# Van Zeller 10 Year Old Tawny Port

- **Producer:** José Maria da Fonseca & Van Zeller, SA
- **Colour:** other
- **Type:** fortified
- **Grapes:** approx. 20 different grape varieties from the Douro Valley
- **Region:** Douro, Portugal
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 19.5%
- **Average price:** €39
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** prune, raisin, caramel, hazelnut

## About this wine

The Van Zeller 10 Year Old Tawny Port is a fortified wine from the Douro region of Portugal, produced by José Maria da Fonseca & Van Zeller, SA. It is a Tawny style Port, characterized by its mellow and nutty profile, achieved through aging in wood. The wine is a blend of approximately 20 different grape varieties native to the Douro Valley. The '10 Year Old' designation indicates the average age of the wines in the blend, reflecting a commitment to developing complexity and character over time.

## Interesting facts

- The blend comprises around 20 different grape varieties, a common practice in Port to achieve complexity.
- The '10 Year Old' designation is an average age, meaning some wines in the blend are younger and some older.
- Tawny Ports are known for their oxidative aging, developing nutty and dried fruit notes over time.
- The Douro Valley is one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world.

## Food pairing

The wine's inherent sweetness and nutty characteristics complement the rich, often spiced, flavors of desserts and mature cheeses. Its moderate acidity can cut through the richness of certain dishes, while its dried fruit notes echo those found in traditional Christmas baking.

## Wine making process

The Van Zeller 10 Year Old Tawny Port is produced using traditional Port winemaking methods. Grapes from the Douro Valley are fermented, and the fermentation is arrested by the addition of grape spirit, a process known as fortification. This results in a fortified wine with residual sweetness. The wine then undergoes an extended period of aging in wood, with the '10 Year Old' designation indicating an average age of the wines in the blend. This oxidative aging process in cask is crucial for developing the characteristic mellow, nutty, and dried fruit profile of Tawny Port.