How Port became synonymous with Christmas.

Ask most people, and they’ll be relaxing after dinner on Christmas Day with a glass of Port and a delicious cheeseboard. But how did Port become the Christmas Day staple?

It all started in the 1700’s, when war with France meant we had less access to the French wine we so adored.

Us Brits fell in love with the silky smooth, sweet wine from the Duoro region of Northern Portugal which just so happened to pair perfectly with our very own Stilton cheese. As a nation we quickly invested in this beautiful wine so we had access to imports at a relatively low cost, with names such as Warre’s, Graham’s & Taylor’s being some of the most renowned Port houses on the hillsides of Porto to this day.

This, combined with the intense dried fruit flavours which happened to also pair perfectly with our beloved Christmas Pudding & mince pies meant a Christmas tradition was born.

The vines in this region grow along 'patamares' or terraces, which line the steep valley sides, where the work in the vineyards, known as Quintas, has to be completed by hand.

Traditionally, Port grapes were trodden by foot in large concrete troughs, to maximise colour extraction from the grape skins as quickly as possible. These days, giant robotic lagares, or treaders, are used to replicate the motion of foot treading. The grape juice is then fermented, as a normal red wine would be, but before the yeast has consumed all the sugar, the wine is fortified with grape brandy, which stops the fermentation process giving us a sweet wine that is at least 17.5% abv.

The wine is transported down stream to the cooler region of Nova de Gaia, where it is then aged in barrels or bottles for 4 to 40 years depending on the style the winemaker is wanting to produce.

And with so many styles available, it can be hard to know which one to choose. There’s so many questions: what’s the difference between a Late Bottled Vintage, Colheita and Crusted Port? Is a Single Quinta better than a Field Blend? And how long after opening does it last?

We'll be answering all of these questions, and more, at our upcoming Christmas Port & Cheese tasting on Thursday 12th December where we will be showcasing six different styles of Port with six carefully selected cheeses. The perfect event to get you in the Christmas spirit....tickets available here!