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Twitter Share to Linkedin Quinta Reflection When it comes to the world of wines, there's a spectrum of emotions, occasions, and flavors that is as wide as a vineyard is vast. Take a deep breath, think of Port, and immediately, scenes shift to the calmer waters of an evening. Champagne may be for celebration, but Port is for the moments of relaxation. Port, a fortified wine, has a robust heritage, closely knit with tradition of comfort. It remains a stalwart of the social nightcap, an invitation to slow down and savor the confluence of swirling flavors that mature with time. Its role is not to echo the bubbling excitement of an adventure, but to wrap around the soul in a warm, thick blanket of satisfaction. While there are several producers of Port ( ‘porto’ in Portuguese) and Port style wines, the leading producer is Symington Family Estates. The combined sales of their Port companies make up over 33% of all premium Port in the world. The history of the family dates back to The Douro Valley , a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the ancestral home of Port wine. In 1882 Andrew James Symington, a young Scot, arrived in Portugal as a Port wine buyer. In 1891 he married Porto-born Beatrice Leitão de Carvalhosa Atkinson and together they sowed the seeds of a family dynasty that would redefine the industry. Fast forward to 2024 and Symington Family Estates is being led by a fourth generation Symington, CEO Rupert Symington. He along with other 4th, 5th, and now 6th generation family members are expanding with key acquisitions, sustainable practices, and pushing the notion (at least in the U.S Market) that Port is not just a dessert wine. Despite changing global landscapes and the shiny lure of modernism, Symington Wines has stayed true to principles that honor the land, the grape, and the meticulous craftsmanship that embodies Port. The portfolio of Portugal’s Symington Family Estates is almost as deep as their family tree which includes six generations in the Port trade. Below are four distinct brands in the family to start your relaxation in a glass. Graham’s Graham’s is the ultimate luxury Port brand. Specializing in top quality Port styles such as Vintage and old Tawny, Graham´s has one of the largest stocks of aging wine. Six Grapes The Best Window Air Conditioners To Keep Cool In The Warmer Months Major Quake Hits Taiwan At Least Nine Killed As Dozens Of Buildings Are Damaged
Real Madrid Team ‘Much Better Than Galacticos’, Says Club Legend Six Grapes Vila Velha Type: Ruby A combination of herbal and floral fragrances suggest pine resin, eucalyptus and rock rose — a common wildflower in the Douro. Aromas of rich, black fruits are also present, and these are followed with a palate of delicious blackberry and black currant flavors. There are also some dark chocolate and mocha notes. Cocktail Options : Port Manhattan – 3 dashes Orange Bitters, 2 oz. Rye Whiskey, 1 oz. Ruby Port Graham's 20 YR Old Tawny Type: Tawny This 20-year-old tawny by Graham has an amber, golden tawny color. On the nose, it shows an excellent bouquet with a characteristic ‘nutty’ character and delicious mature fruit with hints of orange peel. On the palate, it is rich, sweet and smooth, with a long and elegant finish. Cocktail Options : Betsy Ross - 1 oz brandy, 2 oz Tawny Port, ½ oz triple sec Dow’s Noted for its drier style of Ports, Dow has long been a Vintage Port legend with its best wines having an extraordinary capacity for long aging in bottle. The drier theme continues through the whole range including old tawnies and the classic Late Bottle Vintage (LBV). Dow's 20 Year Old Tawny Port Dow LBV 2018 Type: Late Bottle Vintage Bright, exuberant aromas of blackberry and blueberry with notes of mint, which gives the wine an incredible freshness. The substantial mouthfeel carries ample black forest fruit and fleshy, black plum flavors punctuated by peppery tannins and fine acidity, all combining to underscore the wine’s fine structure and balance. The long aftertaste suggests tobacco and tea, wrapped in Dow’s trademark dry finish. Cocktail Options: Port Lemonade - 1 oz. LBV, 1 1/2 oz. Vodka citron, 2 oz. Lemonade Dow 20 YR Old Tawny Type: Tawny With a polished brown center and orange-amber edges, this wine has a honeysuckle scent with discreet butterscotch notes. Refined and balanced on the palate, flinty and mellowed tannins meld with concentrated red berry fruit and lifted mineral freshness. Nuanced flavors of tobacco lead to a focused, dry finish. Cocktail Options: Port in a Storm - 1½ oz Tawny Port, 1 oz dark rum, Ginger beer Cockburn’s (For non-British speakers it’s pronounced ‘Ko-Burn’ ) Long associated with informal social occasions, Cockburn´s has been the United Kingdom’s favorite Port brand since the 1960´s when it launched its pioneering Special Reserve. Cockburn´s has never been afraid of experimentation to attract new consumers and the new White Heights is a fine example. Cockburn's -PLEASE PRONOUNCE RESPONSIBLY ;) Cockburn’s Special Reserve Type: Reserve A garnet red color. Cockburn’s Special Reserve has a youthful nose packed with rich and concentrated red fruit aromas, predominantly red cherry with hints of plum and strawberry. On the palate it's sweet, well rounded, medium length and with luscious red berry flavors leading to a distinctive peppery finish. Cocktail Options: Cockburn Martini – 2 oz. Reserve Port, ½ Cranberry Juice, 1 oz. Cockburn’s Tails of the unexpected White Heights Type: White Port Fresh tropical fruit flavors such as papaya and pineapple lead the way, supported by light aromas of honeysuckle. Crisp yellow plum and pear notes finish with just a touch of vanilla. Cocktail Options: Port and Tonic – 3 oz. White Port, 7 oz Tonic water, wedge of lime, sprig of mint Vesuvio Arguably the most famous and majestic Port estate of the Douro valley, Quinta do Vesúvio still produces extraordinary Vintage Ports from the property almost every year, but has branched out into making red Douro table wines which are attracting growing attention. Its easterly location and restricted rainfall produce highly concentrated and aromatic Ports and Douro wines at the top end of the quality range. Vesuvio 2001 Vintage Port Type: Vintage Port Very dark ruby color. The Touriga Nacional’s tiny yields brought great concentration to the wine, while the Touriga Franca, due to the good weather during the harvest, achieved perfect ripening, created wines of great elegance. Concentrated berry aromas are equally present on the palate with a rich spicy finish. Excellent structure and aging potential. Cocktail Options: Don’t do it! Vintage Port are grapes grown from a single year with such high quality there are declared a “vintage year.” Thus mixing in a cocktail is not recommended. Think – using the highest quality champagne to make a mimosa. When the great European poets and philosophers of the 19th and 20th centuries applauded their accomplishments, most did it with sparkling wine in hand. Yet if you could have caught them working through the day-to-day musings that lead to evening contemplation, a glass of Port was surely by their side. Unlike the flickering
fire of Champagne, Port is about longevity—an understated elegance that flows with the subtlety of life polishing off its rough edges. Quinta da Vila Velha in Portugal's Douro Valley Interested in a full sensory experience with Port in Portugal? Symington Family Estates offers unique opportunities in Porto, the Douro Valley, and the Alentejo to experience the incredible sights, sounds, smells and tastes of our wines, the landscape, and the very best Portuguese food. Learn more here . Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions