Should Port wine be kept out of the cold? How long will my open bottle of port last?

It would take a lifetime to try all the different kinds of wine.It's not an excuse for sticking to the same old Chardonnay year after year.Wine rewards those who are willing to branch out, and this is especially true of Port.Port wine is an old-fashioned delight that's making a big comeback as a new generation of sippers learns to love this fortified wine.

It's important to know a thing or two about the care and keeping of this special spirit if you're going to dive into the wonderful world of Port.Here's everything you need to know, from how it got its name to what temperature to store Port wine to make sure it tastes amazing and lasts as long as it should.

Port wine is fortified, which makes it different from standard wines.The wine has brandy added to it to make it last longer.It wasn't always easy to put wine in a refrigerator to slow down the aging process.

The history of port wine began in the 1600s.England was often in conflict with France over the course of the 17th and 18th centuries.Portugal was a source of wine for Brits.

The short hop across the English channel to France was shorter than the trip from Porto, the coastal shipping hub of Port wine.Wine didn't do well when it was forced to spend long periods in the hot hold of a ship.

Portugal's wine makers began adding brandy to their wines to solve the problem.The inhospitable environment forbacteria to grow and ruin the flavor was made worse by the extra alcohol.The natural yeasts that were consuming the sugar from the grape juice also couldn't survive in the higher alcohol solution.Port wine had a sweeter taste because more sugar was left during the process.It also meant that Port wine had a higher alcohol content due to the addition of brandy.

Despite the fact that it no longer is necessary to make a wine that can last for decades without refrigeration, Port's signature flavor and alcohol content still live on.

Port wine refers to the style of fortification rather than the variety of grapes used to make it, and it comes in many colors and flavors.Knowing a little about each will help you decide which one is right for you, and it will also point you in the right direction for how to store your port wine after opening.

Wood-aged Port wine is aged in wooden vats before being bottled.There are three main types to choose from.

Port wine is aged in the bottle rather than in wooden vats at the winery, as the name suggests.There are two main types.

You can enhance your enjoyment by making sure you keep it fresh and serve it at the optimum temperature, no matter what port you prefer.Everything you need to know about Port is here.

When properly sealed, port wine will last a long time.Longevity is what these wines were originally designed for, so it's no surprise that they can last for decades as long as you don't open them.

The port should be kept in a dark place.It's important to keep the temperature steady.The rule of thumb is that red wines can be stored at room temperature, but this isn't optimal.The room temperature in the 1800s was cooler than it is today, and a well-heated home may be too much for your Port.

Bottles should be kept at 60 degrees for optimal aging and preservation.The 55 degrees recommended for cellaring table wines is slightly warmer than the 60 to 72 degrees most people keep their thermostat set to.You can keep Port in a wine fridge that you can set at the correct temperature.

The positioning of your bottles is important.They should be stored on their sides.The cork is moist and plump to keep bottles well sealed.When a bottle of Port wine is placed on a rack, it is marked with a splash of paint on one side of the bottle to indicate which side should face up.The same side of the bottle is where the sediment collects, so it doesn't get agitated, which can lead to an inferior flavor.

Port is one of the best at room temperature, with a serving temperature of 67 to 68 degrees.You will need to take the bottle out of the wine fridge about 30 minutes to an hour before serving to allow it to warm up.White Port can be served a bit cooler if you take it out of your wine refrigerator.

Extra care should be taken to serve bottle-aged Port wines before pouring them.As you remove the bottle from the rack and uncork it, keep the painted side uppermost in your hand.Keep the painted side up by pouring the wine into a clean decanter.Stop pouring when you reach the dregs.The wine in the decanter should be clear and ready to pour into your serving glasses, since the alcohol content of Port is very high.

You need to keep port wine upright in the fridge since it won't be tightly sealed anymore.It's up to you if you want to keep it in a wine fridge or a standard kitchen refrigerator.Just be aware that the average temperature of a refrigerator designed to hold food is a chilly 38 degrees, so you'll need to allow your Port to warm up again before drinking it to let all the rich flavors through.

The type of Port wine will affect how long it lasts.The Ruby, tawny, and white varieties of Ports are wood-aged and will last longer once opened.Extra exposure to oxygen after opening won't make a difference because they've already been oxidation.tawny Port can be kept for up to three months without any problems.