pink port wine

Pink port, a nice twist on a traditional wine.

Pink Port, also known as Rosé Port, is a relatively recent addition to the diverse world of Port wine. This innovative style emerged in the early 21st century as a response to the global surge in popularity of rosé wines. Producers in the Douro Valley began experimenting with new techniques to create a lighter, fresher style of Port that would appeal to a wider and younger audience.

Pink Port is a vibrant, fruity, and versatile style of Port that maintains the core characteristics of its traditional counterparts, such as its inherent sweetness, while introducing a fresher, lighter expression. It is made from red grape varieties, such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca, which are common in the Douro Valley.

What distinguishes Pink Port is its unique vinification process, leading to its alluring pink hue. This color is achieved by minimizing the skin contact during fermentation, similar to the method used in the production of rosé wines.

On the palate, Pink Port delivers a tantalizing array of ripe red fruits, such as strawberries, raspberries, and red cherries, alongside subtle floral notes. Its vibrant acidity ensures a refreshing finish, creating a well-balanced, approachable wine.

Pink Port's vinification process is akin to the production of rosé wines, but with a notable twist. After harvesting, the red grapes undergo a short period of skin contact, usually between 12 to 24 hours, to extract the desired color. Following this, the fermentation process is stopped by adding grape spirit, preserving the natural sweetness and raising the alcohol content, typically to around 19-20% ABV. The wine is then swiftly removed from the skins to prevent further color extraction.

Sugar levels in Pink Port can vary, but the wine usually contains between 80-100 grams of sugar per liter, aligning it with other Ruby Ports in terms of sweetness.

Pruning Methods and Viticulture

The viticultural practices for Pink Port align with the rigorous standards of the Douro Valley. The vineyards are typically located on steep terraces, with the region's schist soils and hot summers creating an ideal environment for cultivating high-quality grapes. Depending on the vineyard's specific attributes, a variety of pruning techniques may be employed, with the common goal of balancing the vine's yield and promoting optimal grape maturity.