Dow's Christmas Port Wine in Wooden Gift Box, 75 cl

Product Information

Tawny port – The name refers to the colour the wine turns after ageing. To have this label, they must be at least two years old, but you’ll also find much older examples, such as our winning 10-year-old (below). The age statement means the liquid is a blend of vintages with an average barrel ageing. Flavours here tend to be nuttier, and can include caramel, cinnamon and chocolate. An LBV is aged in cask for longer than a vintage Port, usually around four years, so it’s available for drinking younger. This is one of the best we’ve tried. Those extra years in bottle have mellowed it bringing out flavours of spices and leather. The quality here is the equal of some proper vintage Ports. It’s worth decanting well in advance to let those flavours come together. The tradition for many homes in Spain is to have their own nativity scene with items passed on down through the years. Rosé port – Just like rosé wine, here you can expect to find notes of strawberries and raspberries, alongside a caramel sweetness. Cheese, chocolate, fruity puddings and sorbet are all excellent pairings – serve ice cold for maximum enjoyment. You can read more about New Year’s Eve in Mallorca here. New Year’s Day in Mallorca – what’s it like?

Vintage Port – Made from the best grapes of a single year, the “vintage” refers to an outstanding harvest. After being aged for around two years, vintage ports are further aged in bottles. The best ones can be aged for decades and are both powerful and elegant. They go well with dark chocolate, blue cheeses or on their own.I have written a detailed guide about celebrating New Year’s Eve in Mallorca, plus I have a list of hotels that will be open and hosting their own New Year’s Eve celebrations. One word of warning though. All of the festive events mentioned in this article (Christmas Lights Switch On, New Year’s Eve and the Three-Kings parade), these events will be extremely busy. There are also some hotels open in popular resorts. As an example in Palmanova, you will be able to book the 4* Elba Sunset hotel, the 3*Roc Portanova and in Santa Ponsa, the 4* Hotel Santa Ponsa Pins hotel over the Christmas period.

This is also the time when the Three Kings Christmas brings presents to children in Spain (in the same way as Santa Claus). Christmas in Mallorca is a season not to be missed, and an opportunity to see the island in an entirely new light. Ruby Port – Aged for 2-3 years in barrels or vats, these are full-bodied ports that are meant to be drunk young. They are fruity, vibrant and a great accompaniment to the cheeseboard or with berry-based desserts. Once placed in the nativity scenes as a signal of prosperity and wealth (apparently), now the game is to look for a carefully hidden Caganer in the nativity scenes around the island.And while only very few restaurants will be open on Christmas Day itself, others will be open during December with a special Christmas menu on the run-up to Christmas. The big Mallorca Christmas lights switch on doesn’t just happen in Palma but also all over the island. Some towns such as Alcudia Old Town may switch on their Christmas lights a week later. Testers felt this 10-year-old tawny had the ripe, rich fruit-forward nature of a ruby port, moving towards caramel sweetness as the flavour developed. It’s more powerful than the price tag would suggest, and a stellar choice to savour on the sofa after Christmas dinner.