Dow’s Vintage Port 6 / Case

”Dow’s is owned and managed by the fourth generation of the Symington family Port producers since the 19th Century. The family whose experience dates back over 100 years supervises all the vineyards winemaking and ageing of this wine. Dow’s owns two of the Douro’s finest Quintas Senhora da Ribeira and Bomfim. They were acquired in 1890 and 1896 making Dow’s one of the first houses to invest in premium vineyards. THE VITICULTURAL YEAR Records exist at Bomfim unique in the Douro dating back to the Vintage of 1891. In the 25 Vintage Ports ‘Declared’ by Dow’s in the 20th Century it is remarkable how often rainfall at the end of August or early September played a key role. After the long dry summer the vines are in need of water. Rainfall even if only a little allows the grapes to swell the skins to soften and the sugar readings to rise. In 2000 it rained at Bomfim on the 22nd and 24th August and again on the 11th September. This was ideal and had a major impact on the q