Let me take a toast at Easter time with a Ferreira Ruby Port which is classic Port wine, produced by Sogrape Vinhos, in the Douro wine region of Portugal.
Founded in 1942 by Fernando van Zeller Guedes, Sogrape Vinhos is currently managed by the third generation of the founding family. The company has more than 980 hectares of vineyards in the main Portuguese wine regions and is responsible for the production of renowned brands such as Mateus Rosé, Gazela, Casa Ferreirinha and Sandeman. It exports its wines to more than 70 countries.
Referenced since 1751, Ferreira has always been synonymous with high-quality Portuguese wine. The brand’s history is intertwined with the history of the evolution of the Douro demarcated region, delimited in 1756, and of its Port and still wines. Years later, the family business was managed by Antónia Adelaide, widow of António Bernardo II.
Known for being a woman endowed with exceptional energy and a rare commercial talent, she managed to give a great boost to viticulture in the Douro. Ferreira was instrumental in the creation of wines such as the mythical Barca Velha, in the 1950s, and still featuring prestigious wine brands, such as Quinta da Leda.
Ferreira Ruby is a classic Ruby Port, a young and attractive wine, with the care accumulated over more than 250 years of excellence that makes Ferreira the oldest and most celebrated Portuguese brand of Port Wine in the world.
The wine is a blend of the typical Douro grapes such as Tinta Barocca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cão, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional.
The hand-picked grapes were vinified according to the traditional method of Port Wine. After soft crushing with partial destemming, followed by alcoholic fermentation with maceration. Fermentation takes place at temperature-controlled, being stopped by the addition of wine spirit at the moment considered ideal by the winemaker, considering the grape varieties, degree of maturation and desired sweetness. The ultimate balance between the body and aroma of Port wine comes from the combination of the different characteristics of the multiple varieties of grapes used.
The wine stays in the Douro where the cold of winter helps to deposit the lees. The following spring, after cleaning, it is transported to the Ferreira cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia and placed in oak barrels where it will age over several years, acquiring the incomparable style of the Ferreira brand. The final batch has an average age of about 3 years deity.
Closed with a bar stopper, the bottle must be stored upright, avoiding direct light and humidity. Excessive, ideally at a constant temperature between 16-18ºC.
Ferreira Ruby Port presents a deep ruby, opaque, clean and brilliant color, with heavy tears.
Intense aromas of very ripe wild berries, blackberry and cherry on the nose, strengthened by careful aging in wood and the batches that occur during the natural aging process, such as vanilla, dark chocolate and tobacco.
On the palate, full-bodied, rich wine with a good balance between its sweetness and the structure of tannins, which gives the drink unique characteristics. Strong flavors of dried fruits such as raisin, prune and fig, adding notes of orange peel and walnut. Sweet wine with high acidity where tannins are present at a medium level.
Very persistent, fine, attractive but lovely warm, burning finish.
Not overly sweet like many Ports can be.
19,5% alcohol level.
Ferreira Ruby Port is ready to be consumed, doesn’t need to be aged, nor needs to be decanted. But once opened, the wine must be consumed within a period of one month to maintain its freshness.
It is normally consumed between 14-16 °C but is very pleasant when served slightly chilled or with ice.
Pairs very well with sweet, fruity or chocolate desserts.
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