Sandeman - Ruby Port - NV

Sandeman’s history begins some 230 years ago, when young George Sandman set up a business in the Port and Sherry trade in London, using a loan of 300 British pounds. He ended up creating one of the most iconic brands in existence.

In 1805 the company began branding their casks with the company name, an uncommon practice at the time, and on March 23^rd 1877 officially trademarked the name GSC (George Sandeman & Co.), now one of the oldest trademarks in the world, registered in more than 130 countries.

In the early 1900s Sandeman broke from tradition again and began to actively advertise their ports at fixed retail prices. The company bought paintings by some of the best-known artists of the time, to use in poster advertising, labels and merchandising. By 1928 when French poster art was all the rage, a Scottish artist approached Sandeman to create exclusive artwork for the brand, in the French style. To hide his Scottish origins the artist signed his name G. Massiot and created the iconic silhouette of the Don, for which the brand is still known for today. Dressed in a Portuguese student’s cape, and a wide brimmed hat like the Spanish caballeros de Jerez, the silhouette didn’t actually gain it’s name, “The Don”, until 1935 when he appeared on the label of a new Porto Tawny called “Dry Don.”

Now run by the family’s seventh generation, Sandeman sells approximately 21 bottles of wine every minute around the world. More than 200 years after it’s founding, the company continues to combine tradition with increased quality and produces a superior class of wines.