During and after the First War business increased dramatically and thousands of pipes (534 litres each) of port were shipped to England each year. Sales were mainly to the 'pub' trade, and the label Delaforces' Fine Old Invalid Port became well known until bureaucracy decreed many years later that the label might be misunderstood!

Sales developed steadily and markets were opened in Canada (Royal Palace Port), Ireland, South and Central America and Scandinavia to the State Monopolies.

Portuguese table wines were shipped to Brazil. Portuguese Brandy was developed and now has an excellent market in Portugal itself. During the years of Portuguese African colonies, sweet and dry Vermouths and a Quinine & Port blend called Quinado all had successes.

In 1931 the Delaforces purchased a lovely wine Quinta on the River Douro about 50 miles East of Oporto. The Quinta da Foz de Temilobos is halfway between Regoa and Pinhao, the two leading small towns in the Port wine growing area. Besides growing vines on the terraces, olives and oranges are grown on the estate run by the 'caseiro'.

The Delaforce wine lodges have always been sited in Villanova de Gaia, on the south side of the river Douro, where thousands of pipes of port are being matured either in casks or vats. Until 1955 the emphasis was on exporting in oak casks which were returnable for the efficient cooperage to repair and renew. The bottling department has grown in importance each year and now well over 90% of all production is exported in a beautiful original bottle designed by Victor Delaforce after World War II, which has the Portuguese Royal coat of arms embossed on it.

During the Second World War Victor and his son Patrick were in the British Army and John in the SOE Intelligence Corps. All the European markets were, of course, closed for five years and Henry in London and Frank Heath in Oporto kept the business alive, with occasional 'bonanza' large orders from the NAAFI or US Army procurement.

After the second war Patrick Delaforce and Trevor Heath (Frank's son) joined the firm. The old markets slowly re-opened again, including many European markets. John Delaforce appointed excellent distributors in West Germany and Delaforce port wines have a substantial business there. In 1946, Patrick had the experience of visiting a firm in the recovering Germany to arrange a contract, to be met by two ‘obvious stormtroopers’. On being asked if he had visited Germany before, decided on frankness, said yes & that he had left a terrible mess. The stormtroopers stood up & said, “We will sign immediately!”

Romantic labels such as Trocadero and Casino were replaced. Now the business is dominated by Paramount at the lower price range and His Eminence's Choice at the top quality level for an old Tawny Port. Every few years a Vintage Port (a single selected unblended port) is 'declared' and shipped in small quantities to selected markets. The standard range consist of ruby, tawny and white port wines.

Late each autumn the new wine is vintaged. The grapes are picked by hand, loaded into straw baskets and taken laboriously to 'lagares' or tanks for pressing. Now usually pressed mechanically, originally the grapes were trampled by foot, which was picturesque for the onlookers, but cold and tiring for the tramplers, who needed and enjoyed brandy to keep their spirits up. Flat bottomed boats used to take the wine down the river to Oporto, but the mundane railway has now taken over. Special ships were developed to take Port to England, again with flat bottoms to cross the dangerous 'bar' at the mouth of the river Douro. Now huge road tankers and trucks take the exports on their way to any one of a hundred markets. Victor and John retired as Partners in the 1970s and the business was bought initially by International Distillers and Vintners, who became part of Watneys, who in turn were taken over by Grand Metropolitan. However the business is still managed personally by John's two sons David and Richard, who both live and work in Oporto. Over six million bottles of Delaforce Port are sold each year to all the European markets, Australia and USA.

The Delaforces are members, of course, of the famous old "Factory House" or British Association - the British port wine shippers private club. This bastion of British culture in Portugal was built 250 years ago, a private "club" for the gentlemen of the port trade. The building was designed by John Whitehead, a scientist and mathematician who was consul to the Factory for 46 years. Attesting to his architectural abilities is a heavy granite staircase, which has stood without support since 1790.

Every Wednesday for almost 200 years, the factors of the port trade gather for lunch around a huge mahogany table. After the main meal, the gentlemen pick up their napkins and move next door to an identical table. Here they can enjoy the taste of vintage port, which is decanted six hours before itis consumed, without interference from any aromas left over from the meal.

In 1983, John Delaforce published a book about the Factory House, which has had a long and romantic history and another book about the history of St James Anglican Church in Oporto.