The Ideal Glass Studios located at West 8th Street off of Fifth Avenue in New York City, New York was transformed into a delectable taste of Portugal for the Port Wine Fest NYC 2025 – a festival of Portuguese Wines, with a selection of 211 Portuguese wines and Ports to sample paired with Portuguese cuisine from the New York restaurant, Leitao, prepared by Executive Chef & Owner Nuno Sousa.
On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, we spent an educational afternoon at the Ideal Glass Studios learning more about Portuguese wines and Ports during the Port Wine Fest NYC 2025. What was especially interesting was learning about the diverse types of Ports and tasting their varied nuances side by side. With 211 Portuguese wines and Ports available for tasting, we decided to focus our time and our palates on learning more about Ports, rather than on Portuguese wines, of which we had more experience.
Port Terminology
For those new to Port, here are some terms used to define and differentiate them.
There are three types of Port: Ruby, Tawny, and White Port.
Ruby Port: Made from younger Port wines from different vintages. Red in color, fruitier, and sweeter than other styles of port, and are usually more affordable Ports.
Tawny Port: These are more complex aged Ports that are released after 10, 20, 30, or 40 years. They are meant to be enjoyed now without any further cellaring needed. Tawny Ports have a reddish-brown hue from being aged in wood and have a sweet finish with caramel notes.
White Port: This style of Port is made from white grapes, can be bottled young, or aged.
Colheita refers to Ports made from a single vintage and then aged in wood. It is interesting to note that Ports have 20% alcohol.
Port Wine Fest NYC 2025, NY, USA – An Alphabetical Sampling of Some of the Port Highlights
There were many wonderful Ports to experience, in various price ranges and styles, to appeal to different price points as well as different palates. We are pleased to present some of the highlights we sampled.
Blackett Port Wine
This is a newer Port house founded in 2013. They brought a selection of their Ports to highlight their style and show their range of expressions.
Blackett Port
Blackett Late Bottled Vintage 2020, $33
Blackett 10 Years Old White, $36
Blackett 20 Years Old White Port, $80
Blackett 30 Years Old Tawny Port, $128
Kopke and Barros
It is interesting to note that Kopke Porto is the oldest port wine house in the world. It was established in 1638 before the demarcation of the Douro Wine Region. Winemaker Carla Tiago was at the Port Wine Fest NYC 2025 and brought an excellent selection of their port wines to highlight and define their house. They presented Kopke and Barros Ports.
Carla Tiago – Kopke Barros Port
Kopke 10 Years Old Tawny, $35
Kopke White Colheita 2005, Porto Matured in Wood, $66
Kopke 20 Years Old Tawny, Porto Matured in Wood, $75
Kopke Colheita 1966 Porto, Matured in Wood, $263
Kopke also presented Barros Colheita 1974 Porto. This 50-year-old beauty has a retail price of $175. Barros was established in 1913.
Niepoort
This is another Port house with a long tradition of excellence and were established in 1842.
Susana Ferraz – Niepoort Port
Niepoort 20 Years Old Tawny Port, $95
Rozès
This is another older Port house that has been making Ports since 1855. They brought a selection of their Ports to experience.
Pauline Vranken – Rozes port
Rozès Colors Collection White Reserve, $17
Rozès Colors Collection Reserve (red bottle), $17
Rozès Infanta Isabel 10 Years Old Port, $24
Rozès 20 Years Old Port, $58
Sandeman
Sandeman is another long-recognized Port house established by George Sandeman in 1790.
Sandeman Porto Tawny 20yr Old
Sandeman Porto Tawny 20-Year-Old, $60
The Culinary Pairings – Portuguese Cuisine by Leitao Executive Chef & Owner Nuno Sousa
Executive Chef & Owner Nuno Sousa of Leitao created a delicious pairing menu of Portuguese food to sample along with the various Port wines and Ports.
Chef Nuno Sousa
Polvo (octopus)
red pepper sauce, potato pave, and broccoli rabe
Camaraõ (shrimp)
lobster sauce
Fava com Chourico
pork & fava bean puree
Suckling Pig
black pepper sauce
Chef Nuno Sousa – Pastéis de Nata
Pastéis de Nata
egg custard tart served hot and sprinkled with cinnamon and confectionary sugar
The Port Wine Fest NYC 2025 was the perfect introduction to learning more about, and appreciating, the nuances of Portuguese wines and Ports. Until next time, cheers!
About Port Wine Fest
“Port Wine Fest is a festival and celebration of Portuguese wines, gastronomy and culture organized by the Port Wine Shippers Association (AEVP). Port Wine Fest, Portugal’s most exciting wine producers for an immersive food and wine tasting experience. Festival stops include San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.”
Port Wine Fest
Website: www.portwinefest.com/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Port-Wine-Fest/61555815104842/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portwinefest/ @portwinefest
Leitao Portuguese Cuisine
547 Hudson Street
New York, New York 10014
Telephone: +1-646-887-4035
Reservations: https://leitaonyc.com/reservations/
Website: https://leitaonyc.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeitaoNYC
Instagram: www.instagram.com/leitao_nyc @leitao_nyc
Leitao Hours: Monday through Thursday from 5:00 pm until 12:00 am, Friday from 5:00 pm until 1:00 am, Saturday from 12:30 pm until 1:00 am, and Sunday from 12:30 am until 12:00 am.
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