How long can you keep port?

Storing port? How, for how long, and why? Le Club des Vins will tell you. It's important to know what type of port you're talking about. A young port—ruby port—can be kept for a shorter time than a wood-aged port—a tawny port. An opened bottle of port can't be kept as long as a bottle of whisky or gin, but certainly longer than a bottle of red wine. I'll also answer the question, "How long can you keep an unopened bottle of port?"

Don't feel like reading the whole story? Then I've summarized everything for you below. Note that these figures are based on standard quality. Cheap ruby ​​certainly won't keep for two years, while the best rubies might even keep longer.

Save opened port

The most common port, Ruby Port , keeps for about 2 to 3 weeks after opening. In fact, it often tastes better the next day. The contact with oxygen makes the port smoother and fuller. A Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) is best enjoyed a little sooner and can be kept for about 1 to 2 weeks.

A Tawny and a Colheita can be kept longer. These wines are aged in wood, meaning they've already been exposed to oxygen. Opening them and exposing them to oxygen again isn't such a shock. These wines can be kept for 2-3 months. Looking for a good tawny port? Try Graham's 10 Years !

👉 Want to know more about port? Read: What types of port are there?

The most expensive port, Vintage Port , ironically only keeps for a few days*. This is a port bottled unfiltered. Therefore, it's wise to store the port upright a day beforehand so the lees can settle to the bottom. Decanting this port is recommended. The younger the port, the sooner you should decant it. For example, a 10-year-old Vintage Port should be decanted for eight hours, while a very old port, say 50 years old, only needs an hour or two.

How much is left in the bottle?

How long you can keep opened port also depends on how much port is left in the bottle. The less port there is left in the bottle, the greater the effect of oxygen on your port. Wine writer Stefaan Soenen has a clever solution for this; check it out here .

In a fit of enthusiasm, I opened Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 2015 after a lovely dinner. Oops, a bit of a spur-of-the-moment moment . How silly! As is the case after such a dinner, I ignored all the rules and poured the port. It was a bit heavy after all those other wines, so it was short-lived.

The next day, I saw the bottle was still three-quarters full and could have kicked myself (but I was hungover, so I didn't). Why did I feel the need to open it?! A week later, I tasted it again, and all the fruity notes had vanished. There was seriously nothing left, and it could have been so beautiful.

How do you store port?

It's important to seal the port with the original cork (or find one ) and preferably at a constant temperature. The refrigerator is best for this, as the temperature is constant there. This low temperature also slows down the aging of the wine. Do allow it to warm up a bit before serving.

How long can you keep port if the bottle is closed?

An unopened bottle can be kept for much longer. Again, this depends on the type of port you have. A ruby—the simplest form—can be kept for a maximum of one or two years, while a vintage port needs years of bottle aging to improve. So, definitely keep a vintage port in the bottle for about twenty years! You'll find a table with recommendations at the top of this article.

Weekend in Porto

Stocking up on port? Porto is the place to be. I visited in 2015, 2022, and 2024, and I think it's truly one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe. Read my previous blog post, "What to Do in Porto," about the city, including a few restaurants you definitely shouldn't miss.

👉 If possible, book a few days in the Douro as well.

I dare say it 's the most beautiful wine region in the world . You can get there from Porto by slow train. You ride along the Douro River and have breathtaking views of the vineyards. Highly recommended!

More Portugal:

• A wine fan in Porto
• What types of port are there?