Discover exceptional sweet port wine from renowned Portuguese quintas and Australia's Rutherglen region. Our curated collection features vintage ports, aged tawny and distinctive Muscat. Each offers complex flavours perfect for special occasions and dessert pairings.
Port & Sweet Wine
Port & Sweet Wine
Our sweet port wine collection showcases the finest examples from Portugal's Douro Valley and Australia's legendary Rutherglen region. Featured selections include Pfeiffer's acclaimed Rutherglen Muscat with "pure chocolate and roses flavours" praised by Jancis Robinson MW. The Guimaraens Fonseca 2012 vintage port offers beautifully structured, richly spiced character. The exceptional Quinta do Vesuvio 1999 displays monumental fruit with bittersweet chocolate notes.
Each sweet port wine represents traditional production methods. Rutherglen Muscat is aged in varied barrels for concentrated raisin fruit complexity. Portuguese vintage ports showcase intense aromatics and fine tannin structure, and aged tawny ports deliver elegant dried fruit and nutty characteristics. These fortified wines pair perfectly with rich desserts, aged cheeses and chocolate-based treats. They are ideal for contemplative evening enjoyment or special celebration moments.
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Port & Sweet Wine FAQs
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Is port wine sweet?
Most port wine is sweet, but not all styles. Vintage ports, tawny ports and ruby ports are naturally sweet. This is due to the fortification process that stops fermentation while grape sugars remain. However, some port styles, like white port, can be made in dry versions. The sweetness level varies: vintage ports tend to be intensely sweet with concentrated fruit flavours, while aged tawny ports offer balanced sweetness with nutty, caramelised notes.
Even sweet ports don't taste cloying due to their high alcohol content (19-20%) and natural acidity that provides balance and structure.
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Is Tawny Port Sweet?
Yes, Tawny Port is sweet, but it tastes less sweet than vintage port due to its extended ageing process. During the 10 to 40 years of barrel ageing, tawny port develops complex nutty, caramel and dried fruit flavours that balance the natural grape sugars.
The oxidative ageing process creates a smoother, more mellow sweetness compared to the intense, concentrated sweetness of vintage ports. While tawny port retains the fortified wine's characteristic sweetness from arrested fermentation, the perceived sweetness is tempered by elegant spice notes and toffee complexity. Its refined structure makes it more approachable for those who find vintage ports too intensely sweet.
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How to store port wine once opened
Port wine storage after opening depends on the style. Vintage ports should be consumed within 2-3 days of opening and stored upright in the refrigerator, as they're unfiltered and delicate wines that deteriorate quickly once exposed to air. Tawny ports last much longer. They typically last 4 to 6 weeks when refrigerated with a proper wine stopper or vacuum seal, thanks to their oxidative ageing process that makes them more stable.
Ruby ports fall between these two, lasting about 1-2 weeks refrigerated. Always store opened port bottles upright to minimise air contact, use airtight closures, and keep them cool. Unlike table wines, port's higher alcohol content (19-20%) provides some preservation. However, proper storage is still essential to maintain the wine's complex flavours and prevent oxidation.