Pairing Port wine with food: What are the best matches?
Pair Port by style: Ruby with chocolate ganache truffles and strong blue cheese, LBV with aged Parmesan, Stilton and chocolate desserts, Vintage with Stilton and other blue cheeses, dark chocolate, figs and walnuts, Tawny with nutty and caramel desserts and aged cheeses like Manchego, and White Port with almonds, smoked salmon and olives.
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In this article
What goes with Port?
Port is sweet and strong, so the best match depends on the style. A wine guide (Wine Folly) gives these pairings.
| Style | Good matches |
|---|---|
| Ruby | Sour cherry pie, chocolate ganache truffles, strong blue cheese |
| LBV | Aged Parmesan, Stilton, chocolate desserts such as molten lava cake and bread pudding |
| Vintage | Blue cheeses (Stilton, Roquefort, Gorgonzola), dark chocolate, figs, walnuts |
| Tawny | Pecan pie, almond biscotti, caramel cheesecake, creme brulee, cinnamon apple pie; smoked cheddar, Pecorino, aged Manchego |
| White | Almonds, smoked salmon, shellfish, sushi, Gruyere, olives, charcuterie |
The classic: Port and blue cheese
The guide calls Vintage Port with Stilton a perfect pairing, even if it sounds counterintuitive, and lists Stilton for LBV too. For Tawny it suggests smoked cheddar, Pecorino or aged Manchego.
Port and chocolate
The guide pairs chocolate with Ruby (ganache truffles), LBV (lava cake, chocolate sauce, bread pudding), Vintage (dark chocolate) and Tawny (German chocolate cake). A common rule, which the guide does not state, is that the wine should be sweeter than the dessert.
Serving temperature
The guide suggests slightly chilled for Ruby and LBV (55 to 65 degrees F), cellar temperature, around 65 degrees F, for Vintage, cool for Tawny (55 to 60 degrees F) and well chilled for White (45 to 50 degrees F). Check the producer’s advice too.
Serving tips
- Serve in small glasses; Port is strong.
- Pour after the main meal, with cheese or dessert.
Common mistake
Picking one Port for every dish. The styles differ, so match the style to the food. Pairing is personal, so treat these as starting points.
Quick picks
- Cheese board: Ruby or Vintage with blue cheese, Tawny with smoked cheddar, Pecorino or Manchego.
- Dessert: LBV with chocolate, Tawny with nutty or caramel desserts.
People also ask
What cheese goes with Port?
Blue cheese such as Stilton, Roquefort or Gorgonzola with Vintage, strong blue with Ruby, aged Parmesan or Stilton with LBV, and smoked cheddar, Pecorino or aged Manchego with Tawny.
What chocolate goes with Port?
The guide lists ganache truffles with Ruby, chocolate desserts with LBV, dark chocolate with Vintage and German chocolate cake with Tawny.
Can I drink Port as an aperitif?
The guide pairs White Port with almonds, smoked salmon, olives and charcuterie, which suit an aperitif-style serve.
Sources
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