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 Churchill's Port
Oporto, Portugal
Churchill’s – the First Independent
British Port Shipper in over 70 years.
Extracted
from the Vine, Clive Coates MW.
Despite the fact that
there was no longer any family firm to apprentice himself to, Johnny Graham
arrived in Oporto in 1973. He got a job as a trainee with Cockburn’s and
for the next 8 years worked closely with the ex partner John Smithes in the
tasting room, on the production side and in vineyard management. In 1980 at the
age of 28 he was made a director. A bright future lay ahead but he wanted to be
his own boss.
Johnny married in 1980. Caroline, his wife, is a
Churchill. Together they formed Churchill Graham Lda and in 1981 he decided to
leave Cockburn’s to set up his own Port Wine Company. Despite offers of
permanent jobs, he agreed to work as a consultant for Taylor’s while
starting his Company. In the meantime local Port farmers had learned that he
wanted to set up on his own and were keen to help. In particular, Borges de
Sousa who had excellent properties offered a deal. Clearly the wine could not
be called Grahams’ – the family business had been sold in 1970 to the
Symingtons – so what better name than his wife’s maiden name
Churchill.
In the beginning, Churchill’s rented a lodge in
Vila Nova de Gaia from Taylor’s but very soon bigger premises were
required. With the Port trade in full expansion space was at a premium. Johnny
bought three ruined lodges in Rua da Fonte Nova overlooking the river Douro.
They have now been fully renovated.
Churchill’s has met with
increasing success in the USA. With the projected growth in sales it became
clear that the Company had to acquire some of is own vineyards to secure on
going supply of quality Port. With the purchase of Quinta da Gricha and
Quinta do Rio, both renowned Grade A vineyards in the premium Cima Corgo
region of the Douro, Churchill’s is now in control from grape to bottle.
More information on Churchill's
Port
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