Port
By AW
I am passionate about port - as in wine not ships. It is the
most luxurious, luxuriant, soul-caressing drink ever invented. Now the cynic
might say, yeah, that’s because it is high in alcohol (typically 18%). If I
just wanted to get pissed I could knock back any spirit with an even higher
alcohol content. The alcohol contributes to its creamy, velvety, lush texture
as do many other components.
Porto in Portugal is the mecca for all aficionados. I have been privileged to visit Porto several times including tasting
ports along the waterfront precinct that was historically the port (pardon the pun!)
from which ports were shipped overseas. Today it is a tourist area with many original
cellars still complete with huge oak vats proudly coupled to the tramped earth floors below.
To walk into one of these and have your nasal passages assailed by the
damp, dank, musty, earthy, spirity smell that pervades all old cellars speaks
volumes of bygone eras and practices. On my first visit to one of these, the
aroma invoked such an intense gut-reaction that instantly I burst into uncontrolled
tears. Why, for heaven’s sake? That smell was seemingly the key to some deeply held
emotions.
But from whence did these come in an Aussie gal who’d never been to Porto before in her life...???
To be continued...
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