Port

Question 1

Where is most Port matured, and why?

What type is the general exception, and why?

Answer 1

Vila Nova de Gaia, because it is cooler on the coast and can support and long maturation.
Tawny, because a warmer, faster maturation and loss of color is desirable.

Question 2

Which types of Port are typically fined and filtered?

Answer 2

Ruby, Reserve Ruby, and some LBV

Question 3

Which types of Port are typically not fined and filtered?

Answer 3

Vintage and some LBV

Question 4

Which type of Port throws its deposit during pre-bottle maturation?

Answer 4

Tawny

Question 5

What are the barrels used to mature Tawny Port called?

Answer 5

Pipes

Question 6

When is Port blended?

Answer 6

All the way through maturation.

Question 7

Which types of Port are fully developed and ready to drink on release?

Answer 7

Tawny, Reserve Tawny, Tawny with Age Indication (loses freshness after bottling), Ruby, Reserve Ruby, some LBV, SQV

Question 8

Which types of Port can benefit from bottle aging?

Answer 8

Vintage and some LBV

Question 9

Which types of Port are not NV, and what are their requirements?

Answer 9

Vintage & LBV - must be from a single year.
Tawny with Indication of Age - must state year of bottling, and contains a blend of wines with the average age indicated - 10, 20, 30, or 40 years

Question 10

What is the minimum wood aging for Reserve Tawny?

Answer 10

6 years

Question 11

How long is LBV aged before bottling?

Answer 11

4 to 6 years

Question 12

Which is more approachable on release, Vintage or LBV Port? Why?

Answer 12

LBV - because LBV is aged in old oak, and Vintage Port is at its most tannic when young.

Question 13

Which is most likely not to be fined and filtered, LBV or Vintage Port?

Answer 13

Vintage

Question 14

At what point is a Port registered for a Vintage Port?

Answer 14

the 2nd year post-harvest

Question 15

What is the latest time a Vintage Port can be bottled?

Answer 15

no later than the 3rd year after harvest

Question 16

How many Vintage Ports are released per decade, on average?

Answer 16

3

Question 17

Can individual producers declare a Vintage Port?

Answer 17

Yes, consensus is not required

Question 18

What is S.Q.V. wine and what is the difference between SQV from a small vs a large producer?

Answer 18

Single Quinta Vintage.

A small producer with only one Quinta will only make an SQV in the great years when a vintage is declared.

Larger producers may release SQVs from their best performing single Quintas in years not good enough to declare a Vintage - this is not considered as prestigious as a Vintage Port blend of the best from all of their Quintas.

Question 19

Does Tawny Port need to be decanted? Why?

Answer 19

No - it throws its deposit during its oxidative maturation in pipes.

Question 20

Which Ports are comprised of wines 1 to 3 years in age?

Answer 20

Ruby and Tawny

Question 21

What are the 4 techniques for making a Tawny Port achieve its color?

Answer 21

• Using lighter or less extracted wines from Baixo Corgo
• Maturing in the hot Douro region
• Blending in White Port
• Heavy use of fining to remove color

Question 22

LBV Port that is fined and filtered is most like what other Port? And which is it most like when it is not fined or filtered?

Answer 22

Fined & Filtered: Reserve Ruby

Unfined & Unfiltered: Vintage Port

Question 23

Which type of LBV Port is more common - filtered or unfiltered?

Answer 23

Filtered

Question 24

Which type of LBV Port can bottle age - filtered or unfiltered?

Answer 24

Unfiltered

Question 25

What is a Quinta?

Answer 25

A single estate