Dec 6thA New Love for Ports

A few years ago, I tried a port wine and was very unimpressed. Since then, I turned down tastes of port when they were offered at a winery. Last year, however, my husband and I tasted Heaven’s View Port made by John Doty at French Lick Winery in Indiana, with his ripest Norton grapes. To our surprise, we both enjoyed it. We’ve tried other Ports and enjoyed them as well.

Port wines are fortified with brandy. Their alcohol content is higher than wines, usually about 20% (Wines have somewhere between 12 and 14% .), and are rather sweet. Ports are best for sipping after dinner.

Several other Indiana wineries are making excellent ports. Along with Heaven’s View Port, I recommend Vintage Port made by Chateau Thomas Winery, Maximum Port made by Oliver Winery, and Old Barrel Port made by Brown County Winery. A small glass of one of these ports is an excellent way to relax before bedtime.