Dow's
Summary
Dow's is a historic Port house owned by the Symington family since 1961, operating two principal quintas in Portugal's Douro Valley where they cultivate traditional Portuguese varieties on steep, schist-rich slopes to produce Vintage, LBV, and aged Tawny Ports. Their winemaking balances centuries-old methods like foot treading in granite lagares with modern innovations such as robotic lagares, while maintaining their signature dry finish and implementing sustainable practices that have earned them B Corporation certification.
Heritage & Leadership
Dow's Port was established in 1798 when Bruno da Silva, a Portuguese merchant, arrived in London and began importing wines from his native Portugal. The company evolved through a series of partnerships, becoming Silva & Cosens, and later merging with another Port shipper, Dow & Co., in 1877 to form Dow's. In 1961, the Symington family acquired full ownership of Dow's, adding it to their portfolio of Port houses. Today, Dow's operates as part of Symington Family Estates, with the fifth generation of Symingtons actively managing the business. The current leadership includes Paul, Johnny, Rupert, and Charles Symington, who respectively oversee different aspects of the business from viticulture to winemaking and commercial operations. Throughout its history, Dow's has maintained a reputation for producing structured, dry-finish Ports, with Quinta do Bomfim serving as its flagship estate since acquisition in the late 19th century.
Vineyards & Wines
Dow's vineyards are concentrated in the Douro Valley, with two principal quintas (estates) forming the backbone of their production: Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira. Quinta do Bomfim, located in the Cima Corgo subregion near Pinhão, spans 98 hectares, with 76 hectares under vine. The vineyard sits at elevations between 120-350 meters, featuring predominantly south-facing slopes with schist soils. Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira, situated in the Douro Superior near the confluence with the Torto River, encompasses 42 hectares, with 28 hectares planted to vines at elevations of 150-400 meters. The principal grape varieties cultivated include Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Sousão, Tinta Barroca, and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), with many vineyard blocks containing vines over 30 years old. Dow's produces a range of Ports including Vintage Port (only declared in exceptional years), Late Bottled Vintage (LBV), Tawny Ports (10, 20, 30, and 40 years), and the distinctive Trademark Finest Reserve. Their Vintage Ports, particularly from Quinta do Bomfim and Senhora da Ribeira, are known for their concentration and dry finish.
Philosophy & Practice
Dow's winemaking philosophy centers on traditional Port production methods combined with modern precision. At their wineries, foot treading in granite lagares remains an important practice for top-tier Vintage Ports, while robotic lagares developed by the Symington family complement this traditional approach for other premium offerings. Fermentation is arrested through the addition of grape spirit at precisely determined points to achieve their characteristic dry finish. Aging protocols vary by Port style: Vintage Ports age two years in large wooden vats before bottling, while Tawny Ports mature in 550-liter seasoned oak pipes for their designated periods. The company employs a fractional blending system for their aged Tawnies to maintain consistency. Dow's has implemented water efficiency measures across their vineyards and adopted integrated pest management to reduce chemical interventions. The Symington family has obtained B Corporation certification for their entire business, including Dow's, reflecting their commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Their vineyard management includes the preservation of traditional dry-stone terraces and the maintenance of biodiversity corridors throughout their estates.