The important port wine house in Porto (Portugal) grew out of various port wine companies in the course of its history. The founder was the Scotsman Andrew James Symington (1863-1939), who immigrated in 1882. He began his career with Warre's port wine company (with Quinta da Cavadinha) and later also became a partner in this company. George Warre owned the majority of Dow's Port (with Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhorada Ribeira) at this time. In 1912 Symington took a share in Dow's, while Warre bought back part of the company founded by his family. The Symington family was responsible for production and the Warre family for sales and distribution.
In 1961, Warre sold the remaining stake to the Symingtons, which meant that Dow was now also 100% incorporated. The third port company to be taken over was W & J Graham's (with Quinta dos Malvedos) in 1970, together with its sister company Smith Woodhouse. It then continued with Gould Campbell and last in 1989 with Quinta do Vesuvio. A partnership with the Quinta de Roriz estate, owned by João van Zeller, a distant relative of the family, was amicably dissolved in 2008. However, there is no port brand called Symington, the products are produced under the names of the respective companies or wineries. Each has its own stocks.
The estate includes 26 quintas (wineries) with a total of 2,255 hectares of land, about half of which is planted with vines. The second half consists of Mediterranean natural vegetation with some olive groves and citrus groves. All vineyards are cultivated according to non-invasive principles with as little intervention as possible; part of them according to rules of organic (ecological) viticulture. There is a comprehensive sustainability strategy with measurable goals to contribute to the economic, social and environmental well-being of the region.
Since 1988, the company has been a shareholder in the Madeira Wine Company, the largest producer in Madeira. The second major shareholder is the Madeira company Blandy. The joint ownership includes the brands Blandy, Cossart Gordon, Leacock and Miles. In the Douro area, DOC wines have been produced since 1999. Since 2000, the red wine "Chryseia" (Greek Gold) has been blended from the varieties Touriga Nacional (80%), Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) and Tinto Cão and marketed under the label "P + S" (Prats and Symington). This is a joint creation with Bruno Prats, the former owner of Château Cos d'Estournel. In 2017, the Quinta da Fonte Souto vineyard in the Serra de São Mamede in the Alentejo area was acquired.
Three distribution companies are dedicated to the sale and marketing of family-owned port and other quality wines. These are Portfolio in Portugal, Fells in England and Premium Port Wines in the USA. Today, the group "Symington Family Estates" is managed by several Symingtons in leading positions in already the fourth and fifth family generation. Senior director and head is Paul Symington. The company is very active socially through financial support. These include the Bagos d'Ouro organisation, which helps disadvantaged children in the Douro, and the Centre for the Recovery of Wild Animals (CRAS) at the University Veterinary Hospital in Vila Real. Many birds of prey recovered there are returned to nature. Each year, two courses in viticulture and oenology are sponsored for two students at UTAD University (Vila Real). Symington is also a sponsor of the Institute of Masters of Wine and the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust), as well as a member of the prominent family wineries association PFV (Primum Familiae Vini).
Quinta do Vesuvio: Symington
Lagar: Quinta do Bomfim
