The House of Sandeman

Port wine is a fortified wine produced exclusively in the Douro Valley in the northern provinces of Portugal. It typically has a sweet, rich flavor and is often consumed as a dessert wine. The history of fortified Portuguese wine dates back to the 17th century when England and France were at war. The English, wanting to replace French wines, began importing wine from Portugal. However, since maritime transport took considerable time, Portuguese wine producers started experimenting with adding brandy to the wine, which allowed them to halt the fermentation process and preserve the natural sweetness.

The House of Sandeman is one of the producers of Portuguese port wine. It was founded in London in 1790 by George Sandeman, a young Scotsman from Perth. At the beginning of his business, George dealt with the trade of wine from Portuguese Porto and Spanish Jerez. Thanks to his entrepreneurship, the Sandeman brand became one of the most recognizable port wine brands in the world. Today, after more than 230 years, Sandeman is present in over 75 countries, offering a rich portfolio of port, sherry, and Madeira wines. The brand is known for the high quality of its products and has been the most awarded brand of aged Tawnies in recent years.

While in Porto, you really must visit the wine cellars. Entering the Sandeman cellars is not only an opportunity to see many barrels, each of the largest holding over 20,000 liters of wine. It is also an opportunity to see the most valuable bottles dating back to the 17th century, taste several types of wine, and almost get intoxicated by the aroma of wine as soon as you walk in! And all of this is in the company of a guide who tells about the history of the House of Sandeman, types of port wine, and the methods of its production.

By the way, since these 17th-century bottles intrigue you: no, you can't simply buy these bottles. Individual bottles are only rarely auctioned, and their price then reaches several thousand euros. What's worse, opened wine should be consumed within 48 hours... So, I'll stick with my favorite vintage of 2023 for now ;)

The Houst of Sandeman is located here.