Happy Families
Ever since our founder shipped his first pipe of Port in 1692, we have been a family run business. One thing we have learned is that nothing brings friends and family closer together than a relaxed gathering around food and wine. And of course no meal is complete without a glass of Port to provide the finishing touch.
While champagne may be the drink of the party goer, Port is the wine of relaxation, fellowship and good cheer. It has the privilege of being enjoyed at the most sociable moment in the meal, when the mood is mellow and contented guests sit back to enjoy each other’s company.
And more than any other wine, it can transform a gathering of friends or family into a truly memorable occasion.
What The Dickens
The novels of Charles Dickens are full of tales of convivial evenings, accompanied by generous libations of Port. But there was one exception: The family gathering presided over by the sanctimonious and inhospitable Mr Pecksniff in Martin Chuzzlewit.
Unhappy guests and no Port at Mr Pecksniff’s party
At this dull and cantankerous family party, there was not a glass of Port to be seen. There is clearly a lesson to be learned. Had Port been served, the mood of the party would have been very different. The grumblings of the Spottletoes and Chuzzlewits would have given way to an atmosphere of harmony, fellowship and good spirits, the guests departing with a warm embrace and a cheery wave.
And why? Because there are few things that can bridge the generations and bring all members of the family together more enjoyably than a warming glass of Port.
Contrary to popular myth, Port is very easy to serve. You don’t even need a special glass. A white wine glass works perfectly – in fact any glass in which the Port can be easily swirled to release its sublime aromas.
Most Ports need no decanting and can be poured straight from the bottle. And in the unlikely event that the bottle is not finished on the night, the wine will remain in good condition for several weeks or more.
The Big Turn Off
Although family gatherings are enjoyable at any time of year, they somehow seem more special in winter. With the curtains drawn against the gloom and the doors shutting out the winter chill, this is the time to sit back in the warmth and glow to relax with those closest and dearest. And to enjoy good food, good company and good wine.
But it is not just cold drafts that can intrude on a calm and peaceful family get-together. There is also the tiresome buzz and irritating ping of a mobile phone. Not to mention the nagging urge to answer that unimportant message or browse for another trivial fact.
The answer? Turn off the phones and banish them out of sight before settling down. Free of their digital shackles, guests can turn their undivided attention to the food, the wine and, most important of all, to the circle of friends and family around the table.
The Art of Conversation
Speaking of food and wine, Port is of course the most versatile wine of all. Sharing a cheeseboard while sipping a glass of Port is one of life’s great pleasures. And we should never forget how perfectly Port can pair with many desserts.
There are few matches as delicious as a Taylor’s 10 Year Old with a slice of apple pie or almond tart. Or a Taylor’s LBV with a plate of chocolate brownies. But it is in that magical moment when the coffee cups have been cleared away and the conversation begins to flow that Port really comes into its own.
The great French writer Alexandre Dumas once wrote that dinner is not just about food. It is also about good conversation, which “should sparkle with the rubies of the wine between courses and be deliciously suave with the sweetness of the dessert”.
And, he might have added, reach sublime heights with the Port. For there is nothing quite like Port to inspire the art of good conversation.
Finishing the Symphony
When Schubert failed to finish his famous 8th Symphony, he deprived the work and his audience of its crowning moment. It would be unwise to follow in his footsteps and cut short an evening of relaxation, enjoyment and friendship by forgetting to serve the Port.
So, of the many styles of Port available, which would be the best choice to bring a family gathering to a memorable conclusion? Our suggestion would be Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage with its seductive deep ruby colour and fine fruity aromas.
A glass of Taylor’s LBV is the perfect way to enhance those special moments at the end of a family meal. To make the experience even more delicious, why not enjoy it with a slice of Stilton cheese or perhaps a plate of dark chocolate truffles?
One thing is certain. No-one will be in any hurry to switch their phone back on.