1955 The U K B G Guide to Drinks (2nd edition revised)

U. K. B. G. GUIDE TO DRINKS

which supervises the other two bodies and deals with propaganda and the legal side. In the manufacture of Port, the amount is regulated by the Casa do Douro, and the remainder not needed is made into"Consumo," a local wine. Port Wine is made from a large variety of grapes both red and white, this a peculiarity of the area. The wine is pressed in the"lagares"(stone tanks) with the aid of men's feet. This wine is then allowed to ferment and then fermentation is arrested bythe addition of brandy made locally. This wine is then transported to the lodges at Vila Nova de Gaia by train and by boat down the river. The boats used for this purpose are flat-bottomed with large sails and are steered by means of a large oar from the stern. These boats are skilfully steered to negotiate the several rapids which the river has. Upon arrival at the shipper's lodges they undergo a long period of storage, sorting and maturing. The wine in its young state is a beautiful rich ruby colour, and is stored in"pipes"; as the wine matures it loses its ruby colour and assumes a lighter colour,due to the action of oxygen and absorption by the wood,it first being blended in large vats containing anything up to 200 pipes or more. Asthe wine matures it loses its strength and is required to have brandy added to it. TYPES OF PORT WINE Vintage Port.—^These are wines which are shipped to this country at about 18 months old, when after a brief rest, they are bottled at two years old. It is this wine that is so appreciated by the connoisseurs. It naturally throws a deposit in the bottle, which has to be carefully decanted before serving. These wines mature in the bottle instead of as the ordinary Ports which mature in the Cask. They are always sold under the year of their origin, usually in plain bottles, unadorned by any labels. The only indication of the shippers' name is on the cork and on the sealing wax ' which seals the cork. Sometimes one may get the 206