Port Wine Pairing: 10 Best Savory and Sweet Matches

Port wine is making a comeback. If you’re a wine lover, you’re probably familiar with Port wine but if you’re new to wine, it’s time to get acquainted with Portugal’s best stuff. It’s a delicious type of wine that goes with so many foods (and it’s also great on its own, of course!). But just like other types of wines, there are some specific foods and flavors that pair best with Port, and all its styles. So, in this post, we’ll cover Port wine pairing with sweet foods and Port wine pairing with savory foods.

If you’re a wine newbie and you don’t know what Port wine exactly is, don’t worry – before we explain Port wine pairing, we’ll cover what Port wine even is.

Let’s get into it.

What is Port wine?

In the most basic terms, Port wine is a sweet, usually red, fortified wine that comes from the Douro Valley wine region of Portugal. It is made from dozens of different grape varieties but dominantly Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Touriga Francesa, and Touriga Nacional.

Fortified means that during the fermentation process, while the wine is being fermented, a grape-based spirit is added to it to strengthen the wine. That makes the wine sweeter and boozier.

It’s often served as a dessert wine, and in most cases it’s dark red. However, it can be white, and it can also come as dry or semi-dry.

What are the styles of Port?

There are a few styles of Port wine, so let’s go over them.

We have:

• White Port – it’s bright and it’s made from a field blend of white Portuguese grapes
• Ruby Port – fruity and has a bright ruby (duh) color
• Reserve Tawny Port – nutty flavors and darker colors, they age in barrels for at least 6 years
• Late-Bottled Vintage Port – these are reserve Ruby Ports made from grapes from one harvest
• Vintage Port – rich and fruity flavors, made from quality vineyards

When to serve Port?

Port wines can be paired with many different foods – both sweet and savory.

They are usually served at the end of the meal, with cheeses, dried fruits, and nuts, or with desserts.

They can also be served as an aperitif.

Port Wine Pairing with Savory Foods

One of the ways to serve Port is with savory foods. It goes great with charcuterie boards, nuts, cheeses, and olives, but also with main dishes such as meat, sushi, and surf & turf. If you want to serve your Port wine with savory foods, here are some ideas.

White Port and Potato Chips, Olives, and Nuts

This delicious pairing can be consumed as an appetizer, a stand-alone snack, or after your meal. The citrusy, nutty, and fruity White Port goes perfectly with the salty potato chips and olives, and the nutty flavors of your favorite nuts.

Port with Surf & Turf

Another great pairing with Port is surf & turf.

The bright notes of Port go so well with the combination of seafood and meat, and they balance each other out so well. Opt for a Ruby Port to not overwhelm the flavors.

Port and Blue Cheese and Goat Cheese

A very popular way to drink Port is with cheeses. One of the best combinations is pairing it with strong-flavored cheeses, like blue cheese and goat cheese. It perfectly balances out the salty and strong flavors, and adds a delicious fruity note to those yummy cheeses.

A great style of Port to pair with these types of cheeses is Ruby Port, because the sweet notes of the Port go so well with the savory notes of blue and goat cheese.

White Port and Sushi, Salmon, and Oysters

It’s a known rule that white wines go better with fish & seafood, and Port is no exception.

So, instead of going with a Red Port which will overpower the delicate flavors of seafood, go with a drier White Port if you’re eating sushi, salmon, or oysters. It’s such a special pairing and all of your taste buds will be amazed.

Port with Pork Belly, Brisket, and Pulled Pork Sliders

Since pork belly, brisket, and pulled pork sliders are so salty, savory, and a bit heavy, a light, bright, and nutty Port makes the perfect thing to drink with that meal.

It helps the meat flavors come through, and perfectly complements them.

Tawny Port and Peking Duck or Foie Gras

Peking Duck and Foie Gras are delicacies on their own. But when you add Port wine to the meal, it takes it to a whole new level. The wine makes the food stand out even more, it goes with it so well, and it makes the taste so much better.

Port Wine Pairing with Sweet Foods

While Port is amazing with savory foods, another very popular way to serve it is with sweet foods. The nutty, bright, and fruity flavors complement sweet food so well, and they balance it out perfectly. Pair port wine with chocolate, peanut butter, and fruit-based desserts.

Port and Chocolate-covered Strawberries

One of the best desserts and chocolate-covered strawberries. When you pair them with Port wine, the fancy dessert becomes even fancier. A sweet style of White wine is the perfect partner for chocolate-covered strawberries, and it will become your favorite combination.

Port with Fruit Tarts and Fruit Pies

One of the best ways to drink your Port wine is with a fruit pie or a fruit tart. The fresh, rich, fruity notes of Ruby Port go so well with pies, for example a sour cherry pie. Vintage Port goes great with pumpkin pie because of its semi-sweet notes. Tawny Port goes great with apple pies, because of its nutty and caramelized flavor.

Port and Chocolate Cake and Brownies

Port goes amazing will all things chocolate. So naturally, it will go great with a chocolate cake, or with brownies. For those chocolate-heavy desserts, you should go with Late-Bottled Vintage Port, or with Tawny Port. A heavy and rich LBV Port will go perfectly with those sweet flavors in a chocolate cake or a brownie. The nutty and semi-sweet flavors of Tawny perfectly bring out the sweet chocolate flavors.

Port with Ice Cream and Sorbet

Ice cream and sorbet is something you wouldn’t normally eat with wine, but Port goes so well with it. The sweet, creamy, and citrusy notes in ice cream and sorbet come through even more when you drink Port while eating them.

Leave a comment with your favorite Port wine pairing.

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