By law Colheita ports must be aged in wood for a minimum of seven years although most are aged considerably longer. High quality Colheitas carry all the nuances of an aged tawny while also displaying the character of the particular vintage year. Ruby ports are usually blends of big, bold, deep colored wines from multiple vintages and display a strong, fiery character. A good Ruby can be a very warming drink with pleasant berry fruit aromas and flavors. These are made in a similar method as red but with a shorter maceration time or none at all.
Wood aging develops a dry, nutty character and a golden color.