San Antonio Winery California Port
Fortified dessert wine, sweet red style · San Antonio Winery, a historic family-owned and operated winery founded in 1917, located in the heart of Los Angeles, California. It is renowned as a resilient urban winery and a prominent producer of accessible, quality California wines, standing as the last remaining winery of its kind in Los Angeles.
Vintage: Non-Vintage (NV)
Type
Fortified dessert wine, sweet red style
Producer
San Antonio Winery, a historic family-owned and operated winery founded in 1917, located in the heart of Los Angeles, California. It is renowned as a resilient urban winery and a prominent producer of accessible, quality California wines, standing as the last remaining winery of its kind in Los Angeles.
Country
United States
Vintage
Non-Vintage (NV)
Region & Appellation
California, USA
Grape Varieties
A traditional blend of red wine grapes commonly used for port-style wines in California, often including varieties such as Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, and other classic Portuguese varietals or traditional red wine grapes.
Color & Appearance
Deep ruby-garnet core with tawny hints at the rim, showing medium-high viscosity and slow-moving, clinging legs that indicate its alcohol content and sugar concentration.
Aroma Profile
A rich and inviting bouquet featuring primary aromas of ripe blackberries, black cherries, and dark plums, complemented by secondary notes of warm fermentation warmth, and tertiary hints of dried fruit, cocoa, and subtle oak spice.
Tasting Notes
A luscious and warming initial impression on the palate, evolving into a rich mid-palate filled with dark fruit compote and chocolate nuances. The finish is long, warming, and pleasantly sweet with lingering hints of dried berries.
Flavor Profile
Flavors of ripe blackberry, black cherry, prune, and raisin, accented by notes of dark chocolate, sweet baking spices, and a touch of nutty, oxidized complexity typical of port-style wines.
Body & Texture
Full-bodied with a rich, velvety, and mouth-coating texture, offering high concentration and a generous, warming weight on the palate.
Acidity & Tannins
Moderate acidity that provides enough freshness to balance the sweetness, alongside soft, integrated, and low-perceived tannins that contribute to a smooth, rounded mouthfeel.
Sweetness Level
Sweet to lusciously sweet, with a notable amount of residual sugar balanced by the high alcohol content.
Alcohol Content
18.0% ABV
Aging & Oak
Aged in neutral oak vessels to allow oxidation and flavor concentration without imparting excessive wood tannin, enhancing the rich, mature character of the wine.
Food Pairings
Ideal with blue cheeses, rich chocolate desserts, pecan pie, or enjoyed on its own as a post-dinner digestif.
Serving Suggestions
Serve slightly chilled or at cool room temperature (around 60-65°F) in a standard port glass or small red wine glass. Drink now.
Price Range
15 to 25 USD
Quality Assessment
An accessible, everyday dessert wine offering solid value and reliable quality, scoring in the mid-80s range among casual consumers.
Production Methods
Fortification with neutral grape spirits during fermentation to arrest yeast activity, preserving natural grape sugars and elevating the alcohol content, followed by blending and aging.
Terroir
Sourced from warm California vineyard regions that allow grapes to reach high sugar ripeness and rich flavor profiles necessary for fortified wine production.
History & Heritage
Established in 1917 by Santo Cambianica, San Antonio Winery survived Prohibition by producing sacramental and medicinal wines, and it continues to operate continuously for over a century in Los Angeles.
Interesting Facts
San Antonio Winery is designated as Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #42 and remains the oldest producing winery in Los Angeles.
Cellaring Potential
Ready to drink upon purchase. While it can hold for a few years in a cool cellar, it is not designed for long-term cellaring like vintage Port.
Similar Wines
Ficklin Vineyards California Port, Quady Starboard, and various domestic port-style wines from California producers.