Laithwaites

Refreshing Port Cocktails to Try This Summer

Melissa shares two delicious Port-based cocktails to enjoy this sunny season, along with the Port wines you need for them!

This summer, it’s time to welcome refreshing Port cocktails. We just can’t get enough Port & Tonic and Port Limeade, so if you haven’t tried them yet, consider this your sign to dive in!

Hailing from Portugal's Douro Valley, Port is arguably the world’s most famous fortified wine, loved for its intense flavors and rich character. It’s crafted from native grape varieties, typically Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz. Port is made using the “fortification” process, which adds a neutral spirit (usually a grape-derived one like Brandy) to stop fermentation, thereby preserving the wine’s natural sugars and resulting in a sweet flavor profile.

Most people know about the classic red Ports, which offer notes of baked fruit, caramel and nuts. But there are also white and rosé Ports. These can be just as delicious, but they are made in much smaller quantities (with very few bottles ever leaving Portugal).

We’ve secured superb white and rosé Ports from the Van Zeller family, who have been making wine since 1715 (so it’s safe to say they know a thing or three about the stuff!). Their delicious white Port has flavors of sweet toffee and caramel, underpinned by lifting flavors of lemon. The rosé is lusciously sweet, with bright strawberry and red cherry flavors.

And, when you add these sumptuous notes to a summer cocktail, magical things happen! Here are two recipes you simply must try…

Boulé, sourced from Washington State's prestigious Yakima Valley district, is crafted entirely from Chardonnay grapes. If you enjoy Prosecco, you will find Boulé equally delicious. It boasts refreshing citrus flavors, complemented by crisp apple and subtle melon notes coming through on the finish. Its name, Boulé, is French for "little balls of life," making it an ideal choice for July 4th celebrations!

Here's to a sparkling Fourth of July! May your day overflow with endless fun, fireworks and Firecracker Fizz. Stock up on Boule so you don't run out!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa, Partnership Marketing Manager

Grape enthusiast with a heart as bubbly as Champagne—wine never fails to amaze me! Every aspect of my role on the partnership team fills my glass, from making connections to seeing the tangible bonds they form.

WSET – Level 2 Wines & Spirits Certified
Three years of dedicated involvement with the wine team

Finger Lakes • Rosé • Champagne • Pinot Noir