Not every day, of course (bear in mind the heady alcohol levels from the mix of wine and spirit), but certainly more often. And the modern, hip way to drink port is to serve it cool. I’m not talking about the very rich, tannic vintage ports here, but easy, softer ruby ports as well as luscious tawnies and white ports.
The white ports are especially worth trying. There’s little that refreshes as well as a long drink of cold white port, topped up with tonic water (for dry tastes) or old-fashioned lemonade, if you have a sweeter tooth, and plenty of ice. Add a sprig or two of mint and enjoy with a bowl of salted almonds or cashews. Pink port is new on the scene and tastes delectable served straight from the fridge as a strong aperitif. Check out the gorgeous bright colour, fruity fragrance and crisp acidity of the top labels.
Ruby ports can be very lightly chilled, their spiced-cherry flavour savoured with
chocolate and
coffee-flavoured puds. Alternatively, serve with top-notch, bitter plain chocolate and dried fruits (citrus peel, figs and dates) for an after-dinner treat.
Many port lovers consider tawny port to be the best of all. ‘Tawny’ is aged in oak barrels for many years until it becomes amber-brown, soft and creamy, with complex layers of caramel, raisins and nuts. Mellow and smooth, this is definitely one to chill. Give it at least an hour in the fridge and bring out the frosty bottle with nut-flavoured puddings,
creamy meringues,
chocolate mousse,
toffee ice cream or a
rich gateau.
Just don’t hang on to it, or any other opened port, for too long. Use up within a month and store in a cool, dark place. Best of all, get a crowd round, have a party and use up the port. Finally, don’t forget that a little goes a long way when it comes to intensely flavoured, strong port, so the price tag isn’t really that alarming…
Croft Pink Port, Portugal
(from £7.49, Sainsbury’s, ASDA and Costcutter)
A very fruity, sweet but fresh style, this new port with its vivid pink hue is a winner. Chill hard and sip – it’s sooo refreshing.
Marks & Spencer Finest Reserve Port, Portugal
(M&S, £9.99)
Good value, juicy red port with luscious cherry and plum flavours. Try it with cool, bitter dark chocolate and dried figs.
Warre’s Otima 10 Year Old Tawny Port
(from £10.90, major retailers)
A light, contemporary port, with notes of dried fruits on the nose and a nutty finish. Again, it’s great chilled.