Dow's

For over two centuries, Dow’s has been one of the most respected port brands, known above all for its drier and more austere style of vintage port, which sets it apart from most of its competitors. The company, based in Vila Nova de Gaia, with its main vineyards in the upper reaches of the Douro Valley, is now in the hands of the fifth generation of the Symington family.

History

The story begins in 1798, when a Portuguese merchant named Bruno da Silva travelled to London and began importing wine from Portugal, soon gaining an excellent reputation. During the Napoleonic Wars, his company was the only port wine producer granted an armed escort across the Bay of Biscay. In 1862, John da Silva joined forces with Frederick William Cosens to found the company Silva & Cosens. In 1877, James R. Dow merged his port wine company with Silva & Cosens, and although his firm was smaller, the name ‘Dow’s’ was retained due to its outstanding reputation.

In 1912, Andrew James Simington took over the management of Dow’s vineyards and cellars, and by 1961 the Simington family had become the sole owners.

Vineyards

Quinta do Bomfim, situated by the river in the Cima Corgo region, has been the foundation of Dow’s Vintage Ports since 1896. It is located where the wetter conditions of Baixo Corgo to the west and the intense heat of the Douro Superior to the east meet. Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira lies 24 kilometres upstream, with drier winters and very hot summers, as well as a large number of old vines producing wines of exceptional concentration. Two small estates, Serdeira and Santinho, are situated nearby.

Terroir

The vineyards are situated on the steep schist slopes of the Upper Douro, where poor, stony soils force the vines to dig deep into the earth in search of water and nutrients. Schist, a layered metamorphic rock, retains heat during cold nights, prolongs the growing season and gives the port wines their characteristic mineral backbone.

Grape Varieties

The vineyards at Quinta do Bomfim are mainly planted with Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz and old mixed vines. At the Senhora da Ribeira vineyards, the proportion of Touriga Nacional is higher. 

Winemaking

At the Quinta do Bomfim vineyards, the grapes are hand-harvested and then crushed in modern presses. At the Senhora da Ribeira vineyard, robotic presses are used. Fermentation is halted by the addition of grape spirit to preserve the natural sweetness. Vintage port is aged for two to two and a half years in wooden casks, after which it is bottled without filtration. A vintage is officially declared only about three times a decade.

The Wines

The range covers the entire spectrum of port wines.

The flagship range is vintage port, which is produced only in declared years. In non-declared years, Quinta do Bomfim wines are bottled as single-varietal wines.Late Bottled Vintage wine, aged for four to six years in casks before bottling, is ready to drink sooner.

The Aged Tawny collection includes wines aged for 10, 20, 30 and 40 years. Ruby and Reserve wines complete the range for everyday enjoyment.