Sherry & Port

Fine specialities for bar and kitchen: Sherry and Port at Heinemann

A delightful meal without a sip of sherry or a well-aged port? Unthinkable for the British, and the aromatic sweet wines hold a longstanding tradition in the Netherlands and Belgium as well. The popularity of sherry and port in Northern Europe, in particular, can be attributed to the historical necessity of importing wines from the south. The term "fortified," indicating wines blended with wine distillates, was a practical measure for enduring extended sea voyages. Today, the rounded, fruity profiles of sherry and port are highly favored among enthusiasts. You can explore a variety of classic brands like Graham’s and Sandeman online in the Heinemann store.

Sherry and port wine: What are the similarities and differences? 

Sherry and port have quite a bit in common. Both are produced on the basis of high quality basic wines, both distinguish themselves by their sweet, highly aromatic flavour and both are a classic companion to a dessert or cheese or enjoyed straight as a digestif. The alcohol content of the two spirits is also similar, at between 15% to a maximum of 20% vol. The differences between sherry and port lie in their origin - sherry is produced in Spain, while port has its roots in Portugal - as well as in the grapes used. Sherry is generally produced on the basis of white wine, while port is made of red wine grapes, with very few exceptions. 

Where does the rich classic port wine come from? 

Port is named after the Portuguese Port of Porto and is produced in a well-known Portuguese wine-growing region, Duoro Valley. Since the end of the 17th century, red grapes, and in some rare cases white ones as well, have been developed here into high quality sweet wines that can be stored for long periods. For this purpose, the wine is fortified with 77% alcohol during the fermenting process, stopping fermentation and keeping a portion of natural residual sugar in the wine. The port then matures in the barrel for two to six years before it is tasted and bottled. Depending on how long the port is matured in the barrel, it is classified as ruby (2-3 years), tawny (more than three years) or colheita (vintage wine with long barrel maturation).

The Spanish liqueur wine inspires connoisseurs: What is Sherry?

Sherry is produced in the Spanish region of Andalusia. Just like port wines, it is created using a basic wine. However, white wine is generally used for the production of sherry, particularly that made from the palomino grape. After the fermenting process the basic wine is fortified with a wine distillate and is then matured in large free-standing open barrels, which allows the sugar to be fermented equally. Depending on how much spirit is added to the white wine, it undergoes either reductive ageing, creating a Fino sherry, or oxidative ageing, creating an Oloroso sherry as the end product.

A pleasure either pure or mixed - first class sherry and port wines at Heinemann

Dry fruity sherry such as Tio Pepe can be enjoyed nicely in its pure form during a meal. Sherry is also an excellent choice when enjoying a creamy cheese or sweet dessert – and if you are looking for a change, you can mix sherry in a cocktail such as a tuxedo. Port is a classic digestif and the perfect accompaniment to a cheese platter. Taylor’s Port and other high quality port wines are popular in sauces and desserts. Enjoy the aromatic sweet wines from the Heinemann shop - order your sherry & port conveniently online.