The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Columbia Encyclopedia World Factbook Columbia Gazetteer American Heritage Coll. Various grapes are blended by the growers, and brandy is added before fermentation is complete. In the spring the casks are brought to Oporto and Villa Nova, where the wines are blended and stored. Ruby port, generally a blend of wines of different vintages, is stored in wood and bottled before it loses its clear, red color.
Tawny port remains longer in the cask, losing some color and alcohol.
Crusted port is vintage or ruby port kept in bottles until it has formed a crustlike sediment. Port is sometimes artificially colored with caramelized wine or berry juice. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Click here to shop the Bartleby Bookstore .