Symington Family Estate Launches Super-Premium Label Quinta Da Fonte Souto

Quinta da Fonte Souto, an estate in the Portalegre sub-region of Portugal’s Alto Alentejo area acquired in 2017, marks Symington’s first foray outside the Douro region.

Symington Family Estates is best known for its range of Port brands—including names like Dow’s, Graham’s, Cockburn’s, and Warre’s—totaling about 1.8 million cases annually. But the company is also investing aggressively in table wine, and recently launched a new super-premium label, Quinta da Fonte Souto, in the U.S. through its Premium Port Wines subsidiary. Quinta da Fonte Souto, a 511-acre estate in the Portalegre sub-region of Portugal’s Alto Alentejo area acquired in 2017, marks Symington’s first foray outside the Douro region. The range includes DOC Alentejo Portalegre Tinto composed of Alicante Bouschet, Tinta Amarela, Alfrocheiro, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah ($25 a 750-ml.); Alentejo Portalegre Branco white blend of Arinto and Verdelho ($25); and DOC Alentejo Portalegre Vinha do Souto made of Alicante Bouschet and Syrah ($55). About 5,000 cases were produced for the first vintage. Portuguese table wines have been trending upward in the U.S. in recent years, with shipments rising from less than 1 million cases in 2012 to 1.75 million cases last year, according to Impact Databank. Symington Family Estates CEO Rupert Symington sees an opportunity to build on that momentum, as U.S. tourism to Portugal surges and consumers become more familiar with the category. “We’ve found the $25-$30 price point to be the best position for our table wines,” says Symington, adding that Portugal’s price-value equation remains highly favorable at that level compared with most other wine regions. Overall, Symington now produces around 150,000 cases of table wine annually across its portfolio.