NV Kopke - White Port 30 Year Old HALF BOTTLE (375ml)

Kopke is recognized as the oldest Port house in the world, founded in 1638 by German merchant Nicolau Kopke and his son Cristiano, who arrived in Portugal as representatives of the Hanseatic League, a northern European trading network. The company shipped its first bottles of wine that same year, and by 1781 had purchased its own vineyard land in the Douro Valley, transitioning from a trading house into a true wine producer. In 1922 Kopke acquired Quinta de São Luiz, a site the family still considers the jewel of their portfolio, and the estate has anchored the house's winemaking for the century since.

This bottling is made from traditional white grape varieties of the Douro, including Arinto, Viosinho, Gouveio, and Malvasia Fina, fermented in stainless steel with extended skin contact to build color and structure into the wine before fortification. The "30 Year Old" designation reflects the average age of the blend, which draws on wines matured for decades in Kopke's cellars, a rare style since aged white Ports are far less common than their red counterparts. This lengthy oxidative aging concentrates the wine while a naturally bright acidity keeps it from feeling heavy despite its considerable age.

The wine shows a light amber color with aromas of pear clafoutis and burnt sugar, layered with hazelnut, nutmeg, and orange zest. On the palate it is luscious and complex, with ripe pear-apple flavors giving way to a lingering, citrus-tinged finish that balances the wine's natural sweetness. Its nutty richness pairs beautifully with pâté, aged cheeses, or a plate of dried figs and walnuts.