White Port Wine 101: Tasting Notes, Food Pairings, 10 Best Bottles (2024)

White Port is a fortified white wine produced in Portugal’s Douro Valley, made entirely from white grapes. 

This fortified wine has seductive aromas and a lively texture. It comes in a range of sweetness levels, making it a perfect aperitif and a dessert wine as well!    

Let’s explore this wine in detail - what it is made of,how it’s made, its taste, and some delicious food pairings. You can also choose a fine bottle from our list of top 10 White Port Wines.

What is a White Port Wine Made of? 

 This fortified wine is made entirely from the native white grapes of Douro Valley, each adding a unique flavor to the wine. 

•  Malvasia Fina: Malvasia adds a spicy hint of nutmeg and molasses.
• Gouveio: It adds fruit aromas and lively acidity.
• Viosinho: It is an intense grape that adds structure.
• Códega do Larinho: It’s a low acidity grape that yields higher alcohol levels in the wine.
• Moscatel Galego Branco: This white grape gives the wine an aromatic lift.
• Rabigato: It contributes a refreshing acidity to the wine.

How is White Port Wine Made? 

Like other Ports, White Port wine is also fortified by adding grape brandy (or any other spirit) to stop fermentation, leaving the wine with high alcohol (16%-20%.) 

Typically, White Port is aged for 18 months in neutral vessels. However, some winemakers age their White Port in oak vats to impart color and complex aromas and higher-quality White Ports are labeled by aging, such as 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40 years.

One important difference in the way White Port is made is that there’s little to no maceration period. 

The 10 Must-Try White Port Wines (Including Tasting Notes, Prices)

Here’s a handpicked list of must-try White Port Wines:

1. 1989 C. da Silva Dalva Golden Colheita White Port , Portugal ($179)

This smooth wine boasts woodsy aromatics, notes of dried figs, and a beautiful citric complexity - a must-try for every wine enthusiast. 

2. Kopke 30 Year Old White Port, Portugal ($139)

It is a gorgeously aged White Port with Tawny Port hues and the aroma of orange rind on the nose. It is mildly acidic with a full-bodied sweetness and a long finish. 

3. 1935 Kopke Colheita White Port, Portugal ($1001)

It is an incredible vintage port with emblematic tannins and structure with pleasing old wood aromas and beautifully preserved notes of orange marmalade.

4. Kopke 40 Year Old White Port, Portugal ($225)

It is a complex and concentrated blend of white grape with strong hints of dried lemon, candied orange peel, and notes of toasted almond. It has vibrant acidity with a long finish. 

5. Kopke 20 Year Old White Port, Portugal ($78)

This wine is favored for its rich, velvety palate and complex flavors of toffee, caramelized lemon, toasted pineapple, and baked fig with an intense oak aroma. 

6. Vallegre Vista Alegre 40 Year Old White Port , Portugal ($176)

This simple and elegant wine has a velvety butterscotch aroma with oaky notes and a hint of toasted almond. 

7. J H Andresen 20 Year Old White Port, Portugal ($57)

This White Port has beautifully balanced acidity and sweetness and a delicious taste of toasted nuts. 

8. Kopke Very Old Dry White Port, Portugal 50 year old ($295)

It has wonderfully mellow dried fruit notes and an aroma of honeyed oak. 

9. Quinta do Mourao 'S. Leonardo' 60 Year Old White Port, Portugal ($812)

A velvety tawny wine with a velvety palate, this White Port has burnt butterscotch and candied apple notes with a luxurious finish.

10. Kopke 10 Year Old White Port, Portugal ($39)

This wine has strawberry and cherry flavor with hints of raisins and a subtle smokey spiciness that leaves every wine enthusiast wanting more.

Taste and Characteristics of White Port Wine

Most White Port wines showcase a stunning golden color in the glass. 

Their sweetness levels range from dry, extra dry, to extra sweet (with more than 140g residual sugar.)

The nose gives off honey, oak, and vanilla aromas, while the palate has low acidity and citrus notes. Vintage Port wines develop complex flavors as they age with pronounced oak notes.

Lagrima, an extra sweet White Port aged in oak casks, has intense nutty notes.

How and When to Drink White Port

White Port wine should be served chilled at 8oC-10oC without decanting, straight out of the bottle, in a white wine glass. 

Dry White Port wine can be served as an aperitif as delicious cocktails. Here are some quirky recipes:

• White Port and Tonic: Mix equal parts of White Port and tonic water and garnish with fresh mint or a wheel of lime. 

• White Port Spritzer: This drink is made with dried fruit soaked in white port wine and served with a White Port Tonic and ice. Garnish with mint.

• Gin and lemon Cocktail: Prepare this drink by mixing gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup. You can also replace White Port in this recipe with sparkling wine.

Food Pairings with White Port Wine

White Port wine’s salted almond aroma and delightful citrus flavor are best enjoyed as an aperitif. 

Dry White Port bottle pairs well with fish, sweet cheese, olives, and cured meats. 

Lagrima makes a great dessert wine. You can serve it with fruit platters or a fruit-based dessert like chocolate-covered strawberries and lemon pie. 

Because of its versatility, a bottle of this fortified wine is an excellent choice for dinner parties.

Your Collection Would Be Incomplete Without A White Port Wine 

White Port wine is a great wine for introducing someone to Port or as a fine gift for any wine lover. 

However, if you’re looking for wine investment, then there are many more options to explore!

A professional wine investment company like Vinovest can help you buy, store, and sell Vintage Port wine from a prestigious Port house or any other rare wine.

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