Yorkshire’s Own Port – Raisthorpe Manor’s Sloe and Damson Creations
By Kevin Pilley
Graham’s, Sandeman’s, Churchill’s, Taylor Fladgate, Dow, Fonseca, Cockburn and Kopke are the great names of Port. The northern Portuguese region of the Douro Valley is the home of Port. But Hockney Country is putting Yorkshire on the port-making map – especially with sloe port liqueur and the UK’s first commercial Damson Port, made at Wharram, near Malton, in the Yorkshire Wolds.
Perhaps better known as makers of Yorkshire Tonic Water – such as apple and elderflower, and strawberry and pomegranate – and artisanal gins like bramble and saffron, and pear and peppercorn, using local botanicals and water from the Gypsey Race – a chalk stream – as well as its Wild Vodka range, Raisthorpe Manor also makes port.
Says the Manor’s Julia Medforth: “Our Sloe Port and Damson Port are blended here at Raisthorpe using our handcrafted Sloe and Damson liqueur with the finest Port. We make the Sloe and Damson liqueur from scratch, distilling the gin and allowing the fruit to mature with the gin and sugar for up to nine months before filtering and blending with the Port.”
Julia’s son, Oliver Medforth, runs the distilling side of the business. “We produce small-batch gin and liqueurs using traditional methods of steeping the fruit in tanks for months, using a recipe that has been in the family for over a century,” he says.
Raisthorpe owners Julia & Oliver Medforth
“Finest ingredients”
“Back in 2018 we planted twenty miles of sloe bushes in hedgerows. Using rhubarb from the Yorkshire Rhubarb Triangle, as well as locally grown raspberries, Raisthorpe Manor prides itself on using only the finest ingredients, locally sourced when possible, to create their food and drinks. We use all-natural ingredients, so there are no artificial sweeteners or preservatives – everything is as natural as possible.
“Our best seller is definitely the Oak Aged Distilled Dry Gin, as well as our Raspberry Gin. We also have Sloe Gold whisky liqueur.”
Julia Medforth comes from Westow, a village bordering the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. “We’re right on the western edge of the rolling Wolds and our road end is the top of Garrowby Hill, an escarpment high above sea level from where we can look out over the Vale of York.
“David Hockney’s series of works called Three Trees near Thixendale depicts a scene from our farm. The trees can be found just before the pond on the road between Thixendale and Burdale.”
Julia originally served her homemade Raspberry Gin Liqueur to guests at shoots hosted on their farm, which the family have worked since 1969. It grows wheat, barley, oilseed rape and potatoes. Through the late nineties and early noughties they developed the shoot and built the shooting lodge, which was used during the shooting season. To extend the shooting through the spring and summer months, Raisthorpe Flyers was established – simulated game shooting.
“Valuable crop”
The Medforths launched their Damsons Are Forever project to save the fruit, planting a new orchard of Merriweather damson trees on the Raisthorpe Estate,” says Oliver, who studied at the College of Rural Agriculture.
“Orchards were widespread until the Second World War as the fruit was used commercially for damson jam, and earlier as dye in the cloth manufacturing industries in the 18th and 19th centuries.
“Without new trees being planted, a valuable crop may be lost forever. With each tree having an average lifespan of 50 years, once they die out we could be left with no British-grown damsons at all, and so they really are damsons in distress.
“We collect damsons by hand annually, from nearby orchards and gardens in the area, for our Damson Port, and we want to see this rare countryside gem continue to flourish.
“To ensure Damsons Are Forever, we’re planting our own so this neglected fruit is given a chance to survive.”
The damson, or damson plum, comes from the word ‘damascene’, with remnants found during archaeological digs of ancient Roman camps across England. The small stone fruits have a dark blue skin and strong, sour flavour, similar to plums, with tart skins. The tree blossoms with small, white flowers in early April, and the fruit is harvested from late August to September or October.
“Traded”
Early RAF and army uniforms were dyed blue and khaki using damsons. Large quantities of damsons were transported from damson-growing areas to mills in towns in the North and Midlands. Market Drayton was famed for its Damson Fair when the textile makers from the north would buy damsons to make dye for their cloth.
A member of the rose family, varieties include Farleigh Damson, named after the village of East Farleigh in Kent; Shropshire Damson; The Shropshire; Long Damson; Westmoreland Damson; Cheshire Damson; Merryweather; The Blue Violet; The Common Damson; and White damsons – which are very rare.
The fruits were also traded each year on ‘Damson Saturday’ in Kendal Market, with much of the demand coming from jam factories in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Many of the villages in Ryedale still have damson orchards.
Sloe and Damson port can be enjoyed all year round in a variety of ways – from gravies and sauces with pork and game dishes to an after-dinner drink with cheese, sloe jelly and Belgian chocolates. Luxury hampers are available. They are great in a hipflask as well as cocktails.
Such as:
A Raisthorpe Manor Frutti Tutti/Grape Cocktail
- Fresh grapes crushed in the glass
- 1½ shots of Raisthorpe Manor’s Sloe Gin Liqueur
- Drop of sugar syrup
- Lemon juice
The Royale
Apple Liqueur, Sloe Gin and Sparkling Wine.
More info: raisthorpemanor.com
Yorkshire Port – at a glance
- What: Sloe and Damson “port-style” liqueurs blended with Port, made by Raisthorpe Manor.
- Where: Wharram, near Malton – in the Yorkshire Wolds.
- Why it’s notable: Yorkshire fruit and craft methods meet classic Port to create distinctly regional bottles.
- How to serve: Enjoy lightly chilled or cellar-cool as an after-dinner pour, or use in simple cocktails.
- Food pairing: Blue cheeses, rich chocolate desserts and game sauces work particularly well.
Yorkshire Port – FAQs
Is “Douro Valley” the correct name for Portugal’s Port region?
Yes. Douro is the Portuguese name of the region where Port originates; Duero is the Spanish spelling of the same river upstream.
What exactly is Damson Port from Raisthorpe Manor?
A fruit liqueur created by blending Raisthorpe’s handcrafted damson liqueur with Port, producing a rich, plum-toned digestif.
How should sloe or damson “port” be served?
Serve lightly chilled or at cellar temperature in small glasses. It also elevates gravies for game and pork and pairs well with strong cheeses.
Where is Raisthorpe Manor?
In the Yorkshire Wolds near Wharram, close to Malton.
What makes this a Yorkshire story?
Local fruit, Yorkshire water sources and traditional steeping methods, with blending and bottling done in the Wolds.
How to make “The Royale” (Apple Liqueur, Sloe Gin & Sparkling Wine)
- Chill a Champagne flute.
- Add a splash of apple liqueur to the glass.
- Add a splash of sloe gin.
- Top gently with sparkling wine.
- Optional: Twist of lemon peel to finish. Serve immediately.
Kevin Pilley is a former professional cricketer and the ex-chief staff writer of PUNCH magazine. His humour, travel, lifestyle and food & drink work appears worldwide. He has been published by over 600 titles.
