Buy port: tawny, ruby, colheita and vintage port from top producers
Under the cork of a good port lies a magical world of tradition and authentic drinking pleasure. The best bottles tell a story of age-old craftsmanship, patient ageing and unique development of flavour.
Since 1999, The Portugal Collection has offered port from producers including Niepoort, Quinta do Vale Meão and Wine & Soul, imported directly and delivered throughout Belgium.
Port styles: a simple explanation
There are two main types, named after their colour: ruby and tawny. The different styles come from a selection of vineyards (based on age, grape varieties and exposure) and a selection of casks by the cellar master (based on concentration and how the wine ages). Most ports are precise blends of young and older wines, unless a year is stated on the bottle.
Ruby port
Colour: ruby red. The essence: time in cask is kept short, so the wine keeps its deep red colour.
| Ruby | Bottled after 2 years in cask and released straight away |
|---|---|
| Ruby Reserve | The more concentrated casks age a further 1 to 2 years |
| Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) | Wines with good ageing potential, aged 5 years in cask. Approachable as soon as they are bottled; the best keep improving for 10 to 20 years in bottle |
| Vintage | Extremely concentrated wine from the best old vineyards, bottled after 2 years in cask |
Drink a vintage port in its first two years after bottling and you get a sensational explosion of flavour. After that the wine closes up and needs patient bottle ageing. For enthusiasts, that is where the charm of cellaring begins: you open your case after 20 years at the earliest. It may not be of our time, but it is still a pleasure to look at your collection of vintage port knowing the future will be very generous, for yourself and for generations to come. The best bottles easily last for centuries.
Tawny port
Colour: tawny, golden brown. The essence: ageing in cask exposes the wine to controlled oxidation, which breaks down the red pigment while the flavours evolve.
| Tawny | Bottled after a fairly short time in cask and released straight away |
|---|---|
| Tawny Reserve | After an average of 6 to 8 years of ageing, young wine aromas give way to more evolved flavours |
| 10, 20, 30 and Over 40 Years Old | Blends of casks with an average age of 10, 20, 30 or more than 40 years |
| Colheita | In the best years, that year's casks are aged and bottled separately, with the harvest year on the bottle. Legal minimum: 7 years in cask; the best age much longer |
The best producers still have casks from the 19th century quietly ageing on.
Serving port
- At the table, a bottle of port is traditionally passed from right to left. It was once seen as a gesture of friendship to your left-hand neighbour: while pouring with your right hand, you could not draw your sword or revolver.
- In Portugal and above all in England, where drinking port became an art of living, the bottle only comes to the table towards the end of the meal. The best ports show at their best with cheese and dessert.
- Serve port between cellar and room temperature, so the alcohol does not dominate and finesse and complexity can shine.
- Keep an opened bottle in a cool place so it stays in good condition for longer.
Port comes from the Douro Valley, the same region as our unfortified Douro wines. Read more about the region on our page about the Douro.
Our port producers
Niepoort and Morgadio da Calçada
From Tawny, Dry White and Ruby Reserve to LBV, Colheita, Vintage and the 20 and 30 year old tawnies.
About Niepoort · All port
Quinta do Vale Meão
10 Years Old Tawny, Colheita 1999, Vintage Port 2001 and the Meandro Finest Ruby.
Port from Quinta do Vale Meão
Wine & Soul
Manoella 10 Years White Port Extra Dry, Manoella 10 and 20 Years Tawny, and Pintas Vintage Port.
Manoella · Pintas
More port
Also Trudy, The True Ruby from the Nat' Cool series, and Moscatel do Douro.
View the full range
Delivery and collection
We deliver throughout Belgium. Shipping costs €15.73 (incl. VAT) and is free from €175. Prefer to collect? You can pick up your order at our shop in Roeselare, Kaaistraat 62A. More about delivery
Frequently asked questions about port
Where can you buy good port in Belgium?
Since 1999, The Portugal Collection has specialised in Portuguese wine and imports port from producers such as Niepoort, Quinta do Vale Meão and Wine & Soul. Order online with delivery throughout Belgium, or collect in Roeselare.
What is the difference between tawny and ruby port?
Ruby spends little time in cask and keeps its red colour and young fruit. Tawny ages for a long time in cask, undergoes controlled oxidation and takes on a golden-brown colour and evolved flavours.
What is the difference between vintage and colheita?
Both come from a single harvest year. Vintage is a ruby: bottled after 2 years in cask and then aged for many years in bottle. Colheita is a tawny: at least 7 years in cask, and often much longer.
How do you serve port?
Between cellar and room temperature, towards the end of the meal, with cheese or dessert. Keep an opened bottle in a cool place.
Discover our other Portuguese wine regions too: Douro, Dão, Bairrada, Vinho Verde, Alentejo and Lisboa.