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Port
Douro Valley, Portugal
fortifiedDeep purple (vintage) to tawny
Sweet fortified red; vintage port is among the longest-lived wines.
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Line up two to four wines the way you'd say them. The guide covers 127 appellations and styles, and spelling doesn't need to be perfect.
Port and Sherry side by side: structure on the WSET scale, grapes, aromas, drinking window, typical UK price and what to eat with each.
Sweet fortified red; vintage port is among the longest-lived wines.
Fino is bone-dry and salty; oloroso rich and nutty. Sweet styles exist too.
The shape of each wine, then each measure on the WSET scale.
Port has noticeably more sweetness than Sherry.
Port has noticeably more body than Sherry.
Port: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and others
Sherry: Palomino (Pedro Ximénez for sweet styles)
| Port | Sherry | |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and others | Palomino (Pedro Ximénez for sweet styles) |
| Climate | Hot continental | Hot and dry, cooled by Atlantic winds |
| Soil | Schist terraces | Albariza chalk |
| Classification | DOC; Ruby, Tawny, LBV, Vintage | DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry; solera ageing |
| Drinking window | Vintage: 20–50+ years | Fino: drink fresh; oloroso: decades |
| Typical price | £15–£100 | £10–£40 |
| Food | Stilton, chocolate | Olives, almonds, jamón |
| Producers to know | Taylor's, Graham's, Quinta do Noval | González Byass, Lustau, Valdespino |