🍷 Ruby Port
The simplest young red Port, bright and fruity.
Ruby is the simplest and youngest style of red Port. The name describes its bright, deep red colour. It is the backbone of the range at many Port houses in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal.
Ruby is made like any Port: fermentation of dark grapes is stopped with grape spirit, so the wine stays sweet and strong, around 19–20% alcohol. It is then aged for about 2–3 years in large casks or vats. There it has little contact with air and keeps fresh flavours of cherry, plum and black fruit. It is filtered before bottling, so there is usually no sediment.
Ruby is not meant for long ageing and is best drunk within a year or two of purchase. More serious versions are Reserve Ruby, and above that LBV, a single-year Port aged 4–6 years. Unlike golden Tawny, Ruby is not oxidised in small barrels. It is often served with chocolate, berry desserts and cheese.
What it includes
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Ruby Port → made in → 🗺️ Portuguese wine → kind of → 🗺️ Wines of Europe → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Port
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ Portuguese wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Port, 🍷 Reserve Ruby Port, 🍷 Late Bottled Vintage Port
Frequently asked questions
What is Ruby Port?
A young red Port aged about 2–3 years in large casks, bright and fruity.
What is the difference between Ruby and Tawny Port?
Ruby ages in large vessels with little air and stays red and fruity. Tawny ages in small barrels and turns amber and nutty.
How long does an open bottle of Ruby keep?
Usually a few weeks if resealed and kept cool. Its strength protects it better than table wine.
What to read next
- 🗺️ Portuguese wine — The country's wine and winemaking: regions, grapes, appellations.
- 🍷 Late Bottled Vintage Port — Port from a single year, bottled later than Vintage Port.
- 🍷 Reserve Ruby Port — A higher-quality Ruby, aged a little longer.
Similar
🍷 Rosé Port · 🍷 Crusted Port · 🍷 Garrafeira Port · 🍷 White Port · 🍷 Vintage Port · 🍷 Late Bottled Vintage Port
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.