Port and Poetry

By Maureen C. Petrosky

Please stop being so cold outside! I’m not sure who that scream was for, I just couldn’t keep it inside any longer. Since these dreadful wintry days insist on sticking around, I’ve been determined to make the best of them. So I went to basement--not to hide, that’s where we keep the wine.

There are many bottles we keep saving with hopes of uncorking on a special occasion or pouring after a long day. Port usually falls in that category for us. Since a little goes such a long way we usually don’t open a bottle unless we have friends to share with (or I’m doing a review). Since this winter is pushing me to the edge, I thought we could use a little warming from a sassy new bottle of Warre’s OTIMA Port. The modern packaging is clearly meant for a new audience, and frankly it’s about time! Port seems to be one of those styles of wine that just seems to be stuck in the past, but this little sexpot is sure to turn heads and with one sip convert cynics to the rich and alluring world of Port wine. The OTIMA can be found in 10 or 20-year-old versions.

The 10-year-old Tawny Port is sleek and slight in body in comparison to cloying, heavy-handed ports. The 20-year-old Tawny is a bit more serious, with rich body and a super seductive finish. These two will be easy to spot on the shelves among their peers; that is, if they aren’t already sold out.

Even Better:
Sip your Port as you swoon over the pages of Angels, Thieves and Winemakers, published by Press 53. Author Joe Mills’ compilation of wine poems is a soothing and sensual read to pair with Port. I guarantee flipping through the pages while swirling a glass of Port will help make the last of these winter nights much more enjoyable.