Wine Producers

Martinez was founded in 1790 by the Spaniard Sebastian Gonzalez Martinez. By the time Sebastian Martinez retired in 1849, the company had become the largest shipper of Port to the UK, with its own lodges in Oporto acquired in 1834. In the early 20th century, at a time when many Port shippers were struggling, Martinez sold shares on the London Stock Exchange and became a public company. In the early 1960’s Martinez was purchased by British wine merchant John Harvey, who also rather ironically acquired Cockburn’s, at the time Martinez’s foremost rival. In 2006, the firm was acquired by the Symington Family who set out to revitalize the Martinez name and reinforce its reputation for fine Vintage Ports. Symington Family Estates is a major company based in the Douro region of Portugal. It owns several major Port houses and wine labels, including Dow's, Warre's, Graham's and Altano.