A Partnership of Families and Friends

Cockburn's is a company whis has valued family links and long standing friendships throughout its history.

In 1815 Robert Cockburn, a member of a famous scottish family, founded the company of Cockburn's in Vila Nova de Gaia, opposite Oporto at the mouth of the river Douro. the Cockburn family crest, a cockered on a coronet, has become a symbol of the company and appears on all bottles of Cockburn's port.

Robert Cockburn directed his two sons Archibald and Alexander, to open an office in London in 1830 and from then on the Cockburn family concentrated their efforts on selling port in Britain, which in those days took almost the entire export of port. Further expertise was brought into the company through the addition of partners, mainly from two british families. The Smithes family, who joined Cockburn's in 1854, managed the portuguese company in conjunction with the Cobb family, who joined nine years later. Four generations on, there is still a member of the Cobb family at Cockburn's: Peter Cobb, a director of Cockburn's in Portugal.

Cockburn's mantain close relationship with the farmers who provide grapes and wine for the Cockburn blends of port. In some cases, these relationships stretch back over several generations. There are no written contracts; a handshake seals the agreement.

In the 20th century Cockburn's has retained the feel of a family business while absorbing greater Portuguese influences: sinse 1974 Cockburn's managing director has been Portuguese. The company has expanded to become one of the largest port companies and is now at the forefront of technical expertise in the prodution of port.