Symington Family Estates releases 2023 Quinta Vintage Ports

Symington Family Estates has announced the release of six Quinta Vintage Ports from the 2023 harvest. The family has chosen not to declare a classic vintage, instead focusing on site-specific expressions from top-performing estates. Symington Family Estates has confirmed that 2023 will not be a declared classic vintage. While St George’s Day traditionally sees classic vintage announcements, the family has instead opted to release Single Quinta Vintage Ports from six of their top Douro estates. Following their annual vintage review, the decision was made to highlight the exceptional quality found in specific quintas. “Our ability to maximise the potential of the 2023 conditions depended on a well-planned picking schedule, agile teams, and favourable weather. Our reward is these beautifully balanced 2023 Quinta Vintage Ports, which represent the finest expression of the year. These wines are made from the best-performing plots of vineyard at each estate, which we’ve brought together to create excellent, terroir-driven Quinta Vintage Ports with great ageing potential,” said Charles Symington, head winemaker.

Four wines to be released en primeur

Four of the six Quinta Vintage Ports will be released en primeur in 2025. These include:

• Quinta do Vesúvio
• Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira
• Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos (available in magnums and 3l only)
• Dow’s Quinta do Bomfim (available in magnums and 3l only)

The remaining two — Warre’s Quinta da Cavadinha and Cockburn’s Quinta dos Canais — will be held back in the family’s cellars for future release. Bottling will take place in May, with wines available from mid-June.

A growing season of contrasts

The 2023 harvest followed a succession of challenging years in the Douro marked by prolonged heatwaves and low rainfall. This vintage brought renewed optimism. Abundant winter and spring rainfall revitalised soils, and a mild summer enabled steady maturation. Though July and August were dry, early September rain played a crucial role in enhancing fruit quality. Key Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca plots were picked just before further rainfall, yielding “beautifully fresh, balanced wines.” The final selection for vintage bottling was made after a year of careful tastings.

A rare alignment still to come

It has been six years since the last classic vintage was declared by the Symingtons, with 2017 the most recent. Given that their estates are spread across the Douro’s mountainous terrain, a classic declaration requires an exceptional alignment of quality across all properties. The family reiterated its long-held philosophy of allowing each year’s conditions to guide the outcome. “In years when conditions are consistently favourable across the entire region, they seize the rare opportunity to produce classic Vintage Port.” When excellence is more localised, as in 2023, the focus shifts to Quinta Vintage Ports in small quantities.