Prime Port & Cigar Pairings

THREE PRICE POINTS SUITED FOR ANY POCKETBOOK

Elegance. Pearls and lace. Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Port and cigars. The meal is over, relaxed guests retire to cozy corners to chat, and, unless relegated to the patio, just a few head down the hall to the parlor to partake in that traditional pleasure.

Do you wonder how party hosts select cigars and their sidekick ports? Do you know that cigars have tasting notes? Did it ever occur to you to try the art of pairing a cigar with a port? I consulted three aces to help me compose a guide for matching first-rate cigars of all price categories with compatible ports.

THE EXPERTS:

Brenda Roberts, Owner, BakerStreet Tobacconist, Clocks & Unique Gifts

Christina Vinci, Manager, BakerStreet

Roy Salazar, Chef and Wine Instructor

BakerStreet Tobacconist Clocks & Unique gifts is a petite and charming stop in the heart of Napa, California. Owned for 21 years by Brenda Roberts, the shop was transformed from a cigars-only store into a successful gift boutique.

Gentlemen appreciate the opportunity to purchase cutting edge handbags or other sophisticated gifts, while indulging in their own luxuries.

Ladies enjoy distinctive eye candy and some might even browse the humidor themselves. Currently women account for almost two percent of cigar smokers, up from a mere 1/10 of 1% in the mid 1980s, according to the Cigar Association of America.

When I walked into BakerStreet seeking gifts and information, I encountered Christina Vinci, the store’s friendly young manager. Like a living database, Ms. Vinci rattled off cigars within different price categories that nicely accompany port wines, and was able to explain each cigar’s flavor profile. I later contacted owner Brenda Roberts, who confirmed Ms. Vinci’s picks and added a few of her own, providing vivid imagery in her descriptions. Roberts’ passion for her product is apparent.

Chef Roy Salazar continues to serve as an advisor for my pairing articles. His teaching experience at San Francisco’s Culinary Academy has included Advanced Wine. He instructs his students that matching fluids with solids also applies to fluids with a solid called cigars, and pairing principles closely match those for food.

Below, I employ the brilliance of my three professionals to provide you with attractive port and cigar options. Price ranges for cigars reflect their size differences.