Producer
Warre
The oldest of all British Port producers, Warre's has been operating in the region since the 18th century. Messrs Clarke Thornton spawned the company that was to become Warre's. William Warre added his name to the company when he became partner in 1729. The current Symington family owners involvent started when Andrew James Symington was admitted into partnership in the firm of Warre Co having arrived from Scotland in 1882...Read more
The oldest of all British Port producers, Warre's has been operating in the region since the 18th century. Messrs Clarke Thornton spawned the company that was to become Warre's. William Warre added his name to the company when he became partner in 1729. The current Symington family owners involvent started when Andrew James Symington was admitted into partnership in the firm of Warre Co having arrived from Scotland in 1882 and worked alongside the existing members of the Warre family since then. The depression that followed, meant that many shippers fell on hard times. During this period the Warre family sold their remaining shares to their partners, the Symingtons. As with other Port houses, Warre's will always be inextricably linked with its quintas, the estates dotted along the Douro and her tributaries that are the source of this region's grapes. With Warre's this is Quinta da Cavadinha, located in the Pinhão Valley in the upper reaches of the Douro, known as the Alto Douro (or Douro Superior). Today it is widely acknowledged that it is these arid vineyards, that are the source of the best quality grapes. Cavadhina is an important source of fruit for Warre's Vintage Port, and in non-declared years it may be bottled as a single quinta wine. It is also the location of Warre's experimental vineyard. Warre's have also recently acquired the 46 hectare Quinta do Bom Retiro Pequeno, a leading estate located in the Rio Torto valley, from which they have historically sourced fruit. As with other Port houses, Warre's also maintain a lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the site purchased by Messrs Clarke, Thornton and Warre. Today the buildings house the largest oak vat used by any house, the Memel Vat, which holds the equivalent of over 178000 bottles of Port.Read less
