Cockburn’s Special Reserve is the kind of bottle that quietly appears on the table and instantly becomes the star of the evening. “The port that changed the game” is a modern classic – a rich, ruby port with enough character to impress the aficionados, but with a price tag that makes it easy to open on an ordinary Tuesday night, rather than exclusively on Christmas Eve. It’s exactly what you want when the colder nights draw in – the perfect winter warmer.

Part of the magic is in the flavour. First released in 1969, Special Reserve helped to revolutionise the port world, and one sip explains why. Youthful tannins bring a subtle peppery spice, but this is no harsh youngster - time in barrel rounds everything out into a port that’s plush, smooth and moreish. Think ripe red fruits wrapped in velvet, with just enough structure to keep it feeling bright rather than sticky.

Behind its easy-drinking charm is some serious winemaking. The finest grapes are hand-picked in the Douro, pressed, and then the young wine is aged in specially coopered oak vats for five years – long enough to add extra depth and texture, but not so long that it loses its vibrant fruit. The result is a port that feels both indulgent and reassuringly consistent: you know exactly what you’re getting every time you crack open the bottle.

Then there’s how spectacularly versatile it is at the table. Cockburn’s suggests pairing Special Reserve with cheese as well as indulgent chocolate desserts – especially strong alongside a stilton-heavy cheese board or the fudgy end of a yule log – perfectly matched for a “cosy evening snuggled up in front of the TV”. In simple terms, Special Reserve is built for the way we actually spend our winter evenings!

All of this would be impressive enough in a rare, once-a-year bottle, opened exclusively on special occasions. The joy of Special Reserve is that it’s deliberately made to be more accessible than vintage port – both in style and in cost. Hand-picked grapes and years of careful ageing from the UK’s most popular port brand, but in a bottle that you can pour generously for friends and family without breaking the bank. It feels like a treat, not a splurge!

So, this Christmas, when planning the big shop, Cockburn’s Special Reserve comfortably earns its place on the list. It’s rich, comforting and full of character; a loving companion to cheese, chocolate and quiet nights in; the bottle looks stunning on the table and doesn’t demand any faff or ceremony. If you’re after the perfect winter warmer – something you can bring out from the first mince pie of December to the last tin of chocolates in January – this is it.

Where to buy Cockburn’s Special Reserve This Winter?

  • Tesco (£11 until 28.12.2025 - was £14.50)
  • Sainsbury’s (£11 until 01.01.2026 - was £14.75)
  • Waitrose (£11 until 01.01.2026 - was £15.50)
  • Morrisons (£11.50 until 29.12.2025 - was £15)
  • Asda (£11.23 until 29.12.2025 - was £14.97)

For more information visit cockburns.com