If you are having a dinner party and want to serve a good port wine to your guest there are a few rules to follow and things to know. If you look like you know what you’re doing your guest will never know that a week earlier the only thing you knew about port was how to spell it! But a few words of wisdom, confidence and a smile can move mountains or at least a good wine.
A lot depends on the type of port you choose. A vintage and vintage style port are also called “crusted” port and are matured in the bottle producing a heavy sediment at the bottom. You must know how to decant the wine into a clear glass decanter before serving. This will make the wine more appealing and you won’t have the flavor of sediment ruining the taste.
The bottle should always be stored with the label uppermost and so you should serve it in the same way. If there is a lot of sediment in the wine then you may want to pour it through a thin paper funnel first. Tawny port is matured in wood and then bottled so it has less sediment. Ruby port is a blend of young wines and is usually clear so it can be served from the bottle. But for a truly elegant look always serve the wine from a beautiful glass decanter.
There are several Port’s to choose from and I have combined a small list of medium priced wines for you to select from. Graham’s 20 year old Tawny Port spends a long time maturing in oak casks for flavor. Old Tawnies will change in color from a deep red hue with subtleness to a pale red and eventually a delicate brown/orange tint. It has a a bouquet of smooth nutty scent with a very smooth aftertaste.
Alvear Solera Cream Sherry is a non vintage Solera Cream and is medium in amber color with a nutty taste. It takes on a liqueur like consistency with just a hint of sweetness. This special port will make a hit with even the most picky of guest.
If you are serving a chocolate desert then I suggest Bouchaine Chardonnay Estate Carneros 2004 or Luigi Righetti Amarone 2003. It is a perfect taste blend with rich, dark chocolate such as cake, mousse or cheesecake with white chocolate topping. For the best results wait at least 30 minutes after the evening meal has finished and the aroma alone will have every mouth watering again.
Choose a good port glass to serve your wine in. A clear glass with a rounded bottom and small top with hold the scent of the wine to be enjoyed with each taste. Make sure your wine glass has a stem so your drink does not warm to the touch. With the even temperature preserved there will be no change in it’s delicious combination with desert.
Port is best served as an after dinner wine with a sweet desert. It is served from a glass decanter and is considered bad manners to let it sit in front of you when others are waiting to be served. So do not let the decanter rest in front of a guest until all have been served. Keep it moving until all glasses are full and your party is ready to enjoy a wonderful desert topping off the perfect dinner you have made. Don’t forget to enjoy a couple of glasses yourself, because after all you brought everyone together to enjoy an evening by a hostess that knows how to serve a good port wine!
Ok, you are ready for your evening of a perfect dinner served with the perfect wine and desert. Your guest will have only praise and complements for you unbelievable talent and good taste. But if the evening is less than perfect just serve another round of port with a smile on your face. A second glass always improves the mood of any party no matter what happens. Good luck, good food and wine and may you enjoy many meal to come.
