Pour the Vieira de Sousa Extra Dry White Port over ice with tonic and a slice of orange.
• Ruby: young, red fruit, easy with dark chocolate. The Vieira de Sousa Fine Ruby Port is our everyday bottle.
• Aged tawny: 10, 20, 30 or 40 years on the label is an average style, not the age of every drop. Start with the Vieira de Sousa 10 Year Old Tawny Port, then move up to the Vieira de Sousa 20 Year Old Tawny Port, more concentrated.
• LBV: Late Bottled Vintage is wine from a single year, bottled four to six years after the harvest. Try the Vieira de Sousa Late Bottled Vintage Port 2019.
• Vintage: only made in the best years, bottled young and built to age for decades. Decant the Vieira de Sousa Vintage Port 2015 an hour before you pour.

For more, read our guide to Port wine styles, or look at the still wines from the same valley on our Douro wine page.

How to serve Port

White and tawny Port taste best cool, around 10 to 14°C. Ruby, LBV and vintage like 14 to 16°C.

With food, tawny loves pastéis de nata, almonds and hard sheep cheese. Ruby and LBV go with dark chocolate or blue cheese. Our Port tasting pours White, Ruby, 10 Year Tawny and LBV with dark chocolate, in about an hour.

Questions we get asked

What is the difference between ruby and tawny Port?

Ruby Port ages in large vats or in bottle, so it keeps a deep red colour and fresh red fruit. Tawny Port ages in small wooden casks, where slow contact with air turns it amber and brings notes of nuts, dried fruit and caramel.

How long does Port keep once opened?

Kept in the fridge with the cork back in, an aged tawny stays good for four to six weeks. Ruby, white and LBV are best within about two weeks. A vintage Port should be finished within a day or two.

Should Port be served chilled?

White and tawny Port are best cool, around 10 to 14°C. Ruby, LBV and vintage Port are served a little warmer, around 14 to 16°C, which is still below room temperature in a Lisbon summer.

What is the difference between LBV and vintage Port?

Both come from a single harvest. LBV spends four to six years in wood before bottling and is ready to drink, while vintage Port is bottled after about two years, keeps ageing in the bottle for decades and usually needs decanting.