In 1831, Joseph James Forrester, the nephew of William Offley who was Offley’s founder, joined the company. An academic and an artist, Forrester was the first person to map the Douro River and its region. He undertook numerous wine growing studies, and his paintings, drawings and sketches all reveal his passion for the Douro. James Forrester’s contribution to the development of the Douro and to the Port wine trade earned him the title of Baron, bestowed to him by the King of Portugal.
Offley ports are the perfect expression of high quality grapes from the traditional red varieties that flourish in the Douro region. A perfect wine for those entering into the Port category.
Sogrape purchased Offley in 1997 and continued to invest in the production and marketing of Offley’s fortified wines, planting and re-planting vineyards, refurbishing the unique aging cellars at Vila Nova de Gaia, and expanding the world-wide distribution of the Offley brand.
