Taylor's is now over 300 years old. It remains a family firm, completely independent, owned still by relations of the original partners. On the Atlantic coast at Oporto are the ancient lodges where Taylor's priceless ports slowly reach their glorious maturity. High up in the Douro Valley is Taylor Quinta de Vargellas, one of the world's truly great vineyards, comparable in quality to Chateau Latour. In between is the complex network of independent farmers, who have supplied Taylor's for generations, their press-houses and wine making establishments. Frank Yeatman (right), Taylor's partner from 1897-1950. Taylor is accepted by most wine authorities to be the greatest of all port shippers, famous especially for its sublime and long-lived Vintage ports, which consistently fetch the highest prices at auction, and for old, distinguished Tawny ports. But Taylor's is also an innovative house, pioneering the successful Late Bottled Vintage style which has been copied by almost every other shipper. The finest Port is produced from grapes grown on the steep and rocky slopes of the Upper Douro and its tributaries. Vines have been grown on these remote hillsides since pre-Roman times. In the 17th Century British traders, cut off from their supplies of Bordeaux by frequent wars with France, took a liking to the full-flavoured, robust wines of Portugal. Under the Methuen Treaty of 1703, England granted lower duties to Portuguese wines than to those of France and Germany, becoming for over a century the principal market for the wines of the Douro Valley. But these wines did not travel well, so the traders added brandy to fortify them against the rigours of their Atlantic sea voyage. Before long pure grape spirit was added during fermentation and Port, as we drink it today, was created. Among the first of the early traders was Job Bearsley, who by 1692 was a Port shipper and partner in the firm which we know today as Taylor Fladgate & Yeatman. His 4XX (an old woolmark) is still cut into the walls of the Casa dos Alambiques, where Taylor Fladgate have made wine from 1744 to this day-apart from its short break as a field hospital for Wellington's troops. The 4XX mark still features on the company crest, and on every bottle. Now in its fourth century, the company is still thriving, with wine quality remaining the firm's only consideration. Taylor's Port was, is, and will continue to be, one of the world's greatest wines. Taylor Fladgate is dedicated to the production of premium port wines. Taylor Fladgate declared vintages regularly command the highest prices at auctions. Owing to its long track record of producing top quality vintages and the distinctive "masculine" quality of their wines, Taylor Fladgate is often referred to as the "Latour of port." Taylor Fladgate enjoys a worldwide reputation as one of the top specialist producers of premium wood-aged ports. Taylor was the first to create Late Bottled Vintage port. It is also a leading producer of aged tawny ports. Taylor Fladgate’s specialization in the premium categories of port is reflected in the company’s sales profile. Vintage port, Late Bottled Vintage and the Aged Tawnies (10, 20, 30 and 40 Year Old Tawnies) together represent 45% of Taylor’s sales, compared to only 6% for the port trade as a whole. This percentage is even higher in years when a new vintage port is declared. The "jewel crown" of Taylor’s vineyard holdings is Quinta de Vargellas. This famous vineyard, purchased by the company in 1893 has been entirely redeveloped by Taylor over the years using the top port grape varieties. It consists of 165,000 vines planted on over 100 acres of A-classified vineyard and its best production forms the backbone of Taylor Fladgate’s declared vintage ports. In addition, Taylor Fladgate is also a proprietor of Quinta de Terra Feita, an exceptional A-grade vineyard in the Pinhão Valley, which also contributes to the company’s vintage port and premium wood port blends. Recently, Taylor purchased the 100-acre Quinta de Sao Xisto, adjacent to Vargellas, where the wines will be vinified. The purchase should make it easier for consumers to obtain top-notch vintage Ports. The company is engaged in a continuing program of investment in development of both of these vineyards and in the application of the latest vinification technology. At the same time, Taylor is committed to maintaining its reserves of aging port to ensure that all of its products are fully backed from its own stocks of wine, thus guaranteeing continuity of quality and style.