🍷 Ruby Port
Also known as: Ruby, Ruby Porto, red 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 cellaring and is best drunk within a year or two of purchase. The 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.
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
- 🍷 Graham's Fine Ruby, 🍷 Graham's Six Grapes, 🍷 Graham's Six Grapes Old Vines, 🍷 Graham's Six Grapes River Quintas, 🍷 Graham's Natura Reserve, 🍷 Warre's Heritage Ruby, 🍷 Warre's Warrior, 🍷 Dow's Fine Ruby, 🍷 Dow's Nirvana Reserve, 🍷 Delaforce Fine Ruby Port
and 16 more
🍷 Fonseca Bin 27, 🍷 Fonseca Ruby, 🍷 Kopke Fine Ruby Port, 🍷 Kopke Reserve Ruby Port, 🍷 Niepoort Ruby Port, 🍷 Niepoort The Junior Ruby Port, 🍷 Niepoort Ruby Dum Port, 🍷 Niepoort Fabelhaft Ruby Port, 🍷 Niepoort Fabelhaft Ruby Reserve Port, 🍷 Noval Fine Ruby Port, 🍷 Noval Black Ruby Reserve Port, 🍷 Sandeman Porto Fine Ruby, 🍷 Sandeman Porto Founder's Reserve, 🍷 Port, 🍷 Reserve Ruby Port, 🍷 Late Bottled Vintage Port
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Ruby is meant for long cellaring?
No. It is best drunk within a year or two of purchase.
Why does Ruby usually have no sediment?
It is filtered before bottling.
Which Ports stand above Ruby?
Reserve Ruby and, above it, LBV, a single-year Port aged 4–6 years.
What to read next
- 🍷 Graham's Fine Ruby — Graham's Fine Ruby: a Ruby Port from Graham's.
- 🗺️ 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.
- 🍷 Graham's Six Grapes — Graham's Six Grapes: a Reserve Ruby Port from Graham's.
- 🍷 Graham's Six Grapes Old Vines — Graham's Six Grapes Old Vines: a Reserve Ruby Port from Graham's.
Similar
🍷 Crusted Port · 🍷 Garrafeira Port · 🍷 Rosé Port · 🍷 White Port · 🍷 Late Bottled Vintage Port · 🍷 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.