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U. K. B. G. GUIDE TO DRINKS
control of the industry in 1932,and now three government
bodies look after the interests of the trade. These are the
Casa do Douro, who look after the growing and the making
of the wine ; the Gremio dos Exportadores or Port Wine
Shippers Guild ; and the Institute do Vinho do Porto,
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"Consume," a local wine.
Port Wine is made from a large variety of grapes both
red and white, this is 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 by the 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 thej' 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.
As the 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
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