Historically important sherry and port house. The company was founded in London in 1790 by the Scotsman George Sandeman (1765-1841) as a wine shop with a loan of 300 pounds from his father. He concentrated on sherry and port and frequently travelled to the growing regions of the two countries. In 1792 he became a representative of James Duff, the sherry company based in the Spanish port city of Cadiz(Andalusia). In 1809, an office was set up in Cádiz under the management of Sandeman partner James Gordon, and wine was shipped from there under the name "Sandeman". Among them was the "Sandeman 1790", which made history as the first vintage port. Two years later, a plot of land and a building were acquired in Porto, from where port wine was shipped all over the world. Due to the great success of the business, Sandeman moved his offices to No. 20 St. Swithins Lane and the adjoining 13 Sherbourne Lane. These premises remained the family home and also the Sandeman headquarters until 1969.
After the death of the founder, his nephew George Glas Sandeman (1792-1868) took over the business in 1841. He expanded the wine business with various activities. Among other things, he also offered insurance and exported British linen and cotton goods. At that time, Sandeman even maintained his own segmented ship called "Hoopoe". Afterwards, the eldest son Albert George (1833-1923) took over the management, and in 1868 he took on his three brothers as partners. In 1902, the company was converted into a limited liability company. The eldest son Walter Albert (1858-1937) became head of the company in 1923. The famous trademark "Don Sandeman", a black figure with cape and hat, was created in 1928.
After Walter Albert's death, his son Henry Gerard Walter Sandeman (1885-1953) ran the company, followed by his brother Patrick Walter, who was chairman of the board until his death (1959). In 1952 Sandeman was converted into a public limited company and Patrick Walter's sons followed in the company management. There was a merger with the whisky producer Sandeman from Edinburgh in 1963, despite the fact that the names were the same there were no connections before. Then in 1980 the company was sold for 17 million pounds to the multi Seagram. Finally, in 2002, it went into the ownership of the Portuguese company Sogrape. In 2015, on the occasion of the 225th anniversary of the company, the "225th Anniversary Collection" (Vintage Port 2000) consisting of six bottles was launched, telling the story of the company.
Today, the Sandeman sub-company produces half port and half sherry. In the sherry centre of Jerez (Andalusia), the company owns around 400 hectares of vineyards. The management in Porto (port wine) was taken over in 1991 by George Sandeman, a descendant in the seventh generation of the family. The best-known sherry brands include Don Fino, Medium Dry Amontillado, Dry Don Amontillado, Armada Cream Oloroso, Imperial Corregidor Oloroso, Royal Ambrosante Oloroso and Royal Esmeralda Palo Cortado. The port brands are Ports Tawny, White, Partner's Ruby and Partner's White. In smaller quantities, high-quality vintage ports are marketed under the name "Founder's Reserve", which became the best-selling port brand in the United States. There is also a Madeira in the large product range.
