Join Us: Taste selections from Sandeman Porto Wines

Founded in 1790 by George Sandeman, The House of Sandeman began as a London wine merchant specializing in Port and Sherry. At a time when wine brands were uncommon, Sandeman marked its shipping casks with the initials “GSC” to identify their origin. The business grew across generations of the Sandeman family, earning a reputation closely tied to the family motto Stat veritas—“truth stands.”

Sandeman has been known for aged Tawny Port since the 19th century, when it was already setting aside fine wines to mature in its cool cellars. Those cellars, on the Douro riverfront in Vila Nova de Gaia, remain central to the house’s story. In the Douro Valley, its historic Quinta do Seixo estate is home to vineyards and a winery where Sandeman produces wines including Vintage Port.

The house’s history is visible on its bottles, too. Sandeman was an early adopter of bottling, labeling, and advertising its wines, and in 1928 introduced “The Don”—the cloaked figure in a Spanish hat that became its signature image. Join us for a tasting that brings together Sandeman’s Port wines and the people, places, and traditions behind them.

TASTING SELECTIONS:

Sandeman Founder’s Reserve Ruby Port

Sandeman Founder’s Reserve is a classic Ruby Port named in honor of the brand’s founder. It is blended from selected lots aged typically 3–5 years, resulting in an average age of about 4 years. Sandeman Founder’s Reserve remains one of the most widely available and consistently rated Ruby Ports, known for its vibrant fruit, smooth finish, and reliable quality. 

Excellent with cheeses, chocolate desserts, or enjoyed on its own.

• Decanter: 90 points
• Wilfred Wong: 90 points

Sandeman Fine Ruby Port

Descended from the fiery Ruby Porto wines originally shipped by George Sandeman in 1790, Sandeman Ruby Porto is still made traditionally, to be rich and robust, yet with a special depth of flavor and the finesse, achieved by expertly blending wines from Sandeman's large and varied stock.

Sandeman Rainwater Madeira

Medium light amber colour with pronounced golden highlights. Clean nutty aromas, very agreeable light complexity. Medium dry in flavour, nutty and slightly complex, with a good clean finish. Brilliant wine - a good quality young Madeira in evolution.

Sandeman Fine Rich Madeira

Sandeman Fine Rich Madeira is made in the traditional way, on the Atlantic island of Madeira. The rich soil and volcanic subsoil give this wine a unique character which is enhanced by the winemaking and ageing in «estufas».

Sandeman Tawny Port 20 Years

Attractive toasted nut and orange blossum, caramel, spice, youthful finish. Made from a blend of touriga franca, touriga nacional, tinta roriz and tinta barroca, Sandeman Tawny Port 20 Years Old is aged in wooden casks at Sandeman's cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.