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Wine is a heavily debated topic in the Edgren household. My husband is a big red guy. I am a light red gal. My husband likes buery Chardonnay. I like a crisp Chenin Blanc. My husband likes a cold Coors Light. I like, literally, anything but that. Sometimes we just need to remember to agree to disagree, you know? Sometimes we need to learn to embrace our differences and realize disagreeing on this evening's drink of choice only means we never have to share. As much as I enjoy a classic spousal debate, I am slowly coming around to one of his favorite wines (DON'T TELL HIM!). From the first sip, this wine has been his one true love. If it had legs, like actual legs, not just wine legs, I would be replaced, no doubt about it. is is not your average wine that has my husband's heart. It is a fortified wine that goes by the name Port. Port is a slow sipper; it's indulgent and usually enjoyed as a dessert wine. It is sweet, savory, and has notes of raisins, walnuts, stewed fruits, and chocolate on the palate. e flavor is so concentrated you only need a few sips to enjoy. Port wine is typically served in 3 ounce pours versus the standard 5-ounce wine pour, and it packs a punch with 20% ABV (on average) compared to about 12% ABV (on average) for your typical glass of red. Most Port wine drinkers will have a small glass at night while they are curled up on the sofa in front of the fireplace. is wine is typically drunk with intention and purpose, usually on special occasions. I say usually because if you are my husband, you will drink it anywhere, anytime, and straight out of a pint glass. To each his own, I suppose. So, what makes a Port wine a Port wine? First and most important, it is a fortified wine produced exclusively in the Port region of Portugal. ink of it like Champagne. You can only call a sparkling wine Champagne if it's made in the Champagne region of France. Same concept with Port. To make a Port, the winemaker begins by creating a still wine, using grape varieties native to the region. e most common varieties in this region are Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Nacional, and Tinto Cao. Fermentation is stopped early in the still wine production by adding a neutral spirit, Brandy, which creates an alcoholic sweet wine. Fun fact, Brandy also acts as a natural preservative in the wine, giving it a longer post-opening shelf life than a standard wine. An open Port will last a few weeks in your refrigerator! ere are two main categories of Port wine and several subcategories within those main categories. I am not going to lie; it is confusing. e more I learn about Port, the more there is to learn. I've provided a quick and dirty overview of Port (see below), straight from Kevin Zraly's book Windows on the World, Complete Wine Course. SIGNATURE MONTANA | 21 RAMBLING VINES TEXT BY BRITTANY EDGREN The one thing in life my husband and I agree on. S MT KA A NS UF M E N S W E A R C E N T R E 411 Central Avenue, Great Falls 406.761.5010 kaufmansmenswear.com Your Men's Apparel Headquarters Your Men's Apparel Headquarters FIND US ON FACEBOOK 1116 9th Street South • Great Falls, MT 4 0 6 . 7 7 1 . 7 4 5 6 4 0 6 . 7 7 1 . 7 4 5 6 w h e a t m o n t a n a . c o m Perfect... Morning or Afternoon. Port Wine Cask-Aged Port Wine Ruby Port: Dark, fruity, and youthful blended from young non-vintage wines. Tawny Port: Lighter and more delicate, blended from many vintages. Aged Tawny Port: Aged in casks, sometimes for forty years or more. Colheita: From a single vintage and wood-aged at least seven years. Bole Aged Port Wine Late Boled Vintage (LBV): From a single vintage, boled 4-6 years aer harvest, and similar to vintage Port, it may be light and ready to drink on release. Vintage Character: Similar to LBV but made from a blend of the beer vintages. Quinta: From a single vineyard. Vintage Port: Aged two years in wood and will mature in the bole over time. Now grab a bole from your nearest wine shop and sip away! Cheers to a united household!