27 Oct Cálem Porto – the origin of port wine
The age-old wine Port has been slowly sinking into our collective memory in recent decades.
And that, of course, is a shame It is not one of the oldest wine varieties in the world, it is also one of the most exciting.
Main questions, of course, are: what is and the what can you do with it?
WHAT IS PORT ACTUALLY?
See, there’s already the answer to the first question.
Port is a fortified wine with a full, sweet flavor and an alcohol content between 18 and 22%.
All port wines are made exclusively in Portugal from indigenous grape varieties.
The vineyards are located along the Douro River, are on the UNESCO World Heritage List and are called “Quintas.
Definitely worth a visit!
Cálem Porto
A born entrepreneur, António Alves Cálem founded Cálem Port in 1859 with the goal of producing port wines of superior quality.
He acquired his own shipping fleet and began exporting to Brazil where he traded port for exotic wood.
The fleet is still visible in the logo today.
Born in the Douro, aged in Gaia
Cálem wants only the best quality grapes for making its port.
Only grapes are selected from two sub-regions of the Douro, the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior.
These regions are known as the “Port Wine Cathedral.”
Here one finds the highest quality grapes, coming from famous wine estates, called “quintas.
The winemaking center is located in São Martinho da Anta.
The most modern techniques of winemaking combined with the high level of knowledge and experience of the winemakers, therefore results in top port wines.
After vinification in the Douro, Cálem Port is aged in oak barrels in the magnificent cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia in Porto.
The dark and cool cellars provide an optimal environment for the aging of the port.
It is therefore in these cellars where Cálem receives more than 130,000 visitors a year for tours and tastings.
Tawny or Ruby?
Cálem Port is available in 4 different varieties: white, rosé, ruby and tawny.
White and rosé port are often drunk in Portugal as an aperitif with ice or in a cocktail mixed with tonic and ice.
Ruby and tawny are by far the most well-known ports.
Ruby has a distinctive ruby color and fruity taste.
Tawny, on the other hand, is browner in color and combines the fruity taste with notes of nuts and caramel.
Tawny is aged in large wooden barrels, bringing the wine into more contact with oxygen.
This changes the wine’s color and flavor. TIP!
Always serve port chilled: White & Rosé 6-8 degrees Tawny 14-16 degrees Ruby 16-18 degrees
Aged Tawny
One of the best known blended ports is the aged tawny.
The age is indicated in English on the label as 10, 20, 30 or 40 years old.
These blends then average the age indicated on the label.
Aged tawny is among the most difficult ports to make.
It is composed of ports from different vintage years and blended and bottled only after years of barrel aging.
It starts with a selection of wines after each harvest.
These are barrel-aged and then tasted each time and finally blended into a perfect port.
Ideal to enjoy chilled and serve with strong cheeses, foie gras and pâté.
With sweet also delicious with dried fruits, nuts, chocolate brownies and pistachio.
Surprise your friends with a Cálem Port flight
Are you looking for a unique experience for your guests at home?
Then consider the exclusive Cálem Port flight.
A high-quality serving board on which 3 kinds of quality port wine can be presented in combination with 3 kinds of cheese or sweets.
That port goes well with different types of cheese is well known, but the combination with sweet desserts is at least as good!
Cálem Port Flight Cheese Cálem Porto Fine Ruby – Mild cheeses Cálem Porto 10 Years Old – Goat cheese Cálem Porto Vintage – Blue cheese CálemPort Flight Sweets
Cálem Porto Fine Tawny – Cream Caramel Cálem Porto Colheita – Tartelette with red fruit Cálem Porto LBV – Chocolate Mousse
Trendsetter: Portonic
Everyone knows the Gin & Tonic, but a new trend is emerging: the Portonic.
A deliciously refreshing, smooth cocktail with Cálem Porto port and Lurisia’s Acqua Tonica.
Compared to a traditional Gin Tonic, a Portonic is somewhat softer in flavor.
A good base for the Portonic is the Cálem Porto White & Dry, with its soft and fresh taste of flowers, citrus and apple.
This, combined with the freshness and slight bitter tone of Lurisia Acqua Tonica and garnish of lemon and mint makes a delicious cocktail. Classic Portonic: 50 ml Cálem Porto White & Dry 50 ml Acqua Tonica Lurisia Fill a short drink with ice cubes and garnish with lemon or orange peel and a sprig of mint The above cocktail is delicious, but a unique combination is a Pink it up! Portonic: Cálem Porto Rosé in the mix with Lurisia Acqua Tonica or 7UP and a garnish of orange, cucumber and mint.
The Cálem Porto Rosé is full and smooth with a sweet touch of raspberries, strawberries and candies.
This makes the cocktail deliciously sweet, yet refreshing.
The trend for the terrace!
Pink it up!
Portonic: 50 ml Cálem Porto Rosé 100 ml tonic or lemonade 1 slice of orange 1 slice of cucumber Fill a long drink with ice cubes and pour in the port and mixer.
Top with a sprig of mint. 
This article was created in collaboration with Calém Port and Dutch dsitributor Wine & Spirits.
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