No. Tawny is sweet too, like Ruby; its notes of nuts and caramel can make it seem less sweet, but it is still a sweet fortified wine. Dry white Ports do exist, but Tawny is not one of them.

What does '20 years old' mean on a Tawny?

It is an age statement: the wine is a blend of several vintages, and the tasting panel of the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP) approves it as showing the style of a Tawny of that age; the rules set neither an average age nor a minimum time in cask. It does not mean that all the wine in the bottle is exactly 20 years old.

Where do LBV and Vintage fit in?

Both belong to the Ruby family and come from a single harvest. Vintage is bottled young and evolves in bottle, so it often throws a sediment and is best decanted; LBV is bottled later, between the fourth and sixth year after the harvest, and is usually ready to drink sooner.

Comparison

Ruby Port vs Tawny Port

Ruby or Tawny Port: the same sweet fortified wine from the Douro with different ageing. How they differ in colour, aroma, age statements and food pairing, and how to list them.

Ruby and Tawny are the two main families of red Port, the fortified wine made in the Douro Valley in northern Portugal under the Porto designation of origin. Both are made from red Douro grapes and share the same method: fermentation is halted with grape spirit, so the wine keeps some of the grape's natural sugar and gains alcohol. What sets them apart is ageing: Ruby aims to keep the colour and fruit of youth, while Tawny evolves in wood towards amber tones and oxidative aromas. LBV and Vintage also belong to the Ruby side; Tawnies with an age statement and Colheitas belong to the Tawny side.

Comparison table

Aspect	Ruby Port	Tawny Port
Grapes	A blend of red Douro varieties such as Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Tinta Barroca or Tinto Cão	The same red Douro varieties; the difference lies in the ageing, not the grapes
Origin	Porto designation of origin, Douro Valley (northern Portugal)	The same designation and the same region
Method and ageing	Fermentation stopped with grape spirit; short ageing, usually in large vats or tanks with little contact with air, to keep colour and fruit	The same method; oxidative ageing in smaller wooden casks, often for many years
Colour	Deep ruby red, sometimes with purple hints	Tawny, amber or golden brown, paler with age
Style and body	Sweet, fruity and full-bodied, with some tannic grip	Sweet, silkier and smoother, with a long finish
Aromas	Red and black fruit: cherry, plum, blackberry	Nuts (walnut, almond), dried figs, caramel and spice
Serving temperature	Approx. 14-16 °C	Approx. 10-14 °C, slightly cooler than Ruby
On the list	Basic Ruby is often among the most affordable Ports; versatile with chocolate and red-fruit desserts	From young Tawnies to Tawnies with an age statement, such as 10, 20, 30 or 40 years old; the price usually rises with the stated age

Key differences

1
Ruby is aged only briefly, in large vats or tanks with little contact with air; Tawny ages in smaller casks, where it slowly oxidises.
2
Ruby keeps a deep red colour; Tawny turns amber and brick-brown, growing paler the older it is.
3
On the nose, Ruby smells of red and black fruit; Tawny of nuts, dried figs, caramel and spice.
4
On the palate, Ruby is fruitier and has more grip; Tawny is silkier and smoother, although both are sweet.
5
Tawnies can carry an age statement such as 10, 20, 30 or 40 years, while the Ruby family includes categories such as Reserve, LBV and Vintage.

Which one to recommend?

When to recommend Ruby Port

Recommend it to guests who want a sweet, fruity and easy-to-understand wine with chocolate or red-fruit desserts. It is also a good first introduction to Port.

View entry: Ruby Port

When to recommend Tawny Port

Recommend it to guests who prefer notes of nuts and caramel, with almond or walnut desserts, crème caramel or aged cheeses. A Tawny with an age statement is a good choice for a long, relaxed end to the meal.

View entry: Tawny Port

On the wine list

Don't just write 'Port': state the style (Ruby, Tawny, LBV, Vintage), the age for a Tawny with an age statement and the year for an LBV, a Vintage or a Colheita.
Offering a Ruby and a Tawny by the glass lets guests compare the two styles; Tawny, already used to oxygen, usually keeps longer once opened than Ruby.
Suggest them on the dessert menu next to each dish: Ruby with chocolate and red fruit, Tawny with nuts, caramel and cheese.

Food pairings

Ruby Port

Dark chocolate desserts
Red or forest fruit tarts
Blue cheeses
Fresh figs

Tawny Port

Almond or walnut tart
Crème caramel or crema catalana
Aged cheeses
Foie gras

Frequently asked questions

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