Goa has a rich history of port wine. Apart from many other liquors, port wine is a drink that is associated with Goa. Let’s get into a rendezvous with the strangely familiar home-made port wine of Goa.
The Back Story
Port wine – Vinho do Porto – was first brought to Goa by the Portuguese in the 16th century.
Since the Portuguese had come to Goa about two centuries before port was invented, they couldn’t have brought the wine with them – the drink must have arrived here only in the early 1700s. However, local production of fortified wines would have commenced much earlier as demand was bound to have outstripped supply, given that the sailing ships of those days could come only once a year from Europe.
Marketed by the local Costas Company, Vinicola port wine is a silky wine in dry, semi-dry and sweet varieties both as a table and fortified wines. Port wine is often served at Goan banquets and other functions. Also available in portable packs to take home as gifts for friends. Martin’s Corner in Betalbatim serves port wine. It is a typical sweeter version of the red wine, often served as a dessert wine.
Bringing it to your table
Goan Port Wines were the first wines produced in modern India. : The first unit was set up in 1965 cakked Vinicola by Ivo da Costa behind his beautiful 100-year old Portuguese-style bungalow on the outskirts of Margao. Vinicola is still there, now managed by grandson Rahul, churning out a port-style wine using traditional methods, and retails for all of Rs 250 per bottle.
Port Wine comes in a variety of styles, from dry to sweet, and is produced using almost any grape. It became popular in England from 1703 onwards as its wars with France deprived English consumers of French wines and brandies. English Wine Merchants Wine brought Port Wine into existence to create an alternative (and cheaper) libation to French wines – with English names of most famous Port companies: Cockburn, Dow, Croft, Gould, Graham, Osborne, Sandeman, Taylor, and Warre.
The common thread cojoining these timeless country liquor since ages – Feni and Port Wine – are moving into the new century with parallelly with exotic and international liquor brands. With their definitive and organic flavour, mixologist and bartenders are experimenting and inventing unique and flavoursome cocktails. One can visit the well-known bars and pubs around to experience this exception and surreal ‘spirit’ of Goa.
Setting the scene
There’ is no comparison to the experience of sipping a wine cocktail watching the sun going down on a serene fabled beaches of Goa. Just good wine, your thoughts and sound of the waves. This moment and experience is something that cannot be replicated anywhere else in India.
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