White Port wine: What is it and how is it different from red Port?
White Port is Port made from white grapes in Portugal's Douro region. Like all Port it is a fortified wine: fermentation is stopped with grape brandy, leaving a strength usually between 19 and 22% alcohol by volume. White Port ranges from extra dry to very sweet and is served chilled at 6 to 10 degrees C, according to the IVDP.
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In this article
What is white Port?
White Port is one of the colors of Port, the fortified wine of the Douro region in Portugal. The IVDP says white Ports come in pale, straw and golden tones, and that long aging in wood gives a golden color like very old tawnies.
How is white Port different from red Port?
Both are fortified with grape spirit to halt fermentation. The IVDP says red Port usually uses one part grape spirit to four parts must-wine and keeps some sweetness. For white Port, producers either macerate the must with the skins or use bica aberta, where the must ferments without solids. Extra dry, dry and semi-sweet versions need longer fermentation to lower the sugar.
Is Port a type of wine, and how is it different from red wine?
Yes, Port is a wine, but a fortified one. The IVDP gives its strength as usually 19 to 22% vol. We did not open an official page with a typical red table wine strength, so we do not compare numbers.
Is white Port sweet?
It can be dry or sweet. The IVDP sweetness classes by sugar per liter apply to Port in general:
| Class | Sugar (g/l) |
|---|---|
| Extra dry | under 40 |
| Dry | 40 to 65 |
| Semi-dry | 65 to 90 |
| Sweet | 90 to 130 |
| Very sweet | over 130 |
How do you serve white Port?
The IVDP recommends 6 to 10 degrees C. Dry white Port is the base of the Portonic, made with tonic water, ice and a slice of lemon. The IVDP also suggests salads, grilled fatty fish such as salmon, and toasted almonds.
People also ask
What is white Port wine?
A fortified Douro wine made in the white Port style, usually 19 to 22% alcohol, in styles from extra dry to very sweet.
Is white Port served chilled?
Yes. The IVDP gives 6 to 10 degrees C for white Port.
What is the difference between port and red wine?
Port is fortified with grape spirit during fermentation and usually reaches 19 to 22% vol., per the IVDP.
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