AI Issue 6 2017

16 Acquisition International - June 2017 Taylor’s is celebrating its 325th anniversary this year. For many, Taylor’s is the archetypal Port house and its wines are the quintessential Ports and one of the oldest of the founding Port houses. To mark the occasion, the Port house has joined forces with single-handed yachtsman and a sea ambassador, Ricardo Diniz and launches a 325th Anniversary Limited Edition Port. Adrian Bridge, Managing Director of Taylor’s, tells us more. o mark Taylor’s 325th anniversary, the Port house has joined forces with single-handed yachtsman and a sea ambassador, Ricardo Diniz, to re-enact Taylor’s first shipment of Port. As in the past, a cask of Port was loaded onto a boat at the quayside of the River Douro close to the Taylors’s lodges and from there, shipped to London. The yacht was built in 1991 and named #Taylor325, has just been fully restored and is proudly sponsored by Taylor’s. In 1692, an important chapter in the history of Port began. Job Bearsley, an English merchant, travelled to Portugal to venture into the wine business, founding the company we now know as Taylor’s. Adrian Bridge, Managing Director of Taylor’s, comments: “Our history is often the history of Port itself, because in 325 years we have always been in the front line. We have pioneered new categories of Port, introduced sustainable viticulture, developed leading-edge viniculture whilst preserving traditional practices and opened challenging paths for markets that are now fundamental to the Port wine business. Company: Taylor’s Port Email: [email protected] Web: www.taylor.pt/en Address: PO Box 1311 EC Santa Marinha 4401-501 Vila Nova de Gaia Portugal Phone: +351 223 742 800 Taylor’s Port: Celebrating 325 Years of History on the High Seas T 1704AI09 Port is one of the great classics in the wine world today, partly due to Taylor’s tireless work throughout generations”. Ricardo Diniz, a Portuguese single-handed yachtsman, promised to bring the history and Taylor’s Port to life. At the age of 37 and a leading ambassador of Portuguese culture across borders, he did not hesitate to accept the challenge. Ricardo comments: “This is not just a special moment for Taylor’s. This is an important part of Port and Portugal’s history and something I am proud to represent and share.” Recreating the history of that first Taylor’s shipment of Port to London, a cask carried a limited edition of a specially blended Port to celebrate the anniversary. The boat unloaded its important cargo on the banks of the River Thames and the cask carried into the Tower of London. Then as today, England still is the main market for Port’s special categories. A Limited Edition Port for 325th Anniversary Additionally, Taylor’s has created a limited edition of a commemorative Port. Adrian Bridge, comments: “Taylor’s is one of the oldest Port houses and it has remained independent and family managed throughout its history. It is acknowledged as one of the most respected houses of the best classic wines worldwide as a result of the perseverance, entrepreneurial spirit and continuity of purpose of successive generations.” He also adds: “To mark this important milestone, we wanted to give an additional historical dimension to this commemorative edition of 325 years.” A unique bottle has been specially produced based on a bottle made at around the time of Taylor’s foundation. It is the earliest example of an intact dated bottle bearing the merchant’s mark, in this case the ‘4” and “XX’ symbol still used as Taylor’s trademark to this day.