According to tradition, a Newman's ship bound for London in 1679 was driven far from its planned course by pirates and foul weather. The captain of the ship sought shelter in St. John's, and as winter was closing fast upon them, it was decided to remain in the harbour until spring.
The ship's cargo of wine was stored in caves, and when the ship returned to London, the flavour of the port seemed to have improved. After that discovery, Newman's sent its port to Newfoundland to mature in wine cellars there. The wine which was shipped from Newfoundland to England became very popular as a high quality wine in English pubs and amongst the aristocracy. The photograph to the right is of a mural showing the barquantine "Retriever" arriving in Newfoundland with a cargo of port wine in 1892. The mosaic mural is currently in the Newman's Wine Lodge, Portugal (photograph courtesy of Mr. Henry Collingwood of Baine Johnston & Co., Nfld agents for Newman's port).
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