Fonseca Guimaraens
Fonseca Guimaraens, more commonly known simply as Fonseca, is one of the largest and most renowned Port wine producers. The origin of the company is tied to the history of a Brazilian family, the Fonsecas, who settled in the Portuguese city of Oporto from the late 1700s, engaging in trade with their homeland: they exported wine, oil, and clothing to Brazil and imported sugar and hemp to Portugal. In 1815, the first company was founded, while in 1822 a young member, Manuel Pedro Guimaraens, was sent to London to expand the commercial network. The family business soon became famous as an exporter of Portuguese wine, so much so that it quickly started its own production: the first bottle signed Fonseca appeared in 1840. The following two centuries saw the company rapidly expand: the commercial network grew worldwide, and the production of Port increased. Today, the company is still led by the descendants of the Fonseca and Guimaraens families and has become a symbol of excellence for the renowned Portuguese wine.
The wine produced by the company comes from three very ancient and prestigious estates (Cruzeiro, Panascal, and Santo Antonio), covering a total of 69 hectares, scattered throughout the Douro Valley. The vineyards, some of which produce grapes over 100 years old, are organically farmed, in line with an agronomic philosophy focused on sustainability and the preservation of the magnificent ecosystem of the valley. The production is very extensive and varies across different ranges, primarily differing in aging periods in cask and then in bottle, but not only: Ruby, Tawny, Old Tawny, LBV, Vintage.
Fonseca Guimaraens, more commonly known simply as Fonseca, is one of the largest and most renowned Port wine producers. The origin of the company is tied to the history of a Brazilian family, the Fonsecas, who settled in the Portuguese city of Oporto from the late 1700s, engaging in trade with their homeland: they exported wine, oil, and clothing to Brazil and imported sugar and hemp to Portugal. In 1815, the first company was founded, while in 1822 a young member, Manuel Pedro Guimaraens, was sent to London to expand the commercial network. The family business soon became famous as an exporter of Portuguese wine, so much so that it quickly started its own production: the first bottle signed Fonseca appeared in 1840. The following two centuries saw the company rapidly expand: the commercial network grew worldwide, and the production of Port increased. Today, the company is still led by the descendants of the Fonseca and Guimaraens families and has become a symbol of excellence for the renowned Portuguese wine.
The wine produced by the company comes from three very ancient and prestigious estates (Cruzeiro, Panascal, and Santo Antonio), covering a total of 69 hectares, scattered throughout the Douro Valley. The vineyards, some of which produce grapes over 100 years old, are organically farmed, in line with an agronomic philosophy focused on sustainability and the preservation of the magnificent ecosystem of the valley. The production is very extensive and varies across different ranges, primarily differing in aging periods in cask and then in bottle, but not only: Ruby, Tawny, Old Tawny, LBV, Vintage.
