Difference Between Port and Sherry Wine

What are the main factors that differentiate port and sherry wines?

The Where and The How

Two main factors distinguish sherry and port wines: place of origin and fortification process.

As Uvas

Port wine grapes hail from the Douro Valley of Portugal. Varieties of port are produced from both red and white grapes.

Las Uvas

Sherry wine grapes are produced in the region bounded by Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María, and Sanlúcar de Barrameda, collectively referred to as the Sherry Triangle, a region in Southwestern Spain's Cádiz province. Unlike port, sherry wine is made exclusively from white grapes.

Halfway there

Port wines are fortified with unaged brandy in the middle of the fermentation process. Because of this, ports are distinctively thicker and sweeter.

Going all the way

Sherry wines are fortified with grape brandy only after the fermentation process is finished. There are no young sherry wines; they are aged for at least three years. Except for Oloroso all sherries are non-vintage since they are produced from a blend of different vintages.

May 14, 2023