Question: What's An Inexpensive Substitute For Port?
By: Helen Pitlick
Published: March 4, 2010

A recipe I want to try calls for port, but I'm on a budget and port seems pricey. I've used Manishevitz in the past since it's sweet, but it's not as high in alcohol as port. Any suggestions?

Answers:
Jenny Richards

You can get some awfully cheap ports at the Wine Outlet here in Seattle, but as far as an alternative goes, what about Balsamic vinegar? It's not particularly sweet unless you start to go into the pricier aged ones - and by that point you'll be in the port-purchasing range. 
Or maybe you can combine a less expensive red wine with some Balsamic and a little sugar and cook it down a bit?
What are you planning to use it for? I guess that's the first question - because if it's simply a background flavor, some of these options would work. If you're talking about pears in port wine sauce, where the port is a lead player, that might be a different matter.
Chris Paulk

Not sure the quantity you would need. There are some very reasonably priced ports out there and if you are cooking it down it should be fine. If it is being cooked down you could try a cheap wine. I am pretty sure that port is a fortified wine (don't quote me though), so a bottle of T-Bird might be just fine. Try calling your nearest liquor store- they may have airline sized bottles of it.
Depending on what you are making you could use a stock or fruit juice in it's place. I currently have a bottle of Bolthouse Farms Acai-blueberry juice that would have a lot of flavor or a grape juice as port is fruity. You could add a little chocolate to get some of the richness that port has.
Helen Pitlick

Thanks! The recipe in question is pork chops with a port sauce: http://www.foodista.com/recipe/S3R6DRNL/pork-chops-with-blackberry-port-sauceI should look in an actual liquor store for inexpensive port-- I only browsed my local QFC-- but now that I have these intriguing suggestions I'm inclined to try them instead!
Barnaby Dorfman

Trader Joe's has port in the $5-6 range, about the same as Manishevitz. You might also try prune juice, when cooked it has a pretty similar profile.
Gabriel Cross

HUGE thumbs up on the Trader Joe's answer.  Trader Joe's has an amazing selection of wine that very high quality compared to the cost.  I don't buy wine at any other grocery store.  They even carry the exact same bottles for a buck or two less sometimes.  You can get a bottle of Port that is very nice for 6 bucks or less, I guarantee.
Another thought on a substitution, though, add some honey to a less sweet wine, or honey and balsamic vinegar.  You can also get excellent balsamic at TJs for a good price.
Flo

Helen -  Unless you make glatt kosher pork chops ;-) pass on the Manishevitz. In fact always pass on Manishevitz. As others pointed out - Port comes in a price range from $6 - $600 and more - go for low-end for cooking - get as decent as you can afford and treat yourself to a nice glass of port. (You can always blame the pork that you "had to buy it"). Enjoy.