Graham's Port - Vineyards, Winemaking, Best Wines (2024)
Curious about Graham’s Port and wondering which bottles to buy?
Founded over 200 years ago, W & J Graham’s is renowned for producing the finest Port wines the world has ever seen - a shining example of the Douro Valley story!
What makes Graham’s Port so unique? How can you get a bottle of this wine for your collection?
Starting with its history and moving our way to the winemaking techniques, let’s uncover everything you need to know about Graham’s Port.
We even have a list of the Eight Best Graham’s Port Wines for you to invest in.
What’s more? You will discover how you Can Easily Pick Up A Bottle Of Graham's Port For Your Collection.
Further reading
- Check out our comprehensive guide on how you can get started in the World Of Wine Investment.
- Also, do you need to find the Best Champagne for a celebration? We have the perfect list for you - we can even help you find the Perfect Glass To Serve It.
Quick Intro To Graham’s Port
Founded in 1820, W & J Graham’s Port is well known for producing an outstanding range of Aged Tawny Ports, Reserve, Late Bottled Vintage (LBV), and Quinta Vintage Ports.
W & J Graham was one of the first Port companies to invest in its own vineyards in the Douro Valley. This Port House owns five of the finest vineyards in this valley - all located in the region’s best wine-growing areas. (More about the vineyards in a bit!)
Each property has the highest “A” grade classification and grows a mix of old and new vines of Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Amarela, and Alicante Bouschet grapes.
Let’s take a quick look at where Graham’s Port started.
A Brief History Of Graham’s Port
The history of Graham’s Port wines starts with two families, both Scottish - the Grahams and the Symingtons.
The brothers William and John Graham originally founded their firm to trade in textiles. In 1820, the brothers received 27 barrels of Port as a payment for a debt. This triggered off the idea to make the best Douro Valley Port wines.
In 1882, Andrew James Symington sailed from Scotland to join the Graham family in Porto. Even though he left to work with Warre (Graham’s competitor) - this was the beginning of the Graham-Symington association.
Graham’s Port’s success culminated in 1890, and they bought the Quinta Dos Malvedos vineyard and built The Graham’s Lodge (working Port cellar) in Vila Nova de Gaia (near Oporto.)
Graham’s 1890 lodge is home to over 3500 seasoned oak casks, large oak casks, and an extensive Vintage Port cellar.
In 1970, Graham’s Port was put up for sale, and it was only natural for Andrew Symington’s grandsons to take over.
After nearly 50 years, Graham’s is now a well known global brand found in 80 countries worldwide.
They’ve also opened up Graham’s Port Lodge to the public so that you can take part in wine tasting and tours. You can also visit the VINUM Restaurant & Wine Bar at the Port Lodge.
Let’s take a tour of the vineyards.
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The Vineyards
The Douro Valley is known to be one of the most challenging wine-growing regions. It has steep, winding valleys and mountainous terrain that creates microclimates, which affect the taste and profile of the wine.
Let’s take a closer look at each vineyard.
A. Quinta Dos Malvedos
Quinta Dos Malvedos lies along the Douro river and is the original estate of Graham’s Port. It comprises over 89 hectares of vineyards which have the highest “A” grade classification.
Touriga Franca, a thick-skinned grape that thrives in the hot and dry conditions of the Upper Douro Valley, is the main grape varietal found here.
When the Touriga Franca ripens to absolute perfection, it is almost guaranteed that an exceptional Vintage Port would be made. In the interim, the grapes harvested are bottled as “Quinta Dos Malvedos Vintage Port.”
This vineyard also produces the grapes for Graham's original Port blends, a dessert wine with ripe plum flavors - Six Grapes.
B. Quinta Das Lages
Graham’s viticulturists have directly managed this independently-owned 71-hectare property for the past few decades.
Lages is also home to 3.7 hectares of organically certified vineyards, which produces the grapes for Graham’s Natura Organic Reserve Port.
Also read: A brunch or a get-together with friends on a hot summer’s day is not complete without a Refreshing Mimosa!
C. Quinta Do Vale De Malhadas
Malhadas is a remote estate nestled far up in the Douro Superior. The Symington family has preserved over 100 hectares of the original wild scrub and marked it as a conservation area.
The 32-hectare vineyard was bought in 1999 and became a significant resource for high-quality grapes.
A small proportion of the mixed plantings are over 50 years old, and the remainder is varietal batches of the Douro’s classic varieties.
D. Quinta Da Vila Velha
The breathtaking Vila Velha is just a stone’s throw away from Quinta dos Malvedos. Only 56 hectares of this 145-hectare estate is under vine - the remaining area has been left wild to preserve the natural flora and fauna.
Older vines are planted here with some small parcels of rarer, aromatic varieties such as Tinta Amarela and Alicante Bouschet.
E. Quinta Do Tua
Vines that are over 60 years old flourish in the Quinta Do Tua producing Vintage Ports that are concentrated, intense, and simply outstanding. Quinta Do Tua is the smallest of Graham’s vineyards at 60 hectares (only 28.2 ha under vine).
Touriga Nacional is now the most widely planted grape varietal in Tua and in the Vilariça Valley. This grape produces a range of dry red Douro DOC Altano Wines.
Also read: Looking for some red wine inspiration? Take a tour and discover the classic Italian wines: Chianti Wine and Barbera Wine.
Viticulture And Winemaking At Graham’s
At Graham’s, there’s a huge focus on sustainable practices. They’ve been conducting research to optimize fruit quality and reduce erosion. They’re also researching different grape varieties, rootstocks, clones, effects of pruning, minimal interventions to agriculture, and organic winemaking.
Only natural weed control and soil management techniques are used at their organically certified Quinta das Lages vineyard. Graham’s also plans to use these techniques at Quinta dos Malvedos to help them achieve organic certification for that vineyard.
Winemaking at Graham’s
Grahams Port wines are made using a good balance of traditional and modern methods.
This winemaker uses the traditional treading in stone Lagares (shallow treading tanks) to produce Graham’s Port wines before moving onto bottling.
The innovative winemaking team has also pioneered a groundbreaking method to tread the grapes. You can see this innovation at work at Quinta dos Malvedos where the world’s first modern Lagares operate next to the original ones.
This development was a huge advancement for winemaking in the Douro region.
Ready to feast your senses on some of the best Grahams’ Port wine you could buy?
The Best Graham’s Port To Buy In 2024
Here is a list of our favorites produced by Graham’s Port - perfect for your collection or as a gift for a wine collector.
1. W & J Graham's 'Ne Oublie' Tawny Port, Portugal
One of the most notable releases from Graham’s Port winery, this Tawny wine was part of three barrels that date back to Andrew James Symington’s arrival in 1882.
It first reveals ripe, round notes of dark walnuts and black cardamom. A bit later, the sweetness intensifies with layers of honey, caramel, sweet orange zest, spun sugar, dried apricot, marzipan, and nutty almond.
Price of W & J Graham's 'Ne Oublie' Tawny Port: $8774
2. W & J Graham's 90 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal
This Tawny Port has a deep honeyed nose with notes of dried apricot and dates.
You’ll be tasting a silky Port with layers of orange peel, toasted caramel, carray, black cardamom, clove, and toasted almonds on the palate. The aftertaste has a hint of salt and iodine.
Price of W & J Graham's 90 Year Old Tawny Port: $1193
3. W & J Graham's Malvedos Crusted Port, Portugal
The bouquet of this opaque purple Port has intense notes of dark plum, ripe blackberries, rock rose, and cigar box.
On the palate, enjoy the experience of dark chocolate and black fruit flavors, firm tannins, and a long finish.
Price of W & J Graham's Malvedos Crusted Port: $682
4. W & J Graham's Single Harvest Tawny Port, Portugal
The nose of this Single Harvest Tawny Port explodes with notes of cigar box, caramel, nut, and vanilla.
The palate is concentrated and complex, revealing exotic spices, crystallized orange peel, and honeycomb flavors. All this richness is perfectly balanced by a refreshing acidity, which leads to a persistent finish.
Price of W & J Graham's Single Harvest Tawny Port: $272
5. W & J Graham's 'The Stone Terraces' Vintage Port, Portugal
The aroma of this intense purple-black colored port has refreshing notes of violets and mint.
The weighty complex plate offers up notes of blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. This extraordinary wine has excellent power, spicy tannins, and the elegance we have become used to from Graham’s.
Price of W & J Graham's 'The Stone Terraces' Vintage Port: $258
6. W & J Graham's 40 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal
This fabulous Aged Tawny Port is only available in limited quantities. It has a complex bouquet of orange and walnut notes and is the perfect pairing with a Creme Brulee.
On the palate, enjoy intense flavors of nut and toffee flavors as the wine leads you to its long and exquisite finish.
Price of W & J Graham's 40 Year Old Tawny Port: $168
7. W & J Graham's Finest Reserve Port, Portugal
This deeply colored Port is indeed one of the Finest Reserves from Graham’s. It has intense young fruity aromas of ripe red and black fruit.
On the palate, enjoy a well-balanced fortified wine with luscious black cherry flavors and an intense finish.
Price of W & J Graham's Finest Reserve Port: $122
8. W & J Graham's Vintage Port, Portugal
This Vintage Port has fantastic aromas of blueberry, blackberry, stems, dried fruits, and rose petal.
The full-bodied palate is tight and powerful, which is backed by a subtle tannin level. When it comes to flavour, you will be tasting hazelnut, crushed berries, chocolate, and bitter coffee flavors.
Price of W & J Graham's Vintage Port: $113
Also read: Discover a wine known for its dominating citrus flavor and recognizable grassy notes - Sauvignon Blanc.
Why You Should Invest In Graham’s Port
Vintage Port like Graham’s has the advantage of being able to age gracefully from 30 years to over a century.
What starts as a powerful, structured young wine develops into an elegant and sophisticated middle-aged wine and then into an ethereal beauty that continues for ages.
Not only can Graham’s Ports age for years in your cellar, but they also increase in value over the years and are auction-favorites making them great investment wines.
- In 2014, the Symington family released 656 decanters of Port made in 1882. In the space of a year, the price increased 27% from $6975 to $8871 (Jan 2020 - Jan 2021.)
- At a Christie's auction in 2012, a rare lot of Graham’s 1945 Vintage (6 bottles) was auctioned for $8099.
So, how do you get your hands on an authentic bottle of Graham’s Port for yourself at the best prices?
A wine investment company like Vinovest is the best option to invest in fine wines at the best prices. They will also make sure that the wine you are buying is the real deal!
Buy And Store Graham’s Port With Ease Through Vinovest
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How It Works
Investing in wines can be as easy as sipping your Barbera d’Asti on a hot sunny day. Follow these steps to get started:
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Having a high-performing portfolio is not the only benefit of working with Vinovest - take a look at what else you can enjoy:
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Vinovest works closely with trusted global wine merchants and wineries to get the best below-retail price for the wine you want for your collection.
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Own A Piece Of The Douro Valley
Graham’s Port is one of the finest wines from one of the oldest wine regions, and they have incredible investment potential - thanks to the outstanding aging potential, the consistent price appreciation, and the limited production quantities.
Having a bottle of Graham’s Port in your collection will help your portfolio outshine the rest.
Sign up with Vinovest today and start building your enviable wine portfolio now!
