White Port NV – Barros

White Port NV Barros is produced by the traditional Port method. The grapes to produce White Port NV Barros  were destemmed, crushed and underwent a light skin maceration. Fermentation took place in stainless steel vats with frequent pump overs during fermentation. Temperatures were controlled and maintained at 16 to 18°C, until the desired Baumé was reached. At this ideal moment, grape brandy was added, which is known as the “benefit”, resulting in a fortified wine with perfectly balanced sweetness and aromatics. The final blend is the result of a selection of wines with variable levels of maturation. The ageing took place in a combination of stainless steel and wooden casks for a minimum of three years.

The vines are grown on terraces cut into the steep hillsides of the Douro Valley; they have been planted along the terraces of the greatest slopes, the “Vinha ao Alto” , which translates as “vertically planted vines”. The vineyard soils are schist greywacke ante-Ordovician, with some granitic formations. This soil is rich in nutrients and has useful water retention properties. Traditionally, the vines in the region are grown low, close to the ground. The single or double Guyot and unilateral and bilateral cordons are the methods most frequently used for training the vines. Trellises are not permitted for Port Wine grapes. The grapes are manually harvested, once they have reached the optimum maturity according to the variety.

Barros celebrated their 100th year of trading in 2013, Barros Port is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious companies producing and trading in Port. Much of their  success comes from Colheita Ports – old Tawnies from a single year matured in cask for a minimum period of seven years. Their expertise in Colheita Ports has established them as the stand out producer of this style. They leaves their Colheita Ports to mature in cask until being hand bottled to order. The loss of wine from evaporation (known as the ‘Angel’s Share’) is much higher in comparison to bottle ageing. It is a sacrifice they are willing to make and one that helps them achieve unsurpassed quality in their Colheita wines. In June 2006, they were integrated into the Sogevinus Group who are growing the brand in international markets.