Dow’s Vale do Bomfim Douro White 2021, Douro DOC, Portugal

Vale do Bomfim White is the Douro white from Dow’s, the historic Port house owned by the Symington family. Launched in 2022, it was the first new addition to the Vale do Bomfim range since the red first appeared in 2004. It blends the Douro’s native white grapes, Viosinho, Rabigato, Gouveio and Arinto, from the family’s higher-altitude vineyards, where cooler temperatures and fresh nights help the grapes ripen slowly and keep their aromas. It is fermented in stainless steel with minimal contact with oxygen to preserve its freshness.

In the glass it is a pale, bright lemon colour. The nose is fruity and fragrant, with apricot, peach and pineapple, and a subtle hint of honeysuckle in the background. The palate is zesty and crisp, with citrus and a mineral, slightly saline freshness, leading to a lovely, balanced finish.

Serve chilled, at around 8–10°C. It is a great partner for grilled fish, seafood, salads, chicken and Portuguese favourites such as bacalhau, and makes a refreshing aperitif. Drink it young, while it is at its freshest.

Vale do Bomfim is the table-wine label of Dow’s, one of the Douro’s great historic Port houses, owned by the Symington family. The Symingtons became partners in Dow’s in 1912 and have been sole owners since 1961, and Quinta do Bomfim, near Pinhão in the Cima Corgo, has been at the heart of Dow’s since the late 19th century. Vale do Bomfim draws on schist vineyards around Pinhão, both family-owned and from long-standing partner growers, to show the generous, balanced side of the Douro in an easy, approachable style. Symington Family Estates was the first wine company in Portugal to achieve B Corp certification, reflecting its long commitment to sustainability, its vineyard workers and the Douro’s farming communities.