The story behind Warre's
Warre's began in 1670, when English merchants William Burgoyne and John Jackson set up trade in Portugal. William Warre joined the partnership in 1729, and the firm has carried his name since. Symington Family Estates has owned and managed it outright since 1908.
The grapes come from high altitude Douro Valley estates, chiefly Quinta da Cavadinha in the Pinhão Valley, plus Quinta do Retiro and Quinta da Telhada. That altitude gives Warre's its house signature: floral, fresh, softly perfumed, elegant rather than heavy. Fruit is foot trodden in stone lagares for the top wines, fortified with grape spirit to hold the natural sugar, then blended by master blenders to keep the style steady year after year.
Explore the Warre's range
Four expressions reach us, from a 1966 vintage to an everyday tawny. Each shows the same floral Douro backbone at roughly 20% ABV.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warre's Tawny Porto | Tawny Port | 40 | Nutty, caramel, dried fig; oak aged blend |
| Warre's Otima 10 Porto | 10 Year Tawny | 40 | Honey, toasted almond, orange peel; 500mL bottle |
| Warre's Port 1977 | Vintage Port | 40 | Bottled young, decades of bottle age |
| Warre's 1966 Port | Vintage Port | 40 | Rare mature vintage, dried fruit, spice |
| Warre's Port | Ruby and LBV styles | 40 | Fresh red fruit, plum, firm structure |
Which Warre's is right for you?
Pricing here runs the length of the range. Warre's Tawny Porto sits at $17.99, the entry point for a house with this much history. Otima 10 Porto, the 500mL ten year tawny, is $26.99. The 1977 vintage is $189.99, and the 1966 is $349.99, a bottle for a real occasion. Stock moves on the older vintages, so call ahead before you drive over. Buy Warre's Port online or come by the Commack store and we will talk you through what is on the shelf.
Nutty and soft, cheap enough to open on a Tuesday.
Ten year tawny in a slim 500mL bottle that looks considered.
A 1966 vintage with real bottle age, for a milestone.