🍷 Celebrating Port Wine Day!

Celebrating one of Portugal’s great treasures — Port Wine from the Douro Valley.

I couldn’t resist, so I made a quick stop at Princesa today to celebrate Port Wine Day with a little Portuguese feast:

🥩 Prego no prato

🍷 One tot of Port

🥧 Pastel de nata

A simple — but very Portuguese — way to celebrate! 🇵🇹❤️

Port Wine Day is celebrated every year on 10 September. The date commemorates the establishment of the Douro Demarcated Region on 10 September 1756, which the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto describes as the world’s oldest demarcated and regulated wine region. Port Wine Day was officially instituted in 2014.

Why September 10th?

Historical Significance

On 10 September 1756, the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro was established, marking the creation of the Douro Demarcated Region. It was a pioneering system of regulating the production and origin of wine and is recognised by the IVDP as the world’s first demarcated and regulated wine region.

Cultural Tribute

Port Wine is one of Portugal’s great wine treasures. Produced in the Douro Demarcated Region, it has become an internationally recognised symbol of Portuguese wine culture and heritage.

Port is traditionally associated with Vila Nova de Gaia, where Port wines have historically been matured in the famous lodges across the Douro from Porto.

Pairing with Food

Port isn’t only a drink for after dinner!

Different styles work with different foods:

🥩 Steak and roast beef — LBV Port works particularly well, especially with pepper or strongly flavoured sauces.
🧀 Strong and mature cheeses — Tawny and Vintage Ports can make excellent partners.
🥜 Nuts and pâté — particularly good with Tawny Port.
🍖 Red meat and intensely flavoured dishes — can pair beautifully with certain Ports.

And, of course, my prego no prato made a very appropriate Portuguese lunch before my little Port celebration! 😄

Pairing with Desserts

This is where Port really shines. 🍷🥧

🥧 Portuguese egg-based sweets, including pastel de nata — particularly well suited to 10- or 20-year-old Tawny Port.
🍫 Chocolate cake or chocolate mousse — excellent with LBV or young Vintage Port.
🍮 Crème brûlée, almond tart and fruit desserts — good partners for younger Tawny styles.
🧀 Cheesecake and softer cheeses — can work beautifully with Ruby Reserve or LBV.

So my little Port Wine Day combination of prego no prato + Port + pastel de nata wasn’t such a bad idea after all! 😂🇵🇹🍷