The Douro Valley of Portugal, with a winemaking heritage of around three thousand years, today is best known for port, a wine with over a 300-year history. A sweet, high-alcohol (fortified with brandy) red wine, port is considered among the great wines in the world.

Naturally, port is mostly thought of as a dessert wine, especially with chocolate desserts.

But it can be enjoyed with other foods. Nuts and cheeses work well, too, especially blue cheeses. And some swear by game meats. Finally, I often enjoy port itself as dessert.

Symington Family Estates is a leading premium port producer dating to 1882. All Symington vineyards are sustainably managed under a minimum intervention certification and a large number are organically. The family has an ambitious sustainability plan to adapt to climate change.

In 2019 the company became a certified B Corporation, which is type of businesses audited for the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility.

Here are recommendations for several of the wineries in their portfolio:

• Cockburn’s Special Reserve ($22), founded in 1815; creator of the first reserve port, a special type of ruby port, in 1969; typically fresh, exuberant, intense berry, grapey fruit, luscious texture.

• Graham’s Six Grapes, Reserve ($28), established in 1820; an early pioneer of estate-owned vineyards; fragrant ruby port of rich dark fruits, chocolate, full bodied and structured but with finesse.

• Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny ($42). Tawny port is distinguished from ruby port by a process that marries multiple vintages for average periods ranging from 10 to 40 years in cask; balances delicacy and elegance; nutty aromas combined with hints of honey and figs on the nose, mature fruit flavors and a long, luscious finish.

• Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny ($70), enticing complexity of almond, orange and berry fruits mellowed by aging, sense of purity; smooth, balanced, elegant finish.

• Dow’s 2018 Late Bottled Vintage ($30) dating to 1798; Dow’s has a long history as one of the most important names in port; fresh black fruit, intense, structured, peppery; one of port’s best values, Late Bottled Vintage Port is a vintage port in style, but less expensive and more accessible.

• Ramos Pinto 10 Year Old “Quinta De Ervamoira” ($40), nestled in the Douro Superior sub-region close to the Spanish border; vineyards planted vertically, in a unique amphitheater fashion, instead of terraced; extreme summer heat concentrates the grapes; recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site; rich notes of searing dried plum, almond, tangy orange; delightfully mellow with succulent fig and plum, with hints of vanilla.