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Best ports to enjoy with chocolate, cheese and more this Christmas, from £14.25
The expert-approved ports to buy now
Tested by Harriet KingTester
Whether you prefer white, tawny or vintage, there's a port to suit every taste and budget.
The Good Housekeeping Institute has taste tested 48 bottles from all the leading supermarkets and big-name brands to see which ones are worth stocking up on for the year ahead (because no, port is not just for Christmas).
And happily, our picks start from just £14.25.
Best port for 2026
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Different types of port — explained
- White port – Best served cold, white port is delicious and refreshing with a splash of tonic water, and makes a great alternative to your beloved G&T. Often drunk as an aperitif, we recommend serving it with a side of salted almonds.
- Rosé port – Just like rosé wine, here you can expect to find notes of strawberries and raspberries, alongside a caramel sweetness. Cheese, chocolate, fruity puddings and sorbet are all excellent pairings – serve ice cold for maximum enjoyment.
- Tawny port – The name refers to the colour the wine turns after ageing. To have this label, they must be at least two years old, but you’ll also find much older examples, such as our winning 10-year-old (below). The age statement means the liquid is a blend of vintages with an average barrel ageing. Flavours here tend to be nuttier, and can include caramel, cinnamon and chocolate.
- Ruby port – These tend to be inexpensive, deep ruby-coloured, and often paired with a cheeseboard. Within this category, you’ll find your slightly more premium reserve ports, late bottled vintage port (otherwise known as LBV, these are aged for longer but still designed to be drunk young) and vintage ports.
How we test port
To find the best port, the Good Housekeeping Institute's panel of WSET-trained experts and consumers tried 48 bottles – from white to ruby – from the leading supermarkets and big brands. Each was tasted blind to prevent brand bias, and our experts were looking for easy-drinking styles that would work well either savoured straight-up or paired with food.
These are our top-rated ports to add to your drinks trolley.
Morrisons The Best Aged Tawny Port
Morrisons The Best Aged Tawny Port
Score: 85/100
Taking the top spot, Morrisons’ warming tawny port is deliciously rich and complex, with notes of toasted almonds, chocolate and caramel. Try serving it with hard cheese or Christmas pudding.
| Volume | 75cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 20% |
Sandeman 10 Year Old Tawny Port
Sandeman 10 Year Old Tawny Port
Score: 84/100
Sandeman’s barrel-aged 10-year-old tawny is elegant, rich, and fruity. Bursting with dates, walnuts and light caramel, we’ll be serving it with chocolate desserts and mature cheese.
| Volume | 75cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 20% |
Cockburns Vat & Barrel Reserve Tawny Port
Cockburns Vat & Barrel Reserve Tawny Port
Score: 81/100
Looking for something a little more modern? As the name suggests, Cockburn’s latest expression blends vat and barrel-aged wines together, to create a fresh, fruity port with bags of complexity. The result is a riot of cherry, dates and fruitcake. Enjoy it over ice, or even in cocktails.
| Volume | 75cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 20% |
Exceptional by ASDA Late Bottled Vintage Port
Exceptional by ASDA Late Bottled Vintage Port
Score: 80/100
This LBV port from ASDA proved the best buy in this category and the best value overall, appealing to those with a sweet tooth. With delicious red fruit, warming spice and a hint of caramel, it's made for the cheeseboard.
| Volume | 75 |
|---|---|
| ABV | 20% |
Waitrose No.1 Reserve Tawny Port from Symington
Waitrose No.1 Reserve Tawny Port from Symington
Score: 80/100
Made for Waitrose by Symington, this tawny port scored well with our panel, who described it as ‘rich and inviting’. With notes of dried fruit, honey and spice, it’s a delicious way to round off a festive meal.
| Volume | 75cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 20% |
Kopke 10-Year-Old White Port
Score: 78/100
While an un-aged white port, such as Kopke’s Fine White Port, tends to be served with tonic as the ultimate refreshing aperitif, this is an altogether more serious proposition.
With notes of dried apricot, spice and vanilla, you could pair it with everything from earthy, mushroom starters and nutty hard cheese, through to apple crumble.
| Volume | 75cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 20% |
Score: 75/100
Picture the scene: a glass of this excellent value tawny port, a slab of extra-strong stilton and a roaring fire – cute dog at your feet optional. Heaven! Rich and well-rounded, with notes of strawberry jam and toffee – it’s worth stocking up while you can.
| Volume | 75cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 20% |
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 10 Year Old Tawny Port
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 10 Year Old Tawny Port
Score: 72/100
We think Sainsbury’s 10-year-old tawny is the perfect smooth sip to savour with your chocolate Advent calendar. With cherry, dried fruit and a touch of dark chocolate, it’s got it all.
| Volume | 75cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 20% |
Score: 71/100
If you're looking for a super special gift, we have this 2003 bottling, a vintage year as declared by all the major port houses. Croft’s elegant example is the most expensive bottle we tested, and one for the true connoisseur.
With notes of plum, blackcurrant, chocolate and caramel, we’d pair this with a cheeseboard and quince jelly.
| Volume | 75cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 20% |
Quinta do Noval Late Bottled Vintage Port 2018
Score: 70/100
Qunita do Noval’s unfiltered LBV may need decanting before serving with cheese or chocolate (or both!), but you’ll be rewarded with plenty of complexity. Rich and generous with dark cherry, blackberry, and dark chocolate, it’s Christmas in a glass.
| Volume | 75cl |
|---|---|
| ABV | 20% |
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
