Port shippers are reporting buoyant sales of the recently-declared 2007 vintage, with strong demand in the recession-battered UK market depleting stocks.

Symington Family Estates – producer of Dow’s, Graham’s and Warre’s – claims it is on course to sell £3 million worth of 2007 Ports in the UK by the time its en primeur campaign ends this month.

AXA-owned Quinta do Noval has sold out of the vintage thanks to strong demand in the UK and US while The Fladgate Partnership has shipped extra supplies of Taylor’s and Fonseca to the UK after running short of stock.

Fladgate MD, Adrian Bridge told decanter.com, ‘The UK has cemented its position as the pre-eminent market for en primeur vintage Port’.

‘We’re pleased with it. Continental Europe is also very good, but North America is a little soft. That’s what I would expect, given that they are much more cautious over there,’ he added.

Symington MD, Paul Symington said, ‘Considering the gloomy comments sometimes made about Port and the fact the UK is in the middle of the worst recession for some 40 years, this is fantastic news and we are very pleased with the 2007 campaign’.

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Written by Richard Woodard

Richard Woodard
Richard Woodard
Decanter Magazine, Wine & Spirits Writer

Richard Woodard is a freelance wine and spirits writer based in the UK. Aside from Decanter, he writes for several wine trade and media outlets including Imbibe, The Drinks Business, Harpers and Drinks International.

Since 2015 he has been the magazine editor of Scotchwhisky.com. He has formerly worked as a wine news reporter at Imbibe and a feature writer for Halycon Magazine.