The British-born importer concentrates on port from Portugal rather than brands from British houses. After working for a number of years for the Symingtons, who are British shippers, he went out on his own about two years ago, and was surprised by what he learned. While the Symingtons are proud of having been in the port business for four generations, the Portuguese house of Ferreira has been around for eight generations. And the Portuguese quintas, or port estates, are much grander than those of the British, he said. British shippers such as Graham's and Taylor Fladgate dominate the English-speaking market.
Portuguese houses dominate elsewhere.
Ferreira is Portugal's biggest seller, and Offley, another Portuguese firm, is the second-largest seller in the world. The quality and method of production is virtually the same on both sides, he said. Brandy is added to fermenting red wine. The high alcohol level of the brandy stops the fermentation and leaves behind unconverted sugar. The difference between various styles of port has to do with aging time and whether the wine is put into wooden barrels.