Port for cooking?

[marycarol]

I have a recipe that calls for Port. Does anyone have a recommendation of a port that would be easy to find, and be good for cooking? We probably wouldn't drink it, just use it for cooking. Thank you in advance! mary

[Matthew Sullivan]

Unless you are pouring the whole bottle into the recipe, you will probably want to buy a port that will repay some drinking, either while you're cooking or after the meal (perhaps with some stinky blue cheese?).

The two cheapest and tastiest ports that I know of are (1) Kopke's ruby port (around $13) or (2) Warre's Warrior (under $10).

Kopke's port is light, fruity and devoid of any sharp edges or bitterness. Very good if you are not sure you actually like port.

Warre's Warrior is a Reserve Port (or a Vintage Character Port), meaning that it has gotten a little bit more barrel aging and is thus more substantial. I'm drinking some as I write this, in fact. It's a little syrupy but also quite tasty in a fat-cherry-pie sort of way. It's got good spicy notes and a chocolatey finish. Remarkable for the price.

I've just written about some more Reserve Ports here, if you are interested...
http://www.lawandstyle.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=176&Itemid=90

Matthew
www.lawandstyle.ca/shortcellar

[Bill Hunt]

I do agree with you on not using something that I am not likely to drink, just for cooking. For Port, I usually do the Sandeman's Founder's Reserve, or the Graham's 6 Grape. Both are decent Rubies, and the price point is not bad. I have several of the Kopke VP's, but have not tried their Ruby. I am not a big fan of Warrior, but that is just personal tastes.

I do the same with my red wine for cooking, using either the Ravenswood Vintner's Blend Zin, or the Peachy Canyon Incredible Red Zin-blend. Also, they do fine, should I have a glass, or two, while cooking, and the price does not break the Hunt bank. Both will hold up in the cellar for a few years, so I pick up a case of either, when they are on sale in PHX, and cook with them, plus drink a few sips, while standing over the range.

Hunt

[zin1953]

If you want "true" Port flavors, grab an inexpensive bottle of Ruby Porto -- "true" Porto from Portugal, something like Dow's Graham's, Sandeman's, etc.

If "close enough" is good enough, just grab a bottle of Gallo Port from the Livingston or Sheffield labels.

[Bill Hunt]

Unless the recipe, or my take on it, calls for something else (there is Port, then Port, then... ) I just use a bottle of less-expensive Ruby. How will the Port be incorporated into the recipe. I might move up the line a bit, if I am doing a reduction, without too much else, but then would probably stop short of an LBV, unless I plan on drinking it with the meal, or just afterwards.

Hunt