How to decant a Vintage Port

How to open and decant a Vintage Port

When you want to enjoy a young Vintage Port, then it is not required to pay special attention. However, if it is a port wine that has been matured in the bottle for several decades, then there is a few things you should keep in mind:

Before opening, place the bottle upright for at least 24 hours, so that all the loose sediment can sink to the bottom. If possible, prevent moving the bottle so the sediment will not be stirred up again. Remove the capsule and try to carefully lift the cork. It will almost certainly break off or crumble, which shouldn't come as a surprise after decades layering, and it is therefore also not a problem. Alternatively, you can also open your vintage port with a pair of port wine tongs.

Once as much of the cork as possible has been removed, (small cork residue may fall into the wine) then start slowly and carefully decanting the wine through a fine sieve into a carafe or another bottle. (In English literature, a piece of muslin is often used as a filter). When the bottle layers, the label and/or the white color-mark (if marked) should be on the top side of the bottle, as the so-called ‘wallpaper’ has stuck to the glass on the opposite (bottom) side of the bottle. Decant against a light source (e.g. candle) and stop pouring as soon as the first particles of the deposit appear. You can eventually pour the remains from the bottle into a glass and allow it to settle there.

Now you should have a sparkling clear Vintage Port in the carafe. Allow the wine, that has been locked up for a long time, to breathe for a while before serving it, a few hours after decanting. The amount of time a Vintage Port needs to open up in the carafe, depends largely on the producer and the vintage, and cant unfortunately be stated in general terms. The vintage port is usually not lasting to be much fun to drink the following day, it should therefore be drunk up the same day if possible.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Vintage Port