Dow’s Fine Ruby Port is the perfect mix of deep red fruit, spice and warming alcohol that makes it a Port lovers dream and the ideal introduction to the heady world of fortified wine for any novices. Raspberry and cherry fruit dominate with sweet spice, chocolate and toffee notes. The fruit is fresh and approachable and although the alcohol is high, it remains in balance with the fruit. Great with cheese and chocolate or out a hip flask when you’re walking the dogs.

Dow’s Port was founded in 1798 by Bruno da Silva and is unusual amongst the pioneering Port houses for setting up in London rather than in Portugal’s Douro Valley. Bruno married an English lady and assimilated himself into London high society. This stood him in good stead during the Napoleonic Wars when, during these turbulent times, other Port houses’ sales fell, Bruno was able to acquire a ‘Letter of Marque’ (A Royal Assent to equip a merchant ship with guns). This made the perilous journey from Oporto to Bristol a little easier and kept the flow of Port running through the war. Nowadays, the house is famed for having two of the best Quintas in the Douro valley, Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira, where they make some of Portugal’s finest wines.