The story behind Fairbanks
Port is a fortified wine from Portugal's Douro Valley, made by adding grape spirit to fermenting red wine, which stops the yeast and leaves sweetness in the glass. Fairbanks is a value label in that tradition, a sweet ruby style red that pours dark and drinks easy rather than asking for a decanter and an evening. We have carried it for years because customers keep coming back for a bottle that does the job without ceremony.
Expect a soft, jammy red with raisin and plum, a warm finish, and enough sweetness to stand up to blue cheese or a slice of chocolate cake. It is not a vintage Port and does not pretend to be. It is the bottle you keep on the shelf for a cold night, a cheese board, or a splash in a pan sauce. Served slightly cool, it holds up fine for weeks after opening.
Explore the Fairbanks range
Three sizes of the same sweet fortified red, from a single glass to a party. The 750mL is out of stock right now; the 1.5L and 3L are ready.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks Port 750mL | Fortified red, ruby style | Single bottle size, currently out of stock | |
| Fairbanks Port 1.5L | Fortified red, ruby style | Magnum size, best value for a household | |
| Fairbanks Port 3L | Fortified red, ruby style | Large format, built for a crowd or a bar |
Which Fairbanks is right for you?
Fairbanks is priced like what it is: an everyday fortified red, not a collector's bottle. The 750mL runs $6.99 when we have it, the 1.5L is $12.99, and the 3L is $19.99. That last one works out to roughly a third of the per ounce cost of the small bottle, which is why it moves at parties and in kitchens that cook with it. Buy the big one, keep it on the counter, pour small glasses.
Enough for a crowd, sweet enough to stand up to blue cheese and nuts.
One glass after dinner, no ceremony, no leftovers to worry about.
Cheap enough to splash into pan sauces and reductions without flinching.
Fairbanks cocktails and pairings
Sweet fortified red wants salt, fat, and dark chocolate. Serve it slightly cool, around cellar temperature, in a small glass.