Port wine facts for kids

A glass of tawny port.

Port wine is a special kind of Portuguese wine. It's also known as Vinho do Porto or simply Port. This wine comes from the beautiful Douro Valley in northern Portugal.

Port is a fortified wine. This means extra alcohol is added during its making. This makes the wine stronger and often sweeter. While most Port is sweet, you can also find dry or semi-dry types. People often enjoy it as a dessert wine after a meal.

Many countries like Australia, South Africa, and the United States make wines similar to Port. However, only wine made in Portugal can officially be called "Port" in most places. In the United States, the Portuguese version is often called Porto or Vinho do Porto.

How Port Wine Is Made

Port wine starts with grapes grown in the Douro Valley region of Portugal. This area has been protected since 1756, making it the oldest defined wine region in the world.

From Grapes to Wine

After the grapes are picked, they are pressed to get their juice. This juice then begins to ferment. Fermentation is when the natural sugars in the grape juice turn into alcohol.

Adding Brandy for Strength

During the fermentation process, a special kind of Brandy is added to the wine. Brandy is a strong alcohol made from distilled grapes. Adding it stops the fermentation early. This leaves some natural sugar in the wine, making it sweeter. It also increases the wine's alcohol content, making it stronger.

Aging Port Wine

Once the brandy is added, the wine is ready for aging. Port wine is often stored in large barrels. These barrels are kept in special cellars called caves (which means "cellars" in Portuguese). Many of these cellars are in a town called Vila Nova de Gaia. Aging helps the wine develop its rich flavors. After aging, the wine is put into bottles.

The Name "Port"

The name "Port" comes from the seaport city of Porto. This city is located at the mouth of the Douro River. For hundreds of years, much of the Port wine was brought to Porto. From there, it was sold or shipped to other countries in Europe.

Images for kids

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  A glass of tawny port

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  Official guarantee label from a bottle of port

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  The vineyards that produce port wine are common along the hillsides that flank the valley of the River Douro in northern Portugal.

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  Aging in wooden barrels

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  Vintage ports from 1870 and 1873

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  Rabelos, a type of boat traditionally used to transport barrels of port down the River Douro for storage and aging in caves at Vila Nova de Gaia near Porto

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  A barco rabelo carrying display port barrels

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  A bottle of filtered New York State, Kosher Port wine

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  Delaforce 1985 Vintage Port

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  A bottle of Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 1963

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  Sandeman cellar, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

See also

In Spanish: Oporto (vino) para niños