Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of fortified wine: Port wine is a sweet, fortified wine, typically dark red in color, produced in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal. Fortification involves adding a neutral grape spirit (brandy) to stop fermentation, which leaves residual sugar and results in a higher alcohol content.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After dinner, they enjoyed a glass of rich port wine.
  • The recipe calls for a splash of port wine to enhance the sauce.
  • He prefers a tawny port wine over the ruby variety.

Advanced Usage

• As a modifier: "Port wine" can be used attributively to describe other items, typically referring to their deep red color.
  • The curtains were a port wine color.
  • She wore a dress in a beautiful port wine hue.

Variants and Related Words

• Port: A common shortened form of "port wine."
  • Would you like a glass of port?
• Ruby Port: A style of port wine that is bottled young, retaining a deep red color and fruity flavor.
• Tawny Port: A style of port wine aged in wooden barrels, acquiring a tawny brown color and nutty, caramel notes.
• Vintage Port: A high-quality port wine from a single declared vintage year, aged extensively in the bottle.

Synonyms

• Fortified wine: The general category to which port belongs (other examples include sherry and Madeira).
• Dessert wine: A category of sweet wines often served with or as dessert, which includes port.

Related Phrases

• Port of origin: While not a phrasal verb, this phrase is relevant as true "port wine" must, by EU law, originate from Portugal.
  • The port of origin for authentic port wine is Portugal.

Related Idioms

Noun

1. sweet dark-red dessert wine originally from Portugal