Port wines in two glasses and a bottle in the background
FOOD NEWS
What's The Difference Between Tawny And Ruby Port?
BY REYNA ESTRADA
Port is a Portuguese wine that is fortified by adding a distilled spirit, usually grape brandy. This addition halts fermentation, resulting in a higher sugar content and ABV.
Red wine with bread, olives and cheese
All ports are sweet and pair well with cheeses and desserts, but there actually two different kinds: ruby and tawny. Their differences come down to age, color, and flavor.
Glass of port wine on wooden table
True to its name, ruby port has a deep red hue. It keeps a vivid color and natural taste of grapes because it's aged for just a few years in oak barrels or stainless steel vats.
Port wine and blue cheese, rustic style, vintage wooden table background
Ruby port often has raspberry, cherry, and plum notes and an intense, fruity aroma. It pairs well with chocolate, soft-ripened cheese like gorgonzola, and desserts with berries.
Tawny port wine barrels with 40 years marked on lids
Meanwhile, the darker tawny ports are aged for extended periods in small oak barrels, and the increased contact with the oak and oxygen results in color and taste changes.
Tawny port wine being poured from a bottle into a glass
Some tawny ports are aged for as long as 40 years. As the wine ages, its mahogany color becomes more brown, and its chocolatey, nutty flavor deepens and becomes more complex.
Traditional fall Thanksgiving pies variety of slices arranged into circle, pumpkin crumb and pecan pie overhead on a rustic wooden table
Tawny ports pair well with rich desserts such as pecan pie and cheesecake. The more complicated and intense the dessert is, the better it will pair with a well-aged tawny.
A bottle and two glasses of red wine on top of a wooden barrel
Bottles and a glass of red wine on a bar
Glasses of red wine raised in a toast outside
Read More

Sherry Vs Port: What's The Difference?
Every Major Type Of Red Wine You Would Ever Need To Know
11 Boxed Wines You Should Always Buy