Port Wine

Port is Portugal’s great fortified wine, produced in the Douro Valley from a blend of traditional grape varieties. Styles range from intensely fruity Ruby and Vintage Ports to mellow, complex Tawny Ports matured for longer in wood. Expect rich fruit, sweetness and warmth, with flavours that can develop from blackberry and plum to nuts, dried fruit, spice and caramel.

At Spy, our Port selection focuses on distinctive bottles from carefully chosen producers, from characterful younger styles to mature and complex wines for drinking after dinner, pairing with cheese or simply enjoying on their own.

  • Niepoort L.B.V Port 2020

    Niepoort L.B.V Port 2020

    Niepoort L.B.V Port 2020

    75cl | ABV: 19.5%

    £29.95
    £29.95
  • Niepoort Cursted Port with a white label on a white background

    Niepoort Crusted Port

    Niepoort Crusted Port

    75cl | ABV: 19%

    £33.95
    £33.95
  • Porto Niepoort Colheita 2008 Port bottle on a white background

    Niepoort Colheita Port 2008

    Niepoort Colheita Port 2008

    75cl | ABV: 20%

    £52.95
    £52.95
  • Niepoort 10Y.O Tawny

    Niepoort 10Y.O Tawny

    Niepoort 10Y.O Tawny

    75cl | ABV: 19.5%

    £45.95
    £45.95
  • Niepoort 'Tawny Dee' Tawny Port

    Niepoort 'Tawny Dee' Tawny Port

    Niepoort 'Tawny Dee' Tawny Port

    75cl | ABV: 19.5%

    £24.95
    £24.95
  • Niepoort 'Ruby Dum' Ruby Port

    Niepoort 'Ruby Dum' Ruby Port

    Niepoort 'Ruby Dum' Ruby Port

    75cl | ABV: 19.5%

    £24.95
    £24.95
  • Fortmans Rich and Sweet Port Bottle on a White Background

    Fortmans Rich & Sweet

    Sold out

    Fortmans Rich & Sweet

    75cl | ABV: 14.4%

    £8.45
    £8.45
    Sold out
  • Ferreira LBV Port

    Ferreira LBV Port

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    Ferreira LBV Port

    75cl | ABV: 15.9%

    £28.95
    £28.95
    Sold out
  • Ferreira Dona Antonia 10 Year Old Tawny Port

    Ferreira Dona Antonia 10 Year Old Tawny Port

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    Ferreira Dona Antonia 10 Year Old Tawny Port

    75cl | ABV: 20%

    £30.95
    £30.95
    Sold out
  • Ferreira Ruby Port

    Ferreira Ruby Port

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    Ferreira Ruby Port

    75cl | ABV: 19.5%

    £19.95
    £19.95
    Sold out
  • Grahams 20 Years Old Tawny Port

    Grahams 20 Years Old Tawny Port

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    Grahams 20 Years Old Tawny Port

    75cl | ABV: 20.0%

    £44.95
    £44.95
    Sold out

Port Wine Buying Guide

Choosing Port becomes much easier once you understand the main styles. Ruby-style Ports emphasise fruit and are generally matured with limited exposure to oxygen, while Tawny Ports spend longer ageing in wood and develop nuttier, more oxidative flavours. Vintage, Late Bottled Vintage and aged Tawny Ports each offer a different balance of fruit, maturity and complexity.

Which style of Port should you choose?

Ruby Port is typically youthful, fruity and immediately approachable. Late Bottled Vintage, often shortened to LBV, offers greater depth from a single vintage while usually being ready to drink when released. Vintage Port is made from the best wines of exceptional declared years and can develop for decades in bottle. Tawny Port is aged oxidatively in wood, creating increasingly complex flavours of nuts, dried fruit, spice and caramel.

Choosing Port for food

Rich Ruby, LBV and Vintage Ports are classic partners for blue cheese, dark chocolate and deeply flavoured desserts. Tawny Port works particularly well with nuts, caramel, dried-fruit desserts and mature cheeses. Port can also be enjoyed without food, and some lighter styles are excellent served slightly chilled.

Look beyond Port as a Christmas drink

Port is strongly associated with Christmas in Britain, but its range of styles makes it worth exploring throughout the year. A chilled Tawny can be a superb after-dinner drink, younger Ruby styles offer generous fruit, and mature Vintage Port provides one of the wine world's great ageing experiences.

Port Wine FAQs

What is the difference between Ruby and Tawny Port?

Ruby Port is generally aged to preserve its deep colour and youthful fruit flavours. Tawny Port spends longer ageing in wood with gradual exposure to oxygen, which softens the colour and develops flavours such as nuts, dried fruit, spice and caramel.

What is Vintage Port?

Vintage Port is produced from the wines of a single exceptional year and bottled after a relatively short period of ageing in wood. It then develops in bottle, and the finest examples can mature for many decades. Because sediment forms during ageing, mature Vintage Port often benefits from careful decanting.

Should Port be served chilled?

It depends on the style. Tawny and White Port can be particularly enjoyable lightly chilled, while Ruby, LBV and Vintage Port are usually served somewhat warmer. Port is generally best served cooler than a warm room, as excessive warmth can make the alcohol seem more prominent.

How long does Port keep after opening?

It varies considerably by style. Vintage Port is relatively delicate once opened and is best enjoyed fairly quickly, while Ruby and LBV usually last longer. Wood-aged Tawny Port is more resistant to oxidation and can generally remain enjoyable for several weeks when properly resealed and stored cool.

Explore more fortified and sweet wines

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