The Best Port Wine for Beginners?

[Paul Fountain]

How many here were started on port wannabe's, aka non-Portuguese fortified wine?

I certainly did.

[Andy Velebil]

How many here were started on port wannabe's, aka non-Portuguese fortified wine?

I certainly did.

Not here. 1966 and 1970 Taylor's VP

[Glenn E.]

How many here were started on port wannabe's, aka non-Portuguese fortified wine?

My first was a Porto Rocha 20-yr old Tawny.

[Al B.]

My first port was a Taylor 1963, but that was nearly 30 years ago. The equivalent today would something like starting with the Taylor 1992. It blew me away and made me realise that the world of wine wasn't all cheap, thin and acidic rubbish.

[Roy Hersh]

My first was a 1963 Sandeman VP in 1983, a young 20 year old that I had many many times in the next few years to follow as the restaurant I worked in had bought cases of it, to sell by the glass @ $15 per.

[Derek T.]

I started with LBVs from Taylor and Graham and very quickly moved into SQVPs such as Dow Bomfim. I didn't know there were port-style wines from other regions and didn't taste a "proper" VP until I joined this forum.

[Eric Menchen]

I can't say what my first Port was, but my exposure was likely with a real product from the Douro, as I had a dessert sampling at a local restaurant. Checking their menu today, they list:

$16 Dessert Sampler 1 oz. each of:
Blandy’s Madiera, Jorge Ordoñez Moscatel,
El Maestro Sierra Sherry and Warre’s Port

The Blandy's is Alvada five year, the Warres is Otima 10 year. I think they had a ruby at one time, but I could be wrong. Right now they do have Kopke Ruby, Croft Special Reserve, Quinta do Noval LBV, Graham's 20 year old tawny, and the Warre's Otima 10 on the menu, by the glass.