Is Port a manly drink?

[verdict]

Not trying to start a flame war here, this is a serious question.

I tagged along with my parents and their very close friends to a Portuguese wine & food distributor to try some wine.

Among the many whites & reds that would give the French a serious run for their money, we also had some fine Port.

I've never tried Port before, but when I took that first sip I knew I was going to like this type of liquor.

The only problem is, at the tasting none of the men touched it, and only the women drank it. I had some only because I've never tried it.

(Later at dinner everyone had some)

So now I'm confused...is Port a drink for men or not? All perspectives are welcome.

 

[Haggises]

absolutely.
IMHO, nothing finer as an after-dinner tipple.

 

[oversaturn]

Of course it is!

 

[john parker]

Used as an after dinner toasting wine forever!

 

[jazzman]

Because it cannot be saved properly once opened, those present must finish the bottle. That seems manly to me.

 

[Mirzath]

With a nice Cuban cigar there is nothing more manly.

 

[Shaving_CHENG]

Port has been used by navies world-round because of the close ties between England and Portugal, especially during times of war with France. Many Port houses still carry the English names of exporters who went to send wine back to England centuries ago.

There are levels to Port, and people have their likes and dislikes, but for me, not too much beats a good Tawny Port. Easily bought in the States are Graham's Six Grapes, Warre's Warrior and Taylor's Fladgate. They are easily accessed, and are accessible.

Not too much is manlier than Port.

 

[Masterkova]

Just don't forget the rules:

"Port is not drunk solely for the wine itself. It is also drunk as a social activity and for the sense of the occasion.

It is therefore good etiquette, and also jolly good fun, to follow the rules :
- the Port should start with the host, who pours the guest to his right, and then
- the Port is passed to the guest on the left, (who in turn pours the guest to their right)
- and so on until the entire table has been served.

If a guest requires more Port it is extremely bad manners for them to openly ask for the Port. The correct method of obtaining the Port is to ask the guest nearest to the decanter whether they know the Bishop of Norwich. This 'signal' does not require an answer but should result in the decanter being passed (left-wards) around the table to the person requiring the Port. If unfortunately the guest to whom the question is put does not understand the 'signal' and mistakenly answers "No I don't" then your response should be appropriately scornful "The Bishop is a terribly good chap, but he never passes the Port !".


(This assumes of course that you are not in the company of people who do actually know the Bishop - which I suspect is not very often. If however you are then you will have to agree your own 'signal'). "

 

[ouch]

Is Port a manly drink?

Sure. In fact, it's one of the manliest.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Port is sex-neutral, men and women should both enjoy it openly.
BUT, it's an after-dinner drink, that's probably why no-one tried it at the first tasting....

 

[oakeshott]

Port is, quite possibly, the manliest of drinks and it used to be customary among the British for the port to be rolled out once the women had retired from the dinner table and in adjunct with the cigars. One of my favorite Port related traditions is the buying of a birth year port for your child and the opening of it on his/her 18th birthday. The tradition of finishing the newly opened bottle gives you some idea of the deeply social nature of Port drinking.

They are complex, sophisticated fortified wines and the great ones offer enjoyment equal to that of the great Bordeaux, Burgundies etc. Be warned though that it is an expensive habit.

 

[verdict]

Port is sex-neutral, men and women should both enjoy it openly.
BUT, it's an after-dinner drink, that's probably why no-one tried it at the first tasting....

Ah, I see.

So it would be gauche to have port when out with friends?

Instead of having beer, for example, would having port be acceptable?

 

[dpm802]

Ah, I see.

So it would be gauche to have port when out with friends?

Instead of having beer, for example, would having port be acceptable?

Don't waste a good Port wine for casual drinking ... as others have said, its at its best when served after a full meal.

Fonseca is a famous name in both Port wines and cigars ... the two together make an incredible way to wrap up a special occasion dinner.

 

[MWS]

Port is wonderful...straight.

My 94 year old grandmother drinks is with a splash of orange juice, if that helps with your decision

 

[Go West Young Man]

Ah, I see.

So it would be gauche to have port when out with friends?

Instead of having beer, for example, would having port be acceptable?

It would like doing bar shots over dinner - fine with the right group of people but not generally the way it's done.

 

[Chiller]

Try this crazy but nice cocktail:crazy vimto:1 glass of port, one bottle of wkd blue in a pint glasslovely!

 

[Argonaut]

Just don't forget the rules:

"Port is not drunk solely for the wine itself. It is also drunk as a social activity and for the sense of the occasion.

It is therefore good etiquette, and also jolly good fun, to follow the rules :
- the Port should start with the host, who pours the guest to his right, and then
- the Port is passed to the guest on the left, (who in turn pours the guest to their right)
- and so on until the entire table has been served.

If a guest requires more Port it is extremely bad manners for them to openly ask for the Port. The correct method of obtaining the Port is to ask the guest nearest to the decanter whether they know the Bishop of Norwich. This 'signal' does not require an answer but should result in the decanter being passed (left-wards) around the table to the person requiring the Port. If unfortunately the guest to whom the question is put does not understand the 'signal' and mistakenly answers "No I don't" then your response should be appropriately scornful "The Bishop is a terribly good chap, but he never passes the Port !".


(This assumes of course that you are not in the company of people who do actually know the Bishop - which I suspect is not very often. If however you are then you will have to agree your own 'signal'). "

It was manly, until I saw this.

 

[stobes21]

Port can be an exceptionally sophisticated and nuanced beverage. If you enjoy it then by all means you should enjoy it without being concerned about its "manliness." Good taste in alcohol is hardly restricted to men.

If you want to drink like John Wayne then drink like John Wayne. But I'm pretty sure the Duke drank whatever he damn well pleased and didn't much care what others thought of it. That, to me, is a very manly sentiment (though one many women would heartily agree with as well).

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

With a nice Cuban cigar there is nothing more manly.

Phil:

...and Port (or any other 'fortified' wine [i.e., Cream Sherry or Madeira], & Cubans are as synonymous as 'Peas & Carrots'.

+ =

"A Cuban cigar and good 'fortified' wine is bliss. You can smell it, taste it, look at it, feel it and it satisfies all the senses." CBJ

 

[urr-lord]

I like a nice Port to sip on a cool evening.