Symington to release 1966 vintage Port

Symington Family Estates has confirmed plans to release a 1966 vintage Port bottled by W & J Graham’s two years before the company was sold.

Charlotte Symington, the first fifth generation Symington to join the family business, with a bottle of 1966 Graham’s Port.

Bottled in 1968, it was the last vintage Port to be produced by W & J Graham’s before it was bought by Symington Family Estates in 1970. Presented by Symington at the Fells annual portfolio tasting in London this week, just 104 bottles of the 50-year-old Port will be produced.

“My great grandfather started working [at Graham’s] in 1882”, said Paul Symington, head of Symington Family Estates. “Nearly 100 years later my father and uncles bought Graham’s, so it’s quite a historic wine.”

Graham’s was founded in 1820 and acquired by Symington in 1970 in what was its 150th anniversary year.

While its official release date and price has not yet been confirmed, the 1966 vintage is expected to be released in April of this year.

“It’s an amazing wine”, said Symington. “The ‘66 vintage was typically overshadowed by the ‘63 vintage, but this is a superb wine. It’s amazing how they could make such a great wine when the company was right on the edge and sold a couple of years later.”

Separate to its planned 1966 vintage release, last year Graham’s launched its Vintage Port Bond to allow people the chance to pre-purchase vintage Port in the year of its harvest in order to meet demand for birth and wedding gifts.

Since vintage Port is only declared, bottled and released 18 months after harvest, those wishing to buy a Port to commemorate the current year have either needed to buy this retrospectively or settle for an older vintage already on the market. Now, the buyer can purchase a case of vintage while the grapes are still on the vine, receiving a “Vintage Port receipt” and “Vintage Port Bond Certificate” which can be given to the individual for whom the gift is intended.