Dalva White Porto Wine Portugal 75 cl 19%

In Vila Nova de Gaia, where the Douro river meets the Atlantic, the cellars of C. da Silva have stood since 1862, letting Port wine rest in cool half-darkness. Dalva is the house's name to the world - a contraction of the surname "da Silva", born from one man's dream of building something lasting after years spent in Brazil. In this white Port, that story sits quiet and golden in the glass.

Expert's Description

Dalva White Port is a White Port from the Douro, matured in oak casks and bottled at 19%. The wine comes from C. da Silva (Vinhos) S.A., a Port house founded in 1862 in Vila Nova de Gaia, where the company's present name and direction were set early in the 20th century, when Clemente da Silva took over the firm through marriage.

The Dalva name was registered as a trademark in 1934 - a contraction of "da Silva" - shortly after Clemente da Silva returned home from a spell in Brazil to pursue his dream of a world-class wine house. Today Dalva is best known for its white Ports and Colheita releases, which spend years maturing in cask in the damp cellars along the river.

This bottling is made from old vines, mainly the Gouveio and Malvasia Fina grape varieties from the Douro valley. The wine matures for an average of around three years in wood, which gives it its golden colour and a soft, rounded sweetness - neither as dry as an Extra Dry nor as sweet as a Lágrima, but somewhere in between, exactly as a classic white Port should be.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit, baked apple and dried flowers on the nose, with a faint trace of honey underneath.

Palate

Full-bodied and soft on the palate, with flavours of apricot, creme brulee and a light nuttiness of almonds, carried by a pleasant sweetness that never turns cloying.

Finish

The finish is long and smooth, with a light acidity that keeps the sweetness in check and leaves a clean, fresh close.

Specifications

Name: Dalva White Port
Distillery: Dalva (C. da Silva)
Region/Country: Douro, Portugal
Type: White Port
ABV: 19%
Size: 75 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Bottled: NV (non-vintage)
EAN no.: 5603003112036
Serving suggestion: Serve chilled at 6-7°C in a Port wine glass, as an aperitif or with almonds and hard cheese.

Flavour Profile

Sweet · Fruity · Nutty · Smooth

Did You Know?

Dalva holds one of the world's most unusual stocks of white Colheita Ports - some vintages date all the way back to 1952, 1963 and 1971, and they are still sold today as some of the house's most sought-after bottles.

See our full range of Dalva

Frequently Asked Questions about Dalva White Port

What does Dalva White Port taste like?

It tastes soft and golden, with notes of apricot, almonds and a light caramel sweetness from creme brulee. The nose offers dried fruit and baked apple, and the finish is clean and refreshing without turning cloying.

Should Dalva White Port be served cold, and in what glass?

Yes, it should be served well chilled, ideally between 6 and 7 degrees, to bring out the fresh fruit notes. Use a Port wine glass that gathers the aroma without overfilling the glass.

Is Dalva White Port sweet or dry?

It sits in between - neither an Extra Dry nor the sweet Lágrima style, but a balanced White Port with noticeable, though not overwhelming, sweetness. That makes it equally suited as an aperitif or with dessert.

What's the difference between white and red Port?

White Port is made exclusively from white grape varieties such as Gouveio and Malvasia Fina, while red Port - ruby and tawny - is made from red grapes such as Touriga Nacional. The result is a lighter, fresher style with more citrus and dried fruit rather than dark berries and spice. See our full range of Port Wine to compare the styles.

Can Dalva White Port be used in cocktails?

Yes, white Port is classically used in a Portonic - a simple drink with tonic, ice and a slice of lemon that lifts the fresh fruit notes. See the full Portonic recipe here.

How long does an opened bottle of Dalva White Port keep?

An opened bottle keeps well in the fridge for two to three weeks, since fortification makes the wine more stable than an ordinary white wine. Keep the cork snug and taste it along the way - Port gradually loses its freshness but rarely turns bad outright.

What is C. da Silva known for?

C. da Silva is one of the classic Port houses of Vila Nova de Gaia, particularly known for its extremely old white Colheita Ports and for holding a high standard of quality without a high price tag. The house has produced Port wine since 1862 and owns its own vineyards in the Douro valley.