Sandeman is a brand of Port and Sherry wines founded in 1790. Its well known logo features a caped man known as "The Don" dressed in a Portuguese student's cape and a wide traditional Andalusian type hat.[1][2] Besides Port and Sherry wines, it also produces Brandy and Madeira wine.[3]
Brothers George and David Sandeman from Perth founded the company[4][5]
Initially passed to his nephew, George Glas Sandeman,[8] Sandeman remained a family business until bought out by the drinks company Seagram in 1979.[9] In 2001 the operation was sold to Sogrape by Diageo and Pernod Ricard who had acquired it from Seagram.[10] A descendant, George Thomas David Sandeman is a member of the board of Sogrape Vinhos S.A.[8]
The founder George Sandeman, whose father was also George, was descended from the marriage of David Sandeman to Margret Ramsey in 1716, whose offspring included a notable Glasite theologian Robert Sandeman and the Perthshire linen manufacturer William Sandeman.[2] Family descendants remained owners of the wine business until 1993.[9] In the nineteenth century the family became associated with Hayling Island coming to live at Westfield House in West Town, Hayling Island and with a family grave in St. Mary's Church.[11] The Hayling Golf Club was founded by Fleetwood Sandeman in 1883.[12]
Lea & Sandeman is an independent wine merchant formed by Patrick Sandeman and Charles Lea in 1993. Patrick was a member of the Sandeman family who had initially worked for Seagram. He died in a skydiving accident in 2012 and his wife Katie succeeded him as a director.[9][13]
