READ · COMPARE · EXPLAIN
Graham: the 6 in the name and the 20 in the age statement
Founded in 1820 by William and John Graham, this Port producer uses various quintas in the Douro as the basis for its wines. They produce, among others, Six Grapes and age-indicated Tawny ports. You can learn what the numbers on the label represent here.
Using Six Grapes and 20 Year Tawny as examples, distinguish what the numbers in the names and the aging indications represent.
Questions for this course
Does Six Grapes mean six grape varieties?
Before you start reading, briefly jot down your thoughts. You will rephrase them at the end.
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To explanation task notes ↓Graham’s / Learning from Producers
Portugal / Douro / Port
Alternate names & notations: Graham’s / Graham's / Graham’s
Updated: 2026-10-06
The origin of the six bunches
The name Six Grapes comes from the practice of marking barrels with one to six bunches to distinguish quality. Six marks indicated high evaluation. The name does not directly mean the number of varieties used or the length of aging.
‘20 years’ is not the vintage year.
A 20 Year Tawny is a wine blended from several wines aged in used wooden casks, described as having an average age of 20 years. It does not mean it is from the 2020 harvest, nor that all component wines were made on the same day.
Distinguish the roles of numbers.
Six Grapes is a Reserve Ruby, 20 Years is an age-statement Tawny. By reading the brand origin and age statement separately, you can avoid the mistake of comparing wines solely by their numbers.
What to align and what to compare.
Numbers
- Conditions to standardize
- Port from the same producer
- Conditions for comparison.
- Meaning of 6 and 20
- Additional points to confirm
- Brand origins and aging period
Aging
- Conditions to standardize
- 20-Year Tawny
- Conditions for comparison.
- Age of each base wine
- Additional points to confirm
- Distinction between single vintage and others
Types
- Conditions to standardize
- Port
- Conditions for comparison.
- Reserve Ruby and Tawny
- Additional points to confirm
- Do not judge by number size.
Order of reading and key points to consider in each article
0 / 3 articles completed
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- 1↗
Portugal
Port fermentation: At what point is fortification carried out?
Exploring types of Port.
- 2↗
Portugal
Understanding Port maturation: Distinguishing Vintage, LBV, and Colheita
Clarify barrel ageing and year indications.
- 3↗
Portugal
Douro: understanding Port, red, and white from the same valley
Read about the Douro, which grows the grapes for Port.
READ · HYPOTHESIZE · RECONSIDER
Reading Graham’s materials: the 6 in the name and the 20 in the age statement
Check and compare the region, raw materials, and process from the materials, and explain what can be learned from the comparison.
Comparative tables are based on the source’s target year and the explanation at the time of verification. Descriptions without year specifications are not treated as specifications common to all harvest years or shipped portions.
| Comparison items | Six Grapes | 20-Year Tawny |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reserve Ruby | Tawny Ports with indication of aging. |
| Meaning of numbers | Mark indicating the bunches used for barrel evaluation | Typical maturation period for the blend |
| What it does not mean | Specification of six varieties | Single vintage |
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Read the explanation for each question
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What is the origin of 6?
The name Six Grapes comes from the practice of marking barrels with one to six bunches to distinguish quality. Six marks indicated high evaluation. The name does not directly mean the number of varieties used or the length of aging.
What does '20 years' mean?
A 20 Year Tawny is a wine blended from several wines aged in used wooden casks, described as having an average age of 20 years. It does not mean it is from the 2020 harvest, nor that all component wines were made on the same day.
What type of wine is Six Grapes?
Six Grapes is a Reserve Ruby, 20 Years is an age-statement Tawny. By reading the brand origin and age statement separately, you can avoid the mistake of comparing wines solely by their numbers.
Basis and sources for the exercise
Practice exercises in comparison
Check and compare the region, raw materials, and process from the materials, and explain what can be learned from the comparison.
Read examples of organizing comparisons
| Conditions for Comparison | Six Grapes | 20-Year Tawny |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Reserve Ruby | Tawny Ports with indication of aging. |
| Meaning of numbers | Mark indicating the bunches used for barrel evaluation | Typical maturation period for the blend |
| What it does not mean | Specification of six varieties | Single vintage |
Sources of materials used for comparison are listed in the text and exercises.
Explain in your own words
For Six Grapes and 20-year Tawny, clearly explain what the numbers represent.
Check after writing
- Separate the origin of the wine label from the number of ingredients.
- Separate the display of years from the harvest year.
- Do not judge categories by the size of numbers.
Save response to explanation task
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