Over the years, Delaforce Port has gained recognition for its continuity and style. This is made possible by the relationships that have been built up over a considerable length of time with the local growers. Delaforce makes wine from the main quality areas of the 'Cima Corgo' within the Douro region, such as Ronção, the Rio Torto and the Pinhão district.
An important development for Delaforce in the early 80's was the signing of the long term agreement with the owners of Quinta de Corte in the Rio Torto Valley, ensuring exclusive production and sales rights of this exceptional vineyard.
The Delaforce family, originally from Huguenot stock, can be traced back 700 years. In these records are details of the family's religious persecution and it was for these reasons that they were forced to flee for London in 1685. The family settled in London and prospered. In 1834, 26 year old John Fleurriet Delaforce was asked by his employer to set up a new Port wine company for the partners of Martinez Gassinot. The company still exists today.
Later in 1868 John's son, George Henry Delaforce, founded the Delaforce business. George Delaforce quickly developed strong commercial relations across Europe, including Scandinavia, Russia, England, Ireland, Germany and France. The Delaforce wines that George was producing were winning awards at the famous International Paris exhibitions in 1878 and 1889. The Delaforce wines obtained such notoriety that George was appointed as Purveyor (supplier) to two Kings of Portugal between 1896 and 1908. For a non- Portuguese citizen at the time this was indeed an unusual honour.
In 1903, Henry and Reginald Delaforce took over the business from their father and continued to develop the business through the economic crisis of the two World Wars. Later Henry's sons Victor and John joined the firm. It was in the 1930's that Delaforce launched the brands 'His Eminence Choice' and ' Curious & Ancient' making them amongst the oldest brands in the Port trade.
David Delaforce, fifth generation of the Delaforce family to work in the Port wine trade has been closely involved with the brand until he retired recently as Head of Marketing and Strategy for Delaforce port. He was also Chairman of the UK Port Wine Committee. Nicholas Delaforce, David's son, joined the company in 1992 as winemaker after having completed a degree course in oenology at Roseworthy in South Australia.
| Dates: |
| | 1834 | 26 year old John Fleurriet moved to Portugal to setup Martinez Gassinot for his employers. |
| | 1868 | Delaforce founded by John's son, George Henry Delaforce. |
| | 1878 & 1889 | Delaforce wines gained the top awards at the International Paris Exhibitions. |
| | 1896-1908 | Delaforce was the Purveyor to two kings of Portugal. |
| | 1992 | Nicholas Delaforce joined the company as winemaker. |
| | 2001 | Delaforce was sold to Taylor Fladgate and Fonseca. |
The Taylor Fonseca group purchased the Port Wine interests of CD Vintners, owners of Port producers Croft and Delaforce from Guiness UDV.
Taylor Fonseca is an independent family owned group controlled and by its current Chairman Alistair Robertson. Its principal activity and main focus is the production of premium wood aged and vintage Port Wine through its subsidiaries, Taylor Fladgate & Yeatman, one of the longest established and most prestigious Port producers, and Fonseca Guimaraens, also one of the most respected specialist Port houses. The group owns several of the best known wine estates in the Douro Valley -- including the famous Quinta de Vargellas and Quinta do Panascal -totalling over 290 hectares of A-classified vineyard. It also has interests in tourism and catering.
This acquisition gives Taylor Fonseca exclusive ownership of the Delaforce brand and the company's Port stocks and premises in Vila Nova de Gaia. The group also acquires the wine stocks, production facilities and vineyards of the Croft Port company as well as the rights to the Croft brand for the marketing of Port worldwide.
The approach to Guiness UDV to acquire its fortified wine interests was made jointly by Taylor Fonseca and by the leading independent Sherry producer Gonzalez Byass. Under the terms of the purchase Gonzalez Byass acquires the Croft Sherry business assets in Jerez, Spain. The right to market brandy under the Croft brand will be retained by Guiness UDV.
Taylor Fonseca Chairman, Alistair Robertson commented:
"The acquisition of these two classic Port producers -- Croft and Delaforce -- represents a significant step forward for our company as it enters the fourth century of its history. It is particularly fitting that it brings together two of the oldest and most famous of the original Port houses, Taylor and Croft, both over three centuries old.
"It also restores a historical link between our company and the Quinta da Ro_da estate which was owned for many years by John Fladgate, Baron of Ro_da, a partner of Taylor's and grandfather of two partners of the Fonseca company.
"We look forward to the challenge and enjoyment of developing these two great houses in the years to come."
Although the Croft and Delaforce Port businesses will come under the same group management as the existing Taylor Fonseca companies they will retain their own distinctive style and identity. As Group Managing Director Adrian Bridge put it:
"As independent family producers we understand the importance of preserving the unique heritage and character of the different Port houses within our group. Just as Taylor and Fonseca have each maintained their individual identities and traditions we intend to respect the distinctive style and personality of Croft and Delaforce to ensure that the Port consumer continues to be given a genuine choice.
"We look forward to acquiring the skill and knowledge that members of the Croft and Delaforce teams will add to our own three centuries of experience in the production of fine Ports."
"The acquisition of Croft and Delaforce affirms our confidence in the healthy future of quality Port. We believe that wine consumers will continue to value the tradition and integrity of the great classic names. As a result of the alliance of these four great houses -- Taylor, Fonseca, Croft and Delaforce -- we will be uniquely well placed to offer the consumer the finest ports at every level in a choice of distinctive and individual styles."
| The house style differs from Croft by having slightly more delicate fruit flavours, which have superb smooth, lingering flavours. |
| Barrel Aged Ports | | Bottle Aged Ports |
- Fine Ruby
- Fine Tawny
- Colheita-1994
- His Eminence's Choice 10 Year Old Tawny
- Curious & Ancient 20 Year Old Tawny
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