History

Port wine has been made along the Douro since the 17th century, but the modern industry dates to the 1703 Methuen Treaty that opened the British market. British merchants set up cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia from 1710, and the Douro Valley was demarcated in 1756, the first protected wine region in the world. The flight, a comparative tasting of white, ruby, tawny and vintage styles, is the standard format at every Gaia lodge.

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4Hands-on 15 minTotal 15 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • A bottle of white port (Andresen Branco or similar)
  • A bottle of ruby port (Graham's Six Grapes or similar)
  • A bottle of 10-year tawny port (Taylor's, Niepoort or Croft)
  • A bottle of late-bottled vintage (LBV) port (Warre's or Smith Woodhouse)
  • Almonds, dried fig and small slices of aged sheep cheese for pairing
  • Four small wine glasses (port glasses or small white-wine glasses)

Method

  1. Chill the white port in the fridge for 1 hour; serve at 8 to 10C.
  2. Serve ruby, tawny and LBV at 14 to 16C. Take them out of the bottle 20 minutes before pouring.
  3. Pour 40ml of each port into separate small glasses, arranged left to right: white, ruby, tawny, LBV.
  4. Taste in that order. The white is dry and citrus-forward; the ruby is young and grippy; the tawny is nutty and oxidative; the LBV is full and structured.
  5. Pair almonds with the white, dried fig with the tawny and aged cheese with the LBV.
  6. Discuss differences between styles before opening any further bottles.

Tip from the editors. Open the LBV at least 30 minutes before serving; the cork is real, not a stelvin closure, and the wine opens up considerably in the glass.

This is the TableJourney editorial recipe, modelled on the canonical bistro / counter version. The first place to try the dish in its city of origin is below.

Where to eat port wine flight

Port wine flight in Porto

Vinologia ★ 4.5

Daily 11:00-24:00

Vinologia on Rua de Sao Joao in Porto's Ribeira is a French-run port-only bar with 200 ports on the list, tasting flights and a small-producer focus locals trust.

Signature pour: Tasting flight of three port styles

Wine focus: Port wine tasting room with 200 ports

Food: Cheese and chocolate pairings

Rua de Sao Joao 28, 4050-552 Porto

Wine Quay Bar ★ 4.4

Mon-Sat 16:00-23:00, closed Sun

Wine Quay Bar on the Cais da Estiva in Porto is a quay-side wine room with 150 bottles, 60 by the glass and the best Douro-river view of any wine bar in town.

Signature pour: Touriga Nacional from Quinta do Vale Meao

Wine focus: 150-bottle list, 60 by the glass

Food: Cheese, cured meats and sardines

Muro dos Bacalhoeiros 111, 4050-080 Porto

Prova ★ 4.5

Mon and Thu-Sun 17:00-01:00, closed Tue-Wed

Prova in Porto's Ribeira is a cave-walled wine room and shop, with a knowledgeable sommelier pouring Douro reds, vinho verde and port flights to background jazz.

Signature pour: Niepoort vintage port flight

Wine focus: Douro reds and whites by the glass

Food: Petiscos and charcuterie

Rua de Ferreira Borges 86, 4050-252 Porto

Capela Incomum ★ 4.6

Tue-Sat 18:00-24:00

Capela Incomum on Travessa do Carregal in Porto is a 19th-century chapel turned wine bar, with Portuguese small-producer reds, port flights and a vaulted ceiling.

Signature pour: Niepoort Dialogo glass of Douro red

Wine focus: Portuguese small-producer reds, port flights

Food: Iberian tapas and cheese boards

Travessa do Carregal 77, 4050-167 Porto

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