When you're heading to that next holiday party how about bringing a bottle of port that will arouse the interest of your friends and family! We recommend a Long Island Duck Walk Vineyards 2000 Blueberry Port, which accompanies and compliments many varieties of after dinner desserts such as cheesecakes and chocolate cakes.
Ports are historically known to have originated in Portugal, and all ports had to come from that region to be considered ports. Times have changed and now the traditional methods to produce ports have been replicated throughout the globe and many different areas are now offering ports such as the Duck Walk Vineyard on Long Island.
The two types I will briefly explain are the Vintage Port and Tawny Port.
A Vintage Port is comprised of the thickest and darkest noble rotted grape, which is in essence a raisin on the vine. These are then femented and aged in wooden barrels for approximately 12 - 18 months and then bottle aged which means most of the aging process takes place in the bottle. This type of port is very dark and full of robust hearty flavors with the sediment settling towards the bottom of the bottle.
A Tawny Port is also comprised of noble rotted grapes, which are then fermented and aged, primarily in wooden casks for a period of approximately 5 to 10 years and sometimes even longer. They are then filtered and then bottled. This will give this variety of port a lighter color and a sweeter flavor than the Vintage variety of port. This variety will also have very little or no sediment at all.
The Duck Walk Vineyards 2000 Blueberry Port uses hand picked wild mountain blueberries from Maine and were picked in the cool of the early morning dew. These mountain blueberries are small, concentrated and brimming with flavor. Following fermentation they are aged in small French Oak barrels for one year and bottle aged for an additional year.
Approximate serving size for most varieties of port are 2 1/2 to 3 ounces as the alcohol content is higher than that of a glass of wine.
When you're heading to than next hoiday party how about making a dessert that will blow their socks off!
Ultimate Pumpkin Cheesecake with Ginger Snap Cookie Crust
12 oz. cream cheese
2 cups sour cream
1 can ready made pumpkin pie mix
1 cup sugar
2 tbs. dark brown sugar
2 tbs. cornstarch
1 tsp. of cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. clove
1/4 cup milk
4 whole eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until lumps are gone. Then combine the milk, eggs and vanilla extract to the mixture until smooth, and then pour into pie crust.
For the crust:
1 package of ginger snap cookies ground up.
6 tbls. of melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
Combine ingredients together and press into a spring form pan or pie pan.
Bake in water bath at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours then turn off oven and let cool for 30 minutes in the oven. This will prevent pie from cracking.
This is sure to be a hit at any holiday affair this season!
Both the Pumpkin cheesecake and Duck Walk Blueberry port are available at John Henry's American Pub in Long Beach! Enjoy your holidays and remember to drive safe this holiday season! Enjoy! Tom and Gabriel at John Henry's American Pub, 150 East Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY 11561. (516) 897-9551.