What is the difference between vintage and non-vintage port?

As with Champagne, vintage wines are only made in the greatest of years and the rules surrounding the production of these wines differs from that of non-vintage wines. A Vintage Port is a wine made from a single, exceptional year that spends no longer than two years in barrel before being bottled.

What does non-vintage mean?

As I understand the term, “non-vintage,” or “NV,” refers to wines made from grapes harvested in more than one year. If a wine is a blend of multiple vintages, it’s considered a non-vintage wine.

How long does non-vintage port last?

Thanks to the fortification, all ports except for vintage will stay good in the fridge for around three months. In fact, part of the reason port used to be so popular is because of its durability; it would be shipped around the world and it could hold it’s flavor.

What are the three styles of port?

Port wine is most commonly enjoyed as a dessert wine because its richness. There are several styles of Port, including red, white, rosé, and an aged style called Tawny Port.

Is vintage Port a ruby Port?

In contrast, bottle-aged vintage ports have a shelf life of only a week when recorked, after which they become stale. The average among these wines are bolstered by blending with some older wines, aging the blend a little longer and then bottled simply as ruby port.

Is tawny or vintage Port better?

Sharing the pinnacle with vintage Port, it used to be said that whereas vintage is the ‘king’ of Ports, tawny is the ‘queen’. The ageing process is of vital importance: whereas a vintage Port will mature in large wooden vats and then in bottle, tawnies will mature in small casks.

Is non-vintage wine good?

Wines without a vintage date: Non-vintage wine is made by blending multiple years together. Non-vintage wines are known for their consistent, house style and are usually a good value.

What does NV stand for port wine?

Last week I described the word vintage as it applies to wine. This week’s word is the opposite: non-vintage, often shortened to NV. As a wine word, non-vintage is most often used in regard to Champagne and sparkling wine, as well as many fortified wines like Port, Sherry or Madeira.

Can Old Port make you sick?

Can drinking an old wine such as Port literally make you sick? Well, you certainly can get ill if you drink too much Port—or too much of anything, for that matter. Overindulging will almost always lead to unpleasant symptoms. But it sounds like you’re wondering if a wine spoils as it gets older, and the answer is no.

What is the best type of Port?

The 12 Best Port Wines to Drink in 2021

• Best Overall: Dow’s Vintage Port 2016.
• Best Under $30: Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port.
• Best Tawny: Cockburn’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port (500ML)
• Runner-Up Best Tawny: Warre’s Otima 10 Year Tawny Port.
• Best White Port: Sandeman Apitiv White Port Reserve.