FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
Pioneering winemaking that meets the challenges of our time
and 5th
OUR STORY
Symington Family Estates is the world’s leading producer of premium ports and one of the top Portuguese wine producers.
We are a family of British and Portuguese origin that has lived and worked in Portugal since the 19th century. Our family business – run by the 4th and 5th generation – is founded on a deep commitment to Portugal’s people, its lands and its wines. Today there are nine family members working across the business, committed to producing the finest ports and wines and building on the achievements of the previous generations.
We are the principal vineyard owners in the Douro Valley with 28 vineyards, covering a total of 2,490ha of which 1,076ha are under vine.
We produce four premium port brands, Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s, and Warre’s, as well as a portfolio of Douro wines consisting of Quinta do Vesúvio, Quinta do Ataíde, Altano, and Prats & Symington. Our portfolio also includes Pequeno Dilema, Ilustres Desconhecidos, and Bom Malandro. We also produce a range of wines from our estate in the Portalegre subregion of the Alto Alentejo, Quinta da Fonte Souto, and have recently acquired an estate, Casa de Rodas, in the prestigious Monção and Melgaço sub-region of the Vinho Verde DOC. In 2023, we partnered with Berry Brothers & Rudd to acquire Hambledon Vineyard in Hampshire, UK.
4th
generations of the Symington family
OUR SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
RESPOND TO OUR SHARED CHALLENGES PIONEER SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION CARE FOR OUR PEOPLE & LOCAL COMMUNITIES
ETHICAL COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2019
GREEN COMPANY OF THE YEAR FOR ADEGA DO ATAÍDE 2024
ATAÍDE LEED CERTIFICATION INTEGRATED CROP MANAGEMENT
LEADING PREMIUM
PORT PRODUCER
Drawing on two centuries of winemaking experience, we are committed to producing exceptional ports that celebrate the Douro and the art of cooperage, ageing and blending. We aim to push the boundaries of premium innovation, while respecting our heritage.
VINTAGE PORT
The pinnacle of what we produce in a given year across our finest vineyards.
Quinta dos Malvedos Vintage Port is an expression of our principal estate, while our classic Graham’s Vintage Port is drawn from the finest parcels across our four estates in only exceptional years.
At Graham’s principal estate, Quinta dos Malvedos, there are just under three hectares of hand-built stone terraces that date to the late 18th century. Meticulously reconstructed after being abandoned in the aftermath of phylloxera, these
stone terraces were designed to produce ports of exceptional concentration and power, using viticultural techniques that have barely changed for hundreds of years.
Made from an outstanding year, our Single Harvest Tawny Ports are set aside for long term ageing in seasoned oak casks until they are ready for bottling. These wines are testament to the skills, experience and craftsmanship honed over generations by our cellar masters, coopers and tasters.
AGED TAWNY COLLECTION
Aged for an average of 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 years in seasoned oak casks, our Aged Tawny Collection demonstrates the complexities afforded by careful maturing in wood and the time-honoured skills of cooperage, ageing & blending.
40 YEAR OLD TAWNY
A TESTAMENT TO TIME
A truly remarkable wine cared for across generations, as it has aged at the Graham’s Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia.
50 YEAR OLD TAWNY THE LEGACY OF GENERATIONS
A stunning testament to the unparalleled craftmanship and dedication that has gone into nurturing the wines that comprise this special blend.
LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE
Made using vintage quality grapes, our Late Bottled Vintage Ports are youthful and complex having aged in wood for five years before being bottled, ready to enjoy.
SIX GRAPES
Our signature reserve ruby port is marked by its generous fruit, complexity, and structure.
Six Grapes Vila Velha is a limited bottling produced from the finest grapes at Quinta da Vila Velha – one of Graham’s four Douro estates.
Natura is produced using organic grapes grown at two of our leading estates, situated at 150 and 350 metres altitude.
Following organic cultivation guidelines and respecting the vineyard’s natural cycle, each vine finds its own yield level, producing smaller bunches with more concentrated berries.
Graham’s Blend Series represents a fresh and innovative take on port. Leading the way are Blend Nº5 White and Blend Nº12 Ruby Ports – the first wines we’ve produced specifically for mixing.
A contemporary feel and awardwinning design from fashion illustrator António Soares gives the Blend Series a striking and versatile
presence in the cocktail scene and the on-trade, while also standing out and offering something exciting in the off-trade.
The Blend Series marks a new chapter in the history of port. It helps fuel invention and creativity, uplifting any port moment regardless of the setting, season or occasion.
IT’S ABOUT WHO YOU DRINK IT WITH, NOT HOW AND WHEN
SPECIAL RESERVE THE PORT THAT
CHANGED THE GAME
Setting the standard since 1969, Special Reserve is made using the finest grapes from the Douro Superior. Aged for five years in oak, it’s packed with bold fruit and ends with a dry, full-bodied finish.
FINE RUBY
THE PORT THAT NEVER SAYS NO
Comfortable in any setting, our Fine Ruby is blended from young wines bursting with fresh red-fruit flavours and matured for up to three years.
FINE TAWNY
IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW
Loved for its hints of nuts and caramel, our Fine Tawny is expertly blended and matured in oak for up to three years before bottling.
PORTO BRANCO
PORTO’S WORST KEPT SECRET
A blend of young wines from high altitude vineyards, our Porto Branco is matured in stainless steel for up to 18 months. Perfect for a Port & Tonic.
LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE
AKA LIQUID BLOOMING VOODOO
Matured for up to six years in oak vats, our LBV captures the best of a single year in our vineyards. They are rich, full-bodied wines with a smooth texture, mellowed over time by wood ageing.
10 YEAR OLD TAWNY
MADE FOR THE FUTURE
Our 10 Year Old Tawny has been aged for a decade in seasoned oak casks, losing 20% to the angels’ share along the way, and developing complex flavors of nuts, dried fruits, and vanilla.
20 YEAR OLD TAWNY
THE GODFATHER OF THE DOURO
Matured in seasoned oak casks for two decades, losing 35% to the angels’ share in the process, our 20 Year Old Tawny is fantastically concentrated with complex layers of nuts, caramel, honey and vanilla.
QUINTA DOS CANAIS
OUR BACK GARDEN IN A BOTTLE
Our Vintage Port ‘declarations’ are few and far between, but in the intervening years, our favourite vineyards at Quinta dos Canais consistently produce a remarkable yield – and we reckon that deserves to be celebrated in its own right. This Vintage Port flaunts the flavours from our home.
A new generation at Cockburn’s challenged our winemakers to produce a range of experimental ports that would be perfect for mixing. Crafted from only the highest-grade, hand-picked grapes, usually reserved for our finest wines, our Tails of the Unexpected ports are bottled young to preserve the fresh fruit flavours that allow them to shine when mixed, making for effortless and enjoyable serves. Ports without limitations.
WHITE HEIGHTS
FROM VINEYARDS ON HIGH
A fragrant, high-grade, slightly drier white port produced from the top 10% of grapes from the high-altitude vineyards of the Favaios sub-region of the Douro Valley, giving it more acidity, freshness, and lift than other white ports.
RUBY SOHO
TRADITION REINVENTED
A delicious premium ruby port bursting with ripe red fruit and brimming with character. Using grapes from Cockburn’s Quinta dos Canais, deep in the Douro Superior, this ruby port is bottled young to retain its bold, punchy fruit flavours.
TAWNY EYES
THE LIFE AND SOUL
A barrel-aged tawny port sourced from the finest casks usually destined to produce our 20 year old tawny ports. Aged in the welcoming surroundings of the Cockburn’s Lodge, Tawny Eyes is an expressive tawny port with a delicious balance between fruit and complexity.
PRODUCERS
OF LEGENDARY PORTS FOR OVER TWO CENTURIES
Producing legendary ports takes time, patience and a unique knowledge of the craft. Familyowned for over two centuries, Dow’s ports combine generations of winemaking experience with outstanding Douro grapes.
LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE
Dow’s LBV has always been a true second wine of Dow’s, a brand that is renowned for its high-scoring Vintage Ports, and this new presentation now better reflects the heritage and provenance associated with the name.
RUPERT SYMINGTON, CHAIRMAN
VINTAGE PORT
Dow’s Vintage Ports represent the pinnacle of our winemaking. From the end of the 19th century, Dow’s Vintage Ports have been blended principally from two estates – Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira –producing muscular wines with powerful, peppery tannins and a signature long, dry finish. We only produce Dow’s Vintage Port in exceptional years when conditions are superb throughout the region.
COLHEITA
Colheita 2007
Produced using wines from one of the most celebrated vintages ever, the 2007 has fresh, youthful fruit, softened by more than a decade spent in seasoned oak casks in the Dow’s Lodge. Our hallmark dry and spicy finish makes the 2007 the perfect accompaniment to sweet pastries such as apple tart.
AGED TAWNY COLLECTION
Dow’s Aged Tawny Ports are the ultimate expression of the art and craft of winemaking, cooperage, and blending. Aged in seasoned oak for decades, our Aged Tawny Ports balance nuanced wood character with bold fruit flavours and our signature dry finish.
Love the depth and layers of dried fruits on the palate, which shows figs, chocolate and caramel undertones. Full-bodied and very sweet with firm and lightly chewy tannins. Wild finish.
JAMES SUCKLING, REVIEW OF DOW’S 20 YEAR OLD TAWNY
CLASSIC & RESERVE
Fine Ruby Port is a blend of traditional grape varieties including Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca. Aged at the Dow’s Lodge for an average of three years, it is full-bodied with appealing red fruit aromas.
Fine Tawny Port is a three-yearold blend, aged to produce a smooth style of wine, combining subtle fruit flavours with delicious velvety nutty flavours. .
Fine White Port is produced from indigenous white grape varieties and is fermented between 18-22 celsius, without contact with the skins. Aged for an average of three years, it is bottled ready to drink and requires no further ageing.
Dow’s Finest Reserve is aged to perfect maturity under ideal conditions in Dow’s historic stone-walled lodge, built in 1825. Bottled ready to drink, this wine pairs wonderfully with dark chocolate desserts or cheese.
Established in 1670, Warre’s Port is the oldest British company in Portugal, having been a family business for more than 14 generations.
Warre’s pioneering spirit, combined with a deep respect for heritage and tradition, form a unique combination that places Warre’s firmly at the heart of the history of the port trade.
THE CLASSICS
Heritage Ruby Port – a robust, dark fruity wine full of youthful vigour. A blend of young, vibrant wines from different vintages, stored for up to three years in oak vats before they are blended, filtered and bottled ready to drink.
King’s Tawny Port – a three-year-old blend that brings together the youthful fruit aromas of young wines and the fine balance and mellowness achieved through maturation in oak casks.
Fine White Port – produced from traditional white grape varieties and briefly aged at our lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia in a combination of oak casks and stainless steel tanks. It is refreshing and an excellent aperitif.
WARRIOR
Warrior is a reserve ruby port of exceptional elegance and concentration. Continuously shipped since the 1750s, Warrior is the oldest port brand in the world and has no doubt been used to toast countless special occasions.
The grapes are sourced from Quinta da Cavadinha in the Pinhão Valley and Quinta do Retiro Antigo in the Rio Torto Valley. The higher altitude vineyards at Quinta da Cavadinha are cooler, which gives the port freshness, elegance, acidity and balance. The Retiro vineyard brings concentration and structure to the Warrior blend.
This is a classic reserve ruby, full of berry fruits, juicy acidity and light tannins. Hints of dried fruits combine with red berries to give a wine that is stylish and dry in the Warre’s style.
ROGER VOSS, WINE ENTHUSIAST
BOTTLE MATURED LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE
Warre’s traditional method of ageing LBVs marries both wood and bottle ageing for a distinguished style. Four years of ageing in wood, followed by bottling without any filtering and another four years maturing in the bottle prior to release, gives this unique LBV similar characteristics to Vintage Port.
QUINTA DA CAVADINHA VINTAGE PORT
Blended from the best plots of vineyard from Warre’s principal estate, Quinta da Cavadinha Vintage Port is the ultimate expression of terroir in the Douro. Reflecting the estate’s high altitude, the wines are fresh and elegant with superb complexity originating from the old, mixed vineyards at the property.
VINTAGE PORT
Warre’s Vintage Ports are distinguished for their structure, elegance and softly perfumed nose. Produced only in exceptional years, Warre’s classic Vintage Ports are a blend of the very best wines from the historic properties of Quinta da Cavadinha and Quinta do Retiro, together with contributions from Quinta das Netas and Quinta da Telhada.
OTIMA
Otima 10 – a blend of high quality wines, matured in seasoned oak barrels, creating a sophisticated and vibrant wine.
Otima 20 – expertly crafted and exquisitely balanced, this tawny port still portrays its youth, balanced with the character of prolonged barrel ageing in seasoned wood.
Otima 2013 – a beautiful expression of a tawny port from a single year that has been aged in cask for upwards of a decade before being bottled.
Otima 1992 – for over 30 years, this colheita has been slowly ageing in seasoned oak casks helping it develop into an incredibly smooth and balanced mature tawny port.
CHAMPIONING THE BEST OF PORTUGUESE WINE
In the late 1990s, we were among the first pioneers to begin blending Douro wines, producing Chryseia and Post Scriptum, Quinta do Vesúvio, Quinta do Ataíde, and Altano. Chryseia was the first Portuguese wine to appear in Wine Spectator’s 100 Best Wines of the World and has become emblematic of the Douro’s ability to produce phenomenal wines.
Fuelled by our family’s profound love of – and determination to protect – the Douro, we have been planting research vineyards and grape variety libraries since 1997. These allow us to study indigenous grape varieties’ ability to adapt to the Douro’s changing climate, and these learnings are integral to ensuring the sustainability of farming in the region.
OUR WINE PORTFOLIO
Our portfolio showcases the best of Portugal’s incredible terroirs and indigenous varieties – combining our passion for producing fine wines with a deep commitment to each region’s land and people.
ESTATES ORIGINALS
Our leading estates – each with a range of wines showcasing their unique terroir.
Our range of special, limited-edition releases and experimental wines from specific vineyards.
PARTNERSHIPS
ESSENTIALS
Approachable wines that celebrate the character of a particular region and its grape varieties. Wines produced in partnership with prestigious winemakers from other regions, as well as local experts.
PORTUGAL
DOURO ALENTEJO
VINHO VERDE
UNITED KINGDOM
HAMPSHIRE
Quinta do Vesúvio is a symbol of the Douro’s winemaking heritage, a legendary estate that has preserved the region’s traditions for over 200 years. Every wine is crafted with meticulous care, capturing the essence of its dramatic landscape and unique terroir. With an uncompromising commitment to quality, Vesúvio produces wines of remarkable finesse and depth, a true reflection of one of the world’s most extraordinary wine regions.
A STORY ABOUT OBSESSION
It was the single-minded devotion of two Douro visionaries, passionate about the region, that first carved out Vesúvio’s seat as one of the Douro’s and Portugal’s national treasures. António Bernardo Ferreira I and his daughter-in-law, Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, were the people behind the creation of the quinta as a premium wine estate. Later, after passing through the expert care of the Brito Cunha family, Vesúvio was acquired by the Symington family, who became the quinta’s guardians in 1989.
Vesúvio casts her spell over all those who have visited, and the estate is one of the last places in the world where grapes that have been picked during the day are treaded by foot in the cool of the night. It is a hauntingly beautiful thing to witness.
TWO CENTURIES OF WINE HISTORY
Two hundred years have passed since António Bernardo Ferreira acquired Quinta do Vesúvio. Back in 1823, the landscape looked dramatically different when compared to the present day: instead of vineyards, the estate was well known for its large fields of cereal, hay and fig trees.
António Bernardo strongly believed that Quinta do Vesúvio, then called Quinta das Figueiras, had the potential to become one of the best wine producing estates and therefore ordered the planting of 150ha of vines.
This gargantuan task started in 1823 and took eight years to complete. Around 500 people manually carved large terraces, building intricate stone walls and planting thousands of vines.
In 2023, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of Quinta do Vesúvio as a wine producing estate and of its purchase by António Bernardo Ferreira.
A powerfully built and nevertheless elegant wine with a long future.
QUINTA DO VESÚVIO
THE QUINTESSENTIAL EXPRESSION OF THE DOURO
The estate started producing Douro DOC wines in 2007 and they quickly reached international status. The Quinta do Vesúvio wine is the ultimate example of elegance combined with long ageing potential.
The main component of this wine is the Touriga Nacional grown in the Quinta Nova vineyard, located at 450 metres altitude, with a fine westerly aspect. This area of the estate was acquired for Vesúvio by Dona Antonia Ferreira in the mid-19th century. Little can she have imagined how valuable these high vineyards would be for the estate’s red wines in the 21st century.
JULIA HARDING MW, 2022
POMBAL DO VESÚVIO
CAPTURING VESÚVIO’S ESSENCE
One of the principal components of Pombal do Vesúvio comes from the terraced vineyards that surround the ancient dovecote (‘pombal’ in Portuguese). These terraces were planted primarily with Touriga Nacional in 2000 and form the heart of this legendary Douro property. Touriga Franca from the Vale da Teja and Minas vineyards is the other significant contributor to Pombal, along with a small portion of Tinta Amarela from the Quinta Nova vineyard.
COMBOIO DO VESÚVIO
A JOURNEY TO VESÚVIO’S HERITAGE
There has been a station on the main line Douro railroad at Quinta do Vesúvio since 1887 and the trains that pass through there are very much part of the property’s daily life. This railway forms part of Vesúvio’s rich heritage and when the Symington family decided to launch the third red wine from the legendary estate, it felt only natural to evoke the happy coexistence between railway and vineyard. ‘Comboio do Vesúvio’ (Vesúvio Train) is unoaked to underscore the wine’s youthful, fruit forward profile.
Quinta da Fonte Souto is a journey of discovery – the Symington family’s first step beyond the Douro into the uncharted potential of the Alto Alentejo. Unlike the rolling plains that define the region, here, in the Serra de São Mamede, altitude shapes everything. The cooler climate, fresh mountain air, and unique soils create wines of precision, freshness, and depth – modern yet deeply rooted in place. Fonte Souto is not just an estate, it is the expression of a singular terroir, revealing itself at its own pace.
Something special is born in the Alentejo
In Portuguese, ‘Fonte’ means source of water or fountain, and ‘Souto’ is a chestnut grove. The combination of both in the estate’s name symbolises the abundance of water from its natural springs and its beautiful chestnut groves.
Close to the São Mamede range (1,025 metres), the property benefits from the area’s altitude, with its cooler microclimate in sharp contrast to the Alentejo region’s typically hot and dry conditions. Yields are low due to the schist and granite soils, which are less fertile than those found in the flat and rolling terrain that characterises the majority of the Alentejo.
There are 207ha on the property, of which 43 are planted with vines. The principal grape varieties are Aragonês, Alfrocheiro, Trincadeira, Alicante Bouschet, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Furthermore, the quinta has a large forested area amounting to 100ha, a third of which is covered with cork oaks that are very much a feature of the Alentejo landscape.
TAIFA
ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF TERROIR
Taking its name from the small principalities and kingdoms created in the Iberian Peninsula during the Moorish period, Taifa is a white wine created with exceptional precision and quality, honouring the unique terroir that produced it. Made using only the very finest white grapes from Quinta da Fonte Souto, Taifa reveals incredible freshness and complexity, reflecting its proximity to the São Mamede mountain range. With Taifa, we pursue even more selective harvesting, favouring specific, mature vineyard plots and bringing picking forward to ensure higher acidity. A portion of the wine is vinified in new French oak barrels, enhancing structure and sense of volume.
VINHA DO SOUTO
A NEW PORTUGUESE STAR
Located at the heart of Quinta da Fonte Souto, the Vinha do Souto parcel takes its name from the large chestnut groves at the estate. Covering 3.6ha, the grapes for this red wine are sourced from the best examples of Alicante Bouschet (2.4ha) and Syrah (1.2ha) within this area. Syrah adds fresher red fruit aromas and complexity, while Alicante Bouschet brings great acidity, tannins and colour intensity. This is the flagship wine of the estate: a fantastic showcase of its terroir.
Vinha do Souto is sourced from a parcel and terroir that have unique characteristics in both soil composition and water availability – resulting in an extremely lively and dynamic wine that is positively vibrating with energy. The Vinha do Souto wine showcases the unique credentials of the Portalegre sub-region with its fresher, more elegant profile – a reflection of the higher altitudes, favourable soil composition, milder temperatures, decent rainfall and abundant groundwater reserves.
On
the palate, generous, dense and ripe, packed with fruit and powerful but still fresh.
JANCIS ROBINSON – JH, VINHA DO SOUTO 2017
QUINTA DA FONTE SOUTO RED AND WHITE TERROIR AT ITS FINEST
The two core Fonte Souto estate wines embody all the strengths of the property’s unique terroir: the freshness and balance afforded by the altitude; concentration derived from mature, low-yielding vines, and the complexity and structure provided by the judicious combination of grape varieties.
The backbone of the red is the signature Alicante Bouschet with important contributions from Trincadeira, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Alfrocheiro.
The white is a sublime expression of the Arinto variety, widely regarded as Portugal’s finest grape, with a smaller contribution of Verdelho.
QUINTA DA FONTE SOUTO ROSÉ ELEVATED FRESHNESS
Quinta da Fonte Souto Rosé emerged from a small experimental plot of Aragonez on the hillside vineyards of the estate. The winemaking approach was meticulous but minimalist, using low temperatures and very few interventions. The goal was to preserve its freshness and delicate aromas.
ALFROCHEIRO AND ALICANTE BOUSCHET
SINGULARITY AT ITS BEST
Alfrocheiro was the first in a limited series of varietal wines from Quinta da Fonte Souto, highlighting unique expressions of the Portalegre estate. This grape variety expresses a perfect balance between the fresh aromatic profile provided by altitude and the variety’s inherent intensity and structure.
Fonte Souto’s Alicante Bouschet embodies the estate’s hallmark freshness and balance, as well as immense complexity and structure from plots of mature vines. A fabulous, epicurean wine to pair with rich, savoury dishes.
FLORÃO WHITE AND RED ALTITUDE AND EASE
The Florão wines represent the most approachable Fonte Souto style, made with all the attention to detail and care of the other estate wines but with a more youthful profile intended for drinking young.
Quinta do Ataíde is where tradition meets the future—a place of innovation, sustainability, and bold thinking in the Douro. Unlike the region’s steep slopes, Ataíde’s rolling landscapes of Vale da Vilariça have long fostered a different approach. Home to one of the oldest Touriga Nacional vineyards in the Douro, preserved through a pioneering spirit, it now houses Symington’s largest organic vineyard and our state-of-the-art LEED-certified winery. Here, wines are crafted with tomorrow in mind— respecting the land, embracing innovation, and redefining what the Douro can be.
ADEGA DO ATAÍDE
In 2023, we opened our new low-impact winery, Adega do Ataíde, which is located at Quinta do Ataíde in the Vilariça Valley. Adega do Ataíde was officially granted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) GOLD certification in 2024 – making it not only the first winery in Portugal to achieve this recognition, but also the first in Europe to surpass 60 LEED points, which is the threshold for being granted the GOLD certification level. There are only three other wineries in the world that have reached this level of LEED certification, which addresses energy efficiency, water conservation, site selection, material selection, day lighting and waste reduction.
The design and layout of the winery, its location, and the vegetal covering of the roof were designed in such a way as to integrate the building into the
surrounding natural landscape, nestling amongst the organic vineyards. It makes maximum use of sloping plains to accommodate itself in the terrain, causing as little disruption as possible. Careful landscaping around the building using indigenous vegetation helps to minimize its impact and control the ambient temperature around the winery.
The construction of this advanced winery is inspired by (and is part of) our long-term commitment to sustainability and innovation. As Portugal’s first certified B Corporation wine company, we are implementing a far-reaching sustainability strategy across our entire process from vineyard to bottle. The winery produces our red wines from Quinta do Ataíde, Quinta do Vesúvio, and our premium Altano wines.
WINEMAKING
Quinta do Ataíde is home to the largest ampelographic field in Portugal, with an area of 2.25ha and 53 different grape varieties. Continuing the property’s tradition of pioneering viticulture, this research vineyard, the only one of its kind in northern Portugal, studies different grape varieties’ adaptability to specific conditions. The reality of climate change has made this grape variety library more relevant than ever.
Quinta do Ataíde is also home to a huge variety of wild species. A lack of herbicides and tractor-trimmed wild grasses make the estate a fantastic place for wildlife to thrive. Besides the traditional schist and granite, we find here three distinct types of topsoil: sandy loam, silt loam, and, in some places, clay loam – with its good propensity to retain water.
THE REBIRTH OF TOURIGA NACIONAL
The Vinha do Arco parcel has its origins in a plantation of 1800 Touriga Nacional vines located at Quinta do Ataíde, Vale da Vilariça. The role of this vineyard in the reintroduction of Touriga Nacional as one of the main and most propagated Portuguese grape varieties was fundamental to avoid its extinction.
Ignoring the fact that Touriga Nacional was almost completely replaced by other, more productive, grape varieties during the 1980s, a nursery vineyard was established at Ataíde to research and improve its quality and production levels – work first started by Cockburn’s legendary viticulturist and winemaker, John Henry Smithes, in the 1930s.
Later on, when Touriga Nacional in the Douro was practically extinct, the success of these new Touriga Nacional vines from the Vinha do Arco plot attracted the attention of many winegrowers and this Ataíde plantation became the main source of Touriga Nacional vines for a significant number of Douro plantations.
QUINTA DO ATAÍDE
TRANSLATING PREMIUM ORGANIC TERROIR
Produced at Quinta do Ataíde in the Vilariça Valley (Douro Superior) — an area in complete contrast to the steeply terraced slopes of the main Douro Valley. Rainfall is low at about 500mm with very cold winters and hot summers. These factors create ideal conditions for organic viticulture and for the production of exceptional Douro wines. This Quinta do Ataíde wine is very aromatic, deepcoloured and concentrated, showing the unique identity of the Vilariça terroir.
QUINTA DO ATAÍDE VINHA DO ARCO
BOLD
AND POWERFUL
Produced exclusively from Touriga Nacional vines planted in the early 1980s on the Vinha do Arco vineyard at Quinta do Ataíde. These fourdecade old vines yield wines of great consistency and quality that combine concentration, structure and elegance.
Deeply concentrated and finely layered on the palate with an aromatically rich and complex bouquet, this exceptional Touriga Nacional wine demonstrates the unique potential of this grape variety and pays homage to a parcel that is regarded as the origin of its resurgence.
A STUNNING EXPRESSION OF THE DOURO
Since we began our mission to produce great still wines in the Douro, we have been learning how white varieties perform in this unique and challenging terroir. Pequeno Dilema is our answer to whether the Douro can produce truly beautiful white wines.
Fresh and elegant with great poise and character, Pequeno Dilema is sourced from two of our family’s most prized high-lying vineyards: Tapadinha and Chões. With Tapadinha located 580m above the Rio Torto Valley and Chões 520m above the Pinhão River Valley, the altitude allows for more moderate temperatures and smoother maturations, resulting in a wine with immense freshness, balance, and elegance.
Can an area famous for producing incredible port wines also make exceptional white wines? Pequeno Dilema is our fresh, elegant, and emphatic answer to that question.
SINGULAR WINES, BORN FROM OUR NATURAL CURIOSITY
Ilustres Desconhecidos is a collection of wines that unveil unique vineyards and plots within the Symington heritage, places that until now were known only to our family and the viticulture and oenology teams. They tell stories that have so far never been told and are a testament to the expertise and creativity of our winemakers.
The first releases are produced from grapes harvested at Vinha da Tapadinha. Located high above the Rio Torto Valley near Quinta do Retiro, Tapadinha sits in one of the most famous sub-regions of the Douro. In 2015, we planted 11 white grape varieties – each with 700 vines – with the aim of studying their potential for producing high quality white wines in the Douro. The result: bright, bold and expressive wines.
This collection will always be released in very limited quantities and, sometimes, unique editions that will not be repeated.
TWO GREAT WINEMAKING TRADITIONS
In 1999, our family formed a partnership to make top Douro wines with the Prats family of Bordeaux. This alliance applies Bordeaux winemaking methods to grapes that are traditionally destined for the production of great Vintage Ports.
Prats & Symington wines are made at one of the Douro’s greatest estates, the beautiful Quinta de Roriz. This historic vineyard dates from 1565 and has long been famous for the quality of its wines. The 42ha Roriz vineyard is complemented by the 23ha Quinta da Perdiz in the neighboring Rio Torto valley.
The first Prats & Symington wine was Chryseia 2000, which received widespread national and international acclaim. Since then, Chryseia and its second wine, Post Scriptum, have consistently appeared among the most highly-rated Douro wines. Prats & Symington also make Prazo de Roriz, a red wine produced from younger vines and, in exceptional years, a Quinta de Roriz Vintage Port.
CHRYSEIA
WORLD-CLASS DOURO
The word Douro literally means ‘golden’ in Portuguese (“d’ouro”, de ouro). This was the inspiration for the wine’s name: Chryseia, the Greek word for golden. Chryseia was the first Portuguese non-fortified wine in the Wine Spectator’s annual Top 100 Wines and has now appeared four times in this influential list. In 2014, Chryseia 2011 was ranked at number three in the Top 100, the highest ever placing of a Douro wine. This is a world class Douro DOC red wine, which has been integral in establishing Douro DOC wine in the world’s most discerning fine wine markets.
A blend of the Douro’s two most highly prized red varieties, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca, and aged for between 14 and 16 months in 400 litre, new French oak barrels, Chryseia is the ultimate translation of elegance and finesse with great ageing potential.
POST SCRIPTUM
A SEDUCTIVE BLEND
Post Scriptum is a partner wine to Chryseia and is drawn from the same vineyards. Its profile is similar, with expressive, fresh and concentrated fruit married to exquisite balance and elegance. Lighter oaked, it is ready to enjoy at a younger age.
PRAZO DE RORIZ
BOLD AND JUICY
Prazo de Roriz is characterized particularly by red fruit flavours – raspberries and cherries – and the Quinta de Roriz terroir provides a distinctive minerality and appealing peppery spice. The Quinta da Perdiz vineyard also provides grapes for Prazo de Roriz. The wine is made for drinking young, but with the potential for developing in bottle for several years.
VINHO VERDE
Following our acquisition of the historic estate of Casa de Rodas in the prestigious Monção and Melgaço sub-region of the Vinho Verde DOC in northern Portugal, our family joined forces with the renowned winemaker Anselmo Mendes and the Mendes and Symington families decided to create a joint venture. Our goal is to produce premium wines with the utmost quality and prestige, demonstrating our firm belief in the enormous potential of this unique region.
Originally built in 1566, Casa de Rodas is a historic property in Monção acquired by our family in 2022. A typically Minho manor house, in addition to the vineyard and garden area on the property, also includes a chapel dating back to 1768. The 27.5ha estate has a rich history in the Vinho Verde region. In the 1920’s it was the first to commercially export Alvarinho wine with the grape variety clearly – and proudly – stated on the label.
The joint venture also included the acquisition of the renowned Vinho Verde brand, Contacto, produced by Anselmo Mendes, which has seen enormous success in Portugal and internationally.
DOURO SPARKLING WINE
Our family invested in Caves Transmontanas, which owns Vértice – one of Portugal’s most prestigious sparkling wine brands from the Douro. Vértice wines have a unique profile and benefit from long periods of ageing (often over decades) before disgorgement, giving them a wonderfully elegant character.
Vértice wines are produced using grapes from the Alijó Plateau in the Cima Corgo subregion of the Douro Valley. Located at an altitude of 600-800m, the soils are predominantly granite or a mixture of granite and schist.
The Cima Corgo’s unique climatic conditions are fundamental in achieving Vértice wines’ hallmark freshness and minerality.
ENGLISH SPARKLING WINE
After producing wine in Portugal for over 140 years, we have now taken our first steps outside of the country. In 2023, we purchased one of the leading English sparkling wine producers, Hambledon, in an equal partnership with Berry Bros & Rudd – the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. Hambledon is England’s oldest commercial vineyard, with vines first planted on the site in 1952. Today, Hambledon produces world-class wines from 200 acres of vineyard planted on the same grade of chalk as Grand Cru Côte des Blancs in Champagne.
A NATURAL EXPRESSION OF THE DOURO
Altano is the Douro with no barriers – authentic, versatile, and always delivering more. It’s a wine that respects tradition but isn’t bound by it, bringing the best of the region in a way that feels fresh and effortless. Made from a blend of vineyards across the Douro Valley, Altano is for those who want quality without complication. Because in the end, there is a Douro for everyone.
ALTANO RED, WHITE AND ROSÉ ELEGANT AND REFRESHING
ALTANO RESERVA RED AND WHITE INTENSE AND COMPLEX
Altano red and white are typically Douro in character with rich, youthful fruit balanced by appealing freshness and spice, while rosé shows crisp, delicate strawberry flavours and flinty, mineral character. The grapes are sourced principally from the Cima Corgo subregion, and from higher altitude vineyards for the white.
Altano Reserve red and white wines are produced with traditional Douro grape varieties from our family-owned vineyards in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior subregions. Both are aged in a combination of new and second year oak and will develop in bottle beyond five to six years. These wines show complexity, elegance, and a strong sense of Douro provenance.
ALTANO ORGANIC RED A NATURAL BALANCE
Altano organic red is made from grapes sourced from the our family’s extensive organically-farmed Vilariça Valley vineyards. This enjoyable red has full, brambly fruit and rounded spicy tannis.
WILD AT HEART
Altano Rewilding Edition is an exciting collaboration between Symington Family Estates and Rewilding Portugal, helping to support the environmental conservation of a 120,000ha wildlife corridor in the Greater Côa Valley. Every bottle sold of the Rewilding Edition contributes financial support to Rewilding Portugal’s projects in the north of Portugal.
Altano Rewilding is made from grapes grown at our family’s properties, partially sourced from higher altitude vineyards to produce a wine with a fresh, elegant and fruit-driven profile. Three grape varieties define the red
wine: Touriga Franca, for the fresh, floral aromatics; Tinta Roriz, for the bright, rich red fruit flavours, and Tinta Barroca, for structure, substance and vigour. We also launched the Altano Rewilding red wine in an innovative Bag in Tube (BIT) format. This is an eye-catching and bold concept, with vivid illustrations and a strong sustainability message throughout.
As well as the Rewilding Edition, we are long-term partners of Rewilding Portugal, providing funding for their core team.
WELCOME TO THE GANG
Bom Malandro is a wine brand created in reverse. Instead of the usual grape varieties, estates, or terroir, we started with the story of our unmistakable main character – true to our belief that a fresh wine deserves a fresh approach.
Bom Malandro expresses how we feel about modern life: we’re constantly on the go and it can be exhausting. It can also be easy to forget that the best things often happen when we take some time to be in the moment and have fun.
Being a bom malandro is to embrace the silliness in the everyday. To be spontaneous. To take some risks and to be truly in the moment.
Wonderfully vibrant
Bom Malandro (cheeky rascal) and the gang know what they like, and that’s Douro DOC: expressive, fresh, and unmistakably Douro – just like them. Bom Malandro wines are traditional Douro blends made using indigenous grape varieties grown in vineyards located at a minimum of 400m altitude in the Cima Corgo region. This altitude gives the wines their distinctive freshness, balance, and fruit-forward profiles. Perfect for sharing. Perfect for plotting.
We are a certified B Corporation – part of a global community of businesses audited for the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility.
Read more about our sustainability strategy. www.symington.com/sustainability
SYMINGTON FAMILY ESTATES
Travessa Barão de Forrester 86, 4431-901 Vila Nova de Gaia · Portugal