Sandeman is a long-established Portuguese wine company and one of the world’s best-known brands of port and sherry. The company was founded in 1790 and is now part of the Portuguese wine group Sogrape. Sandeman’s trademark is the iconic figure “The Don”, a man dressed in black with a Portuguese student’s cape and a Spanish sombrero, who has been used as the company’s logo since 1928.
Sandeman was founded in 1790 in London by the Scottish merchant George Sandeman. With a loan of 300 pounds, he began trading in port and sherry. Just a few years later, the company had established itself as one of the leading exporters of Iberian fortified wines.
In 1811, Sandeman acquired wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, where the port wines continue to age to this day. Over the course of the 19th century, the company developed into one of the world’s largest port wine exporters and was among the first wine producers to label their barrels—and later their bottles—with their own brand.
In 1877, George Sandeman & Co. was registered as one of the first trademarks in Great Britain. At the beginning of the 20th century, the company increasingly focused on brand advertising and international marketing.
After more than 180 years as a family-owned business, Sandeman was acquired by Seagram in 1979. Through Diageo and Pernod Ricard, the brand eventually came under the ownership of the Portuguese wine group Sogrape in 2002, to which it still belongs today.
Sandeman’s main locations are:
The historic cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia are among the most famous port wine cellars in Portugal and house several thousand oak barrels of aging port wines.
Sandeman produces a wide range of high-quality fortified and table wines.
The Vintage Ports and the long-aged Tawny Ports are among the company’s best-known products.
The port wines come primarily from the Douro Valley, one of the oldest protected wine regions in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At Quinta do Seixo, numerous traditional Portuguese grape varieties are cultivated, including:
The steep slate terraces, the hot summer climate, and the large temperature differences between day and night create ideal conditions for high-quality port wines.
Quinta do Seixo’s modern winery combines traditional winemaking with state-of-the-art cellar technology.
Sandeman is one of the most internationally renowned port wine brands and has contributed significantly to the worldwide popularity of Portuguese port wines.
The company’s early branding strategy was particularly influential. As early as the 19th century, barrels—and later bottles—were marked with the company’s logo to guarantee origin and quality. The advertising character “The Don” also became one of the wine industry’s most recognizable brand symbols.
Today, Sandeman wines are exported to numerous countries and rank among the most prestigious premium port wines on the international market.
Sandeman offers a wide range of wine tourism experiences.
Among the main attractions are:
The combination of historic architecture, wine tradition, and modern gastronomy makes Sandeman one of the most visited port wine houses in Portugal.
Sandeman is consistently ranked among the most successful port producers at international wine competitions.
Among its most notable achievements are:
According to the company, Sandeman is one of the world’s most award-winning port wine brands.