The Douro – 20 Years On
Nearly two decades have elapsed since the Symington family launched their first Douro wines. With a number of established Port companies, some dating dating back to the 17th Century, it was a big step to add a completely new division in the late 1990s. At the time Douro wines were relatively new. The region was only demarcated for unfortified wines in 1979 and, with a few notable exceptions, these so called table wines were not very well received at the outset. In effect the Port producers had to relearn their craft - in some cases 'grandmothers sucking eggs' comes to mind!