🍷 Graham's

Graham's is a Port house with its lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia, across the Douro from Porto. According to the house, it was founded in 1820 by the brothers William and John Graham; Wikidata gives the same year. In 1882 Andrew James Symington came from Scotland to work for the Graham family, and in 1890 the firm acquired Quinta dos Malvedos in the Douro valley.

According to the house, it makes Vintage Port, including the single-quinta wines Quinta dos Malvedos and Quinta do Tua, aged Tawnies from 10 to 50 years old, Late Bottled Vintage and the Six Grapes reserve ruby. In 1970 the grandsons of Andrew James Symington bought the company from the Graham family; Wikidata names Symington Family Estates as the owner.

According to the house, its grapes come from four Douro properties: Quinta dos Malvedos, Quinta do Tua, Quinta da Vila Velha and Quinta do Vale de Malhadas. The house states that its finest ports are made each year in a specialist winery at Quinta dos Malvedos, using sustainable, minimal-intervention methods where possible.

The house divides its range into Vintage Port, Single Harvest Tawny, Aged Tawny with age statements of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 80 years, Reserve Ruby, Late Bottled Vintage, the Blend Series (Blend Nº5 and Blend Nº12) and a Classic line with Fine Ruby, Fine Tawny, Fine White and Extra Dry White. Its lodge, which the house dates to 1890, holds all of its wines while they age and offers a museum, a bottle cellar and tutored tastings.

Port is a wine with a protected designation of origin (PDO) from the Douro Demarcated Region. Grape spirit stops the fermentation, so at least 17.5 g/l of sugar remains; the strength is 19–22% vol.

Why it matters to you. Vintage, LBV and the age of a Tawny are set by the rules, while names such as “Six Grapes” are the house's own. The WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol.