Quinta da Eira Velha and Newman’s (Celebrated) Port

[JacobH]

Before it was sold to TFP in 2007, Quinta da Eira Velha was owned by the Newman family. Although much of the wine was sold to Martinez who produced a Single Quinta Vintage Port from it from 1979, the books also say that the Newman family produced their own Port which was particularly popularly in Canada. Apparently, and rather oddly, before 1966 this was shipped to Newfoundland for ageing before being shipped back to Europe for sale.

The press releases when TFP bought Eira Velha said that Newman’s Port would still be produced and a search of the web throws up some Canadian places which stock a ‟Newman’s Celebrated Port”; though this is priced at the basic ruby level.

What I was wondering is whether the Newmans ever produced anything more exciting than a basic Ruby? Indeed, has anyone ever seen or tried a bottle from the shipping to Newfoundland days? I also wonder if the Newman’s Celebrated Port is/was a proper Single Quinta Port from Eira Velha, or whether it was simply a blend.

Perhaps some of the North American members have seen a bit more of this?

[DRT]

I have read a few articles about this and from what i can gather the port was aged in Newfoundland because of 9a) the guaranteed low temperature and (b) because that is the route that the Newman family used to ship other goods to and from north America.

I have never heard of or seen "Newman's" port.

[JacobH]

I have read a few articles about this and from what i can gather the port was aged in Newfoundland because of 9a) the guaranteed low temperature and (b) because that is the route that the Newman family used to ship other goods to and from north America.

That would make sense, though I am still surprised it was more economical to ship to Newfoundland and then to Europe rather than directly from Portugal...

There are a couple of websites devoted to the old Newman's cellars in Newfoundland.

It was soon discovered that the port that had over-wintered in Newfoundland had acquired a bouquet, a smoothness and a flavour that it did not have before. From that point on, Newman and Company decided to age its port wine in Newfoundland. The practice continued at the wine vaults on Water Street from the early nineteenth century onwards. The wine was aged in the vaults by the Newman's until at least 1893, possibly until 1914.
[...]
The vaults last held port in 1966. After this, the port was aged at another Newfoundland location until 1996. In 1998 the Newfoundland Historic Trust hosted a "Farewell to Newman's" port tasting inside the vaults in honour of the last bottling of the product in Newfoundland.

By the 19th century, the trade of Newman's port between Newfoundland and the rest of the world had been firmly established, as had the excellent reputation of the port itself.
[...]
Up to the time of Prohibition in 1917, shipments of port were made from Newfoundland to the different British Regiments in Africa, India and other parts of the world.

No clues as to what type of Port was being shipped, though if a tasting was arranged it might suggest that a few styles were available. Equally, if they were still aging their wine in Newfoundland until 1998 (as the first quote suggests) would that imply some sort of Vintage Port? Shipping in bulk was prohibited at this point, and only Vintage Port is suitable for maturation in bottles...

[DRT]

From the above quotes I think it's more likely that between 1966 and 1996/98 they were ageing port that had been shipped in bulk prior to the change in legislation in the early 1970s. If this is the case the Port that was blended from these stocks could not be sold as "Port" as the IVDP and their predecessors would not have allowed it to carry the Selo as it wasn't blended, bottled and shipped from Oporto.

It would be very interesting to find a few specimins of this and pop them at TCP

[JacobH]

From the above quotes I think it's more likely that between 1966 and 1996/98 they were ageing port that had been shipped in bulk prior to the change in legislation in the early 1970s. If this is the case the Port that was blended from these stocks could not be sold as "Port" as the IVDP and their predecessors would not have allowed it to carry the Selo as it wasn't blended, bottled and shipped from Oporto.

So do you think they were making the full range of Ports, with bulk-shipped wines?

It would be very interesting to find a few specimins of this and pop them at TCP

Indeed, though where on earth do you think we could get them? I wonder, if we could put together enough Eira Velha to make a vertical, some of the Newmans might be interested in attending which might assist supply?

[JacobH]

Further information, suggesting that only a Ruby was produced:

'NEWMAN'S CELEBRATED' PORT
(Cockburn & Smith & Co.)

In 1997, European Union rules ended a 310-year-old tradition of shipping casks of this Port to Newfoundland for ageing purposes. Still, the product lives on. 'Newman's Celebrated' is now made and aged exclusively in Portugal. On the front label, you'll find an antique map of Newfoundland and on the back label, an synopsis of its storied history.

478883 (S) 750 mL $14.95

[DRT]

I can only find evidence of one style being produced/sold but who knows what they were doing 300 years ago!

They only seem to sell to the Canadian market.

It's interesting that the bottles you found those images of were shipped by Cockburn. I wonder if the Symington's now do the wine-making, bottling and shipping?

[JacobH]

It's interesting that the bottles you found those images of were shipped by Cockburn. I wonder if the Symington's now do the wine-making, bottling and shipping?

Cockburn managed Eira Velha from 1979 onwards (I think they also owned Martinez at the time, which is why SQVP Eira Velha was shipped under the Martinez label) which would be why they produced the Ruby. There are a few press releases from Adrian Bridge when they bought the Quinta saying that he was planing on continuing to make Newman's Port; I don't think the Newmans' business ever interlinked with the Symingtons in a way which would cause them to have anything to do with it.

[David Bazeley]

I am from England, live in Newfoundland and just had my first visit to Portugal (and Porto) in October. I had drunk Newman's Port but didn't know much about it, only the generally accepted history. My son still has a bottle from the last year it was bottled in St. John's by the province-owned Liquor Corporation, we were told. As a commemoration they offered personalized labels with the year (1997) printed on. There is no maker identified on the label, just "Shipped by R & T Newman" and "Matured in Newfoundland." Presumably R & T NEwman still exists as a company name and/or trademark

I never saw any "vintage" Newman's just the general "Celebrated Port Wine," which is a ruby. Interesting that bulk shipping was supposed to end in 1966 according to one of the posts here. It was definitely understood by the general population that it was still being bottled here until 1997. I now notice the label doesn't actually say bottled in Newfoundland, but the labels were definitely being put on here.

Someone is still making it because it is still sold by the Liquor Corporation, although it no longer says Matured in Newfoundland.

[DRT]

Hi David,

Welcome to

I never saw any "vintage" Newman's just the general "Celebrated Port Wine," which is a ruby. Interesting that bulk shipping was supposed to end in 1966 according to one of the posts here. It was definitely understood by the general population that it was still being bottled here until 1997. I now notice the label doesn't actually say bottled in Newfoundland, but the labels were definitely being put on here.

The last vintage to be shipped in bulk was 1970. Shortly after that there was new legislation passed in Portugal that required all Port to be bottled in Oporto. In the primary markets for bulk shippment, such as the UK, this very quickly resulted in all port being bottled in Oporto. What I have speculated above is that because the Newmans had a very long history of shipping and ageing port in Newfoundland it is possible that large quantities of port remained in cask there for many years after the bulk shipments stopped. That might explain why the "Matured in Newfoundland" concept was maintained long after 1970.

However, if they were maturing port in wood for more than a few years after shipping it is Tawny rather than Ruby port. If, as you say, Newman's celebration is Ruby Port my theory is somewhat flawed

But, there is a more serious matter to discuss:

I am from England ... My son still has a bottle from the last year it was bottled in St. John's by the province-owned Liquor Corporation, we were told.

As you might have noticed we hold regular tasting events in London. If you and or your son happen to visit the UK please feel free to let us know and, if dates an location make it possible, we will organise a port tasting. Your son's bottle is obviously very welcome to join you

Derek

[David Bazeley]

I thought the Newfoundland-bottled Newman`s was a ruby, but obviously I am working from distant memory and I knew essentially nothing about port in those days. Which is not to say I know a lot now, I have just started to learn. But it is fun to do so.

I will be in London some time next year, but no idea when so far. I will write to this forum when I know, thank you for the invitation. I will discuss with my son whether I can take the bottle with me. I will also ask around St. John`s to see if I can get a definitve answer on what happened between 1970 and 1997. I may have a contact who can put me on the trail.

[Alex Bridgeman]

As Derek says, vintage port was last bottled outside Portugal with the 1970 (or was it the 1972) vintage. However, lower quality ports continued to be shipped in bulk and bottled outside Portugal for many years after that - quite possibly until the 1990s. I wish I could remember when the rules for basic ports changed, but I can't. Sorry.

[JacobH]

As Derek says, vintage port was last bottled outside Portugal with the 1970 (or was it the 1972) vintage. However, lower quality ports continued to be shipped in bulk and bottled outside Portugal for many years after that - quite possibly until the 1990s. I wish I could remember when the rules for basic ports changed, but I can't. Sorry.

I think it was 1972 since the regulations changed in 1974. I thought that 1970’s claim to fame was that it was last year to be (at least partially) shipped by barge down the Duoro.

However, lower quality ports continued to be shipped in bulk and bottled outside Portugal for many years after that - quite possibly until the 1990s. I wish I could remember when the rules for basic ports changed, but I can't. Sorry.

That’s interesting and not something I had previously known. A likely date might be 1996 which is when the current main set of regulations came into force which would tie into the end of bulk shipping of Newman’s Port to Canada.

[DRT]

That’s interesting and not something I had previously known.

I didn't know that either. I assumed that the change that happened in the early 1970s applied to all ports but that is obviously not the case.