Burmester was founded in the 18th century by Henry Burmester and John Nash, two London men in the import/export business. By 1750 they were shipping Port from Portugal to England and the rest of Europe. The Burmester family owned and operated the business until the late 1990s, when it was purchased by Sogevinus SGPS, S.A. Group, a large Portuguese wine and spirits conglomerate. Burmester makes Ports in various styles.