Our Hastings Reserve is made in the style of a Ruby Port, emphasizing both youthful fruit and a maturity of flavor. We bottle it as a non-vintage wine, blending a variety of both grapes and vintages to achieve a balanced wine that is ready to drink when bottled.
We make our Hastings Reserve in a traditional method of stopping the fermentation of sugars to alcohol with the addition of high proof brandy, leaving the natural sweetness of the grapes to balance the level of alcohol achieved. Our port is then aged in old American oak barrels, sometimes up to 8 years in barrel before blending for bottling.
In France, ports are often served before the meal as an aperitif as a means of stimulating the appetite. Plan on serving a smaller portion, 3 – 4 ounces per person in a small, sherry style glass or a small wine glass. This is a good time to get out those old, decorative glasses you inherited from your Grandmother.
In the US, we have the habit of serving sweet wines with dessert. Try a single glass of port alone in place of dessert, or add a chocolate truffle or cookie to make a simple, elegant finish to any meal.
Style: Ruby Port
Alcohol: 18%
Residual Sweetness: 8%
Grapes: Maréchal Foch, Frontenac, Leon Millot (Minnesota Estate Grown)
Cellar: Drink now or age up to 5 years. An open bottle will stay fresh for up to 3 months.
Food Match: Blue cheese, chocolate desserts, dried fruits, nut tarts
