Notes:

• Producer: Founded in 1638, Kopke describes itself as the oldest Port wine house. Its history began when Nicolau Köpke settled in Portugal after traveling from Hamburg in 1636; two years later, the first wines bearing the family name were shipped to northern Europe. The company expanded from wine merchant to producer with the purchase of a Douro property in 1781, and Port eventually became the center of the business. Today, Kopke remains particularly associated with wood-aged Ports, including its extensive range of aged Tawnies and Colheitas. The 10 Years Old Tawny sits near the beginning of that range and offers a clear introduction to the house’s long-established approach to extended cask aging and blending.
• Vineyard: The wine is produced from traditional Douro grape varieties grown in the Douro Valley. Kopke describes vineyards planted on the region’s traditional horizontal terraces as well as more modern vinha ao alto, where rows run vertically up the slopes. Soils are predominantly schist-sandstone (greywacke), with granite appearing in some areas, and vineyard elevations extend as high as approximately 600 meters. Rather than representing one vineyard or vintage, this is a multi-year blend designed around the character developed through long aging in wood.
• Winemaking: The defining feature of the wine is its extended maturation in oak casks. Individual wines spend different lengths of time in wood before being selected and blended by winemaker Carlos Alves. Importantly, “10 Years Old” does not mean every component has been aged exactly ten years: under the aged Tawny system, the stated age represents the average age and character of the wines in the final blend. Long oxidative maturation gradually changes both the color and flavor profile, moving the wine toward the amber, dried-fruit, spice, nut and wood tones characteristic of mature Tawny Port. Kopke’s technical sheet describes a golden color with an amber rim and a profile built around dried fruit, spice, honey and wood.
• Technical Details: A non-vintage 10 Years Old Tawny Port produced from traditional Douro varieties. Alcohol is 20% ABV, with a pH of 3.58, total acidity of 4.38 g/L, and reducing sugars of 114 g/L. The wine is made under the Port appellation in Portugal’s Douro region and is intended to be enjoyed after its maturation and blending rather than requiring further bottle aging. Kopke recommends serving it at approximately 12–14°C. Once opened, the producer recommends drinking the bottle within roughly four to six months, making this a particularly practical style of Port to keep on hand.
• Food Pairing: The combination of sweetness, dried fruit, spice and oxidative complexity makes this a natural partner for walnuts and other toasted nuts, caramel or toffee desserts, chocolate, aged cheeses and foie gras. Kopke specifically recommends foie gras with walnuts, toffee brownies, chocolate and pistachio desserts, and walnut crostini with chèvre. Slightly chilled service helps keep the sweetness balanced and emphasizes the wine’s freshness.