One of the beverages which has been lost from popular consumption since the late Colonial Period is White Port. While not as common as Rum, Madeira and Red Port, it was still a fairly common imported beverage in late colonial Annapolis.
Today White Port is still available and Warre's White Port is one very nice bottle to enjoy for anyone wishing to sample this wine. Warre & Company was founded in 1670 and in 1729 became known as Warre when William Warre joined as a partner.
Their White Port is made from a blend of traditional Portuguese varieties from the Douro Valley. After about 48 hours of fermentation to reach the desired sweetness of the wine, Brandy is added to fortify the wine. The wine is aged an average of 3 years in oak casks and is ready to drink when bottles.
This wine is a pale straw color, with a smooth, delicate nose and fruity palate with a long crisp finish. It is an excellent wine to drink during the day when Red Port might be a bit too rich, as well as an excellent accompaniment to food.
Merchants in Annapolis imported and sold White Port as seen in this advertisement from such as Charles Wallace & Company in the Maryland Gazette on June 7, 1764.
Other merchants, such as Baltimore merchant Archibald Buchanan, would place orders with Wallace Davidison & Johnson of Annapolis, to import White Port on their behalf. This was done in 1773 when they placed an order for one gross of good White Port.
The selling of White Port was not limited to merchants. William Aikman, book seller and stationer in Annapolis advertised a few gross of White Port for sale in the Maryland Gazette on June 2, 1774.
So if you are looking for a slightly different taste of the 18th century, pour yourself a glass of White Port and enjoy. I know I will be enjoying many more bottles of White Port in the future!
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