Port

Port is Portugal's great fortified sweet wine, made in the steep terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley and historically aged and shipped from Vila Nova de Gaia opposite the city of Porto. It is built by adding neutral grape spirit (aguardente) part-way through fermentation, which kills the yeast and leaves abundant natural grape sugar behind while pushing the alcohol up to roughly 19 to 22 percent. The result is a rich, sweet, full-bodied wine that ranges from young, fruity ruby through nutty, oxidised tawny to a decades-aging vintage, plus a paler white style. It is the classic wine of the cheeseboard and the after-dinner glass.