8 Best Port Wines To Drink in 2023, According to Experts

Made using indigenous Portuguese grapes hailing from the Douro Valley, port is shedding its old-school skin and convincing a new generation of drinkers to give fortified wine a chance.

A post-dinner drink par excellence, there’s a reason we often turn to port’s warm embrace as the darker nights draw in. With that said, many port styles (particularly white and rosé) can be muddled with fresh mint, citrus and tonic for a longer spritz that's suitable for all seasons.

Best port for 2023

Different types of port

Ruby Port – Aged in steel or concrete tanks and then bottled, ruby port is renowned for its berry-forward flavour, pronounced spicing and mellow cocoa notes. It’s also the most highly produced and doesn’t tend to improve with age.

Tawny Port – Aged in wooden casks, tawny ports tend to be sweeter and dominated by dried fruit and caramel aromas. Exposure to oxygen in the barrel imparts a moreish toasted nut quality, as well as the characteristic golden-brown hue.

Vintage Port – Made using grapes from a single, exceptional harvest, vintage port spends no longer than two years in the barrel before being bottled and tends to be fuller-bodied and deeper red than both ruby and tawny varieties. A rare breed, vintage ports tend to account for 3% of port production but are a class above (often, with the price tag to match).

White Port – Lauded for its bright, crisp character, white port offers refreshing notes of crisp apple, citrus and toasted nuts. Varying from bone dry to honey sweet, it can take a little trial and error to find your favourite – but trust us, it’s worth it.

Rosé Port – A new style of port pioneered by the Croft Port House in 2008, rosé port is made much like a rosé wine, with brief exposure to the grape skins giving a delicate pink hue. Serve chilled over ice to get the best out of your bottle.

What food to pair with port

Due to its semi-sweet, nutty character, port pairs perfectly with cheese – including mature Manchego and stilton – as well as richer flavours such as duck parfait and smokier charcuterie. It’s not all savoury, though; try serving a chilled glass alongside decadent dark chocolate cake and you’ll never settle for a sub-standard dessert wine again.

How we test port

We asked the Esquire Approves panel — made up of 10 WSET-trained wine experts and consumers — to work their way through 19 port varieties from the leading vineyards and producers. Each was tasted blind and assessed on its balance of flavours, mouthfeel and length of finish.

These are the bottles of the very best port you’ll find on their bar cart this year.