Any Port in a Storm

For those of you unable to finish a bottle of red in one sitting and tired of having opened wine sit around until it goes bad, why not consider sipping a Port instead? Most Ports will last anywhere between 1 week and 6 months after opening, depending on their type and how they are stored. A ruby or young tawny will last 2 weeks to 3 months, while an aged tawny can last anywhere from 1 month to 1 year.Traditional Late Bottled Vintage Port (LBV) is not quite as hardy, lasting 1 day to 2 weeks. Port should be stored in the refrigerator or at least in a cool place for best longevity. And if you happen to have a bottle of vintage Port more than 30 years old, make sure to seek out a pair of Port tongs. Corks of that age can be quite fragile and unable to withstand the use of a corkscrew. Traditionally, Port tongs are heated until red hot and then clamped around the bottle neck just below the cork for ten seconds. The tongs are then removed and cool water is poured over the neck which causes a single crack that severs the neck from the bottle. The bottle neck with the cork still inside is lifted off the bottle and discarded. What an exquisite gift the tongs would make for the wine lover on your gift list who has everything. Cheers!