''Port wine'' (also known as ''Vinho do Porto'', ''Oporto'', ''Porto'', and often simply ''Port'') is a sweet Portuguese wine Portuguese fortified wine from the Douro Douro Valley in the Norte, Portugal northern provinces of Portugal. It is often served as a dessert wine. Several imitations of Port are produced around the world in several countries & most notably Australia, South Africa], India, Canada and the United States. However, under European Union guidelines (and in Canada), only the product from Portugal may be labelled as ''Port''. In the United States, Federal law mandates that the Portuguese-made product be labeled ''Porto'' or ''Vinho do Porto''.

Port is produced from grapes grown and processed in the Douro region. The wine produced is then fortified with the addition of distilled grape spirits in order to boost the alcohol content. The wine is then stored and aging aged, often in barrels stored in ''caves'' (''Portuguese'' meaning "cellars") as is the case in Vila Nova de Gaia, before being bottled. The wine received its name, "Port," in the latter half of the 17th century from the seaport city of Porto at the mouth of the Douro River, where much of the product was brought to market or for export to other countries in Europe from the Leixões docks. The Douro valley where Port wine is produced was defined and established as a protected region, or appellation in 1756; making it the second oldest defined and protected appellation wine region in the world.



''Sherry'' is a fortified wine, made in and around the town of Jerez, Spain and hence in Spanish Language it is called ''"Vino de Jerez"''. According to some people, however, the town of Shiraz in southeastern Iran was the birthplace of sherry.

Spanish producers have registered the names ''Jerez'' / ''Xérès'' / ''Sherry'' and will prosecute producers of similar fortified wines from other places using the same name. According to Spanish law ''Estatuto del Vino'' (Wine Law) established these boundaries as the first Spanish wine ''denominación''.

Today, Sherry's legal status is further regognised by wider QWPSR EU legislation, Sherry must come from the triangular area of the province of Cádiz (province) Cádiz between Jerez, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa María. However the name 'Sherry' is used as a semi-generic in the United States where it must be labeled with a region of origin such as American Sherry or California Sherry. In earlier times sherry was known as '''sack''' (a rendering of the Spanish ''saca'', meaning a removal from the solera).

Sherry differs from other wines because of how it is treated after fermentation (food) fermentation. After fermentation is complete, it is first fortified with brandy and then, if destined to be fino style, a yeast called flor is allowed to grow on top. Oloroso style is fortified to a strength where the flor cannot grow. Because the fortification takes place after fermentation, all natural sherries are dry; any sweetness is applied later.