Colour profile analysis of Port wines by various instrumental and visual methods.

Background: Wine colour is an important quality parameter, being the first sensorial attribute evaluated during wine tasting. The perception of wine colour can be different depending on many factors, including the depth of the sample under observation. The main objectives of the present study were to measure the colour of Port wines using CIE L*, a*, b* parameters at different depths with various instrumental techniques (spectrophotometry and colorimetry), and to compare the obtained results with the sensory (visual) perception of colour samples.

The terroir of Port wine: Two hundred and sixty years of history.

Port wine is an internationally acclaimed fortified wine produced in Douro Demarcated Region (DDR) in Portugal, and recognized with protected designation of origin. This review represents a compilation of the known chromatic and aromatic descriptors of Port wine. A comprehensive review of literature is performed regarding the influence of geography, climate, soil, grapevine cultivars, and vitivinicultural practices on the unique Port wine attributes.