Croft : Pink Port

Tasting characteristics and recommendations for Croft Pink Port

Tasting

Appearance
A delicate, vibrant pink hue, subtly enhanced by light pale ruby highlights.

Nose
The aromatic expression is intensely fruity, dominated by scents of raspberry, fresh cherry and strawberry. This indulgent bouquet is enriched with floral nuances as well as delicate hints of honey and candied citrus, such as grapefruit.

Palate
The attack is soft and rounded, perfectly balanced by lovely freshness. The palate reveals flavours of cherry and red berries, accompanied by notes of honey and grapefruit. The texture is silky thanks to very discreet tannins, leading to good length and a refreshing, very slightly dry finish.

Food and wine pairings

Thanks to its great versatility, this Port is the ideal companion for summer cuisine, from mixed salads with fruit to sweet-and-savoury dishes. It also creates an interesting contrast with blue-veined cheeses. On the sweet side, it enhances red berry desserts, tarts, sorbets as well as white or milk chocolate creations. It is just as enjoyable as an aperitif or during a brunch, neat or in a cocktail.

Serving and cellaring

Pink Port is ready to be enjoyed and requires no decanting. It is recommended to savour it in its youth, within a few years of purchase. It is ideally served well chilled, between 6 and 10°C, in a large wine glass or over ice in a highball-style glass. Bottles should be stored upright, away from light, in a cool place at a constant temperature. Once opened, it retains all its freshness for around a month.

The bold innovation of a rosé Port by Croft

The estate

Founded in 1588, the Croft House is the oldest producer in the region still in operation. Historically linked to trade between England and Portugal, this iconic brand today belongs to the family-owned group The Fladgate Partnership. Renowned for its pioneering spirit, it relies on its jewel, Quinta da Roêda, a 109-hectare estate located in the Duriense appellation. Under the oenological direction of David Guimarens, the property combines a heritage of more than four centuries with a remarkable capacity for innovation, illustrated by the creation of the very first rosé fortified wine.

The vineyard

The grapes come from the Douro Valley, and more specifically from Quinta da Roêda, located in the Cima Corgo sector near Pinhão. This exceptional terroir, essential to the production of this Port, is characterised by vines planted on terraces along steep slopes overlooking the river. The soils, mainly composed of schist, provide excellent surface drainage while retaining water at depth, allowing the vines to withstand the hot, dry summers of the Duriense region. The estate is also home to some of the oldest vineyard plots in the valley.

Winemaking and aging

To produce Pink Port, the grapes are destemmed and crushed before undergoing a very short skin maceration, not exceeding twelve hours, in order to extract a delicate colour without harsh tannins. The must is then separated from the skins for a low-temperature fermentation of about seven days, in the manner of a white wine. This stage is interrupted by the addition of a neutral grape spirit. To preserve the brightness of the fruit and the aromatic freshness, the wine does not undergo long ageing in wood.

Grape varieties

This wine is made from a blend of classic red grape varieties of the region, including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinto Cão and Tinta Amarela.