port

With it's warming qualities and syrup-like texture, Port is a great wintertime wine. Warre's Otima 10 Year Tawny Port ($19.99) is my new favorite. It's delightful slightly chilled after dinner. I paired it with dark chocolate, but in the future want to try it with cheese. Otima's goal is to eliminate the usual myth of port being a drink only sipped by dusty old grandmothers. The light wine has a delicate yet full-bodied, well-balanced palate and rich, amber color with reddish undertones. It tastes caramely with hints of dried fruit and nuts. With its long, lush finish and smooth, heady aroma, this award-winning wine proves that port can be contemporary, hip, and perfect for 2009.

Do you enjoy port? What's your favorite bottle?

Most people know that red wine pairs amazingly with dark chocolate. However, the folks at Trentadue Winery have taken the amazing combo one step further. Their Chocolate Amore ($25) combines red wine with chocolate and is really the best of both worlds. Trentadue uses the traditional port-making technique but stops fermentation in order to trap more sugar. Once the wine is done aging, the winery adds a bit of chocolate extract to enhance the flavor. It's rich and decadent and goes well over vanilla ice cream. But be warned: It's not meant to be guzzled by the glass — I think you'd end up in a dessert coma — but is meant to be enjoyed sparingly.

So tell me, are you interested in trying this wine? Have you ever had a chocolate-infused wine before?

British retail giant Marks & Spencer has just launched a pink port intended to appeal to women. The wine, which is unimaginatively called Pink Port, is lighter in hue than regular port because it takes a small amount of color from the grape skins. They've decided to test this product out because many folks associate port as a man's drink — much like they wrongly assume whiskey and bourbon are for men only.

I'll admit, I'm drawn to things by their packaging, so I'm sure this would have grabbed my interest. However, unfortunately, according to Guy Woodward, editor of Decanter magazine, the wine's not worth it. He believes it was more like vodka cranberry than port and said:

I suspect they're trying to jump on the rosé bandwagon, but it tastes worryingly close to the alcopop market.

It's a bummer to hear that port marketed towards women is inferior to regular port. Do they think we won't notice if it's bad? What do you guys think? Do you think we even need our own port?

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Last week I was invited to Wine & Spirits magazine's Top 100 Wine Tasting, where I sipped plenty of lush wines and was introduced to many interesting varietals. However, the most exotic wine I tried was the 2004 Single Quinta de Roriz Vintage Port. As this smooth, subtly sweet, full-bodied wine slipped down my throat, I realized we've never featured a Port here!

Port is a dessert wine native to Portugal's Douro Valley and usually served after a meal. I'm not normally a huge fan of Port, but this wine, with its deep purple-black color and fine finish, was incredibly easy to drink. It would pair deliciously with creamy blue cheese, honey, and walnuts. A bottle would also make a wonderful hostess gift.

Yesterday was the first day of fall, or autumnal equinox. This means it's just about time to put away the ice cream maker and pull out the crock-pot. If this is sad news to you, you may need a drink to help you cope. If it's great news, then you may need a drink to help you celebrate. Either way, I've got the perfect one for the occasion. The drink, aptly titled Autumnal Equinox, is a perfect mix of port wine, Grand Marnier, and amaretto. To get the recipe, read more