Portugal - Port

One of the cities that I have visited in my search for Portuguese specific products was Porto.

Porto is best known as the origin place of Port, which in Vila Nova de Gaia, located in front of Porto on the South Bank of the Douro River, is stored and from there exported all over the world.

It is a typical sweet red, white or rosé wine, alcohol content between 18 and 20 percent and served as an aperitif or dessert wine.

The finest Port is produced from grapes grown on the steep and rocky slopes of the Upper Douro and its tributaries.

History of Port
In the 17th Century British traders, cut off from their supplies of Bordeaux by frequent wars with France, took a liking to the full-flavoured, robust wines of Portugal. But these wines did not travel well, so the traders added brandy to fortify them against the rigours of their Atlantic sea voyage. Before long, pure grape spirit was added during fermentation and Port, as we drink it today, was created.

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