White port

Porto blanc

What it is

White port is fortified exactly like the red — spirit into fermenting must — but from Douro whites such as Malvasia Fina and Gouveio, and it is bottled dry to off-dry rather than sweet. In the Douro itself almost none of it is drunk neat: the summer drink is porto tónico, half white port, half tonic, over ice with a strip of lemon.

In the kitchen

Buy the bottle labelled seco or extra dry, and use it where a red port would stain: chicken livers, sole, a shellfish butter. Deglaze while the pan is still fierce so the alcohol goes and the citrus stays.

Goes with

Chicken liver Dover sole Shrimp Butter Lemon Shallot

Same species

Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale DOP Amontillado Armagnac Banyuls Brandy de Jerez Champagne vinegar

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Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Drink in moderation.