There are many ways to parse Port, including the legal classifications as laid out by Portuguese law, but the easiest way to think about them is by color. White Ports are made from white grapes. Rosé Ports can be made from white and red grapes together, or sometimes only from red grapes. Ruby and Tawny Ports are generally made from red grapes, though Tawny Ports do sometimes have some white grapes in their blends. The difference between a Ruby Port and a Tawny Port is that Ruby Ports are generally aged primarily in bottle, while Tawny Ports are generally aged primarily in wood casks. The wood casks – and the oxidation that they allow – are where Tawny Port gets its tawny color.

It should be mentioned here that Tawny Port, not Ruby Port, is the most popular after dinner wine consumed in Portugal. It is very easy to find excellent Tawny Port all around Portugal, but it can be difficult to find top notch Vintage Port especially from older vintages. That may seem surprising, but from many restaurants to the majority of retail shops it is definitely the case (the Port Lodges and IVDP not included). Actually you may find the best old Vintage Ports for sale at Portugal’s airport gift shops!

See the FAQs about each specific category of Port:

White Port

  • White Port
  • Reserve White
  • White Port with an Indication of Age
  • White Colheita
  • Very Old White Port

Rosé Port
Ruby Ports

  • Ruby
  • Reserve Ruby
  • Late Bottled Vintage Port (aka LBV)
  • Crusted
  • Single Quinta Vintage Port
  • Vintage Port, Garrafeira

Tawny Ports

  • Tawny
  • Reserve Tawny
  • Tawny Port with an Indication of Age
  • Colheita
  • Very Old Tawny Port