involvement with the wines of the Douro can be traced back 14 generations to the mid 17th Century.

ALTANO RED ORGANIC Made exclusively from organically grown grapes from the Symington family’s Assares vineyard in the remote Vilariça Valley, (located in the far north-eastern corner of the Douro Demarcated Region, close to the Spanish border). Hot, dry summers alternate with very cold winters. The age of the vines ranges from 25 to 30 years and the vineyard has been organically Portugal's Douro Valley is one of the most spectacular wine growing farmed since 2002, obtaining full organic certification in 2006. regions in the world. Its beauty is the result of many centuries of work by the river Douro itself, carving steep, towering banks into ALTANO DOURO QUINTA DO ATAÍDA RESERVA the landscape, and by the inhabitants of this region, who centuries The Altano Reserva is made exclusively from Touriga Nacional ago began the nearly impossible task of planting vineyards here. grapes, harvested in the Symington family’s Quinta do Ataíde Forming terraces on these rocky slopes was difficult enough, but vineyard, located in the beautiful, isolated Vilariça Valley (Douro the harsh climate and limited rainfall, characteristic of the Douro Superior, Portugal).The Touriga Nacional is the principal grape Valley, made the work of viticulture a difficult enterprise indeed. variety planted at Quinta do Ataíde, accounting for 24% of the The rewards of this labour are the superb wines of the Douro, vineyard’s 82 hectares (203 acres), making it one of the largest wines that have taken their place among the best in the world. plantings of this variety in the Douro, a variety widely acknowledged The Douro Valley's unique terroir is largely defined by its as Portugal’s most emblematic. The vineyard was planted in the schistous soil, extremes of temperature and altitude, and its late 1970s/early 1980s and the vines are now at an ideal maturity, stunning terraced vineyards on the slopes above the Douro River. enabling the production of very fine wines that express the Numerous indigenous grape varietals can be found here such as distinctive character of the Nacional (fragrant, violet aromas; rich Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Touriga Nacional to name but a few, blackberry flavours) and also that of the Vilariça terroir. all somehow finding a way to survive in the harsh conditions of the Douro Valley. Rainfall is often well below the average of Portugals other wine growing regions, and extreme temperature variations, rising to above 40ºC (104ºF) in the summer and dropping to below freezing in the winter, create conditions in which only the hardiest grape varietals can survive. These unique conditions and varietals produce a wine that is concentrated and rich, with ripe fruit flavours underpinned by satisfying tannins, subtle hints of esteva*, pepper and Douro earth. Altano is a superb example of this style and is a wine of great complexity and depth that is wonderful as a food accompaniment or enjoyed on its own. Altano is produced by the Symington family, known for their long and distinguished history of producing premium Vintage Ports in the Douro, under such labels as Grahams, Warres, Dows and Quinta do Vesuvio. As a natural extension of their interest in and dedication to making Port, the Symingtons began producing Douro DOC table wines seriously in 1999, applying their skill and expertise to ensure that the results reflect their tradition of making the worlds finest wines. Today seven members of the Symington family are involved in the business, personally managing all aspects of winemaking from the vineyard to the final bottling of the wines. The Douro Valley is the oldest demarcated wine-growing region in the world and due to its incredibly rich history, beauty and social culture it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

ATLANO DOURO RED This Altano Douro red wine is made by the Symington family, entirely from grapes grown in their own vineyards, located along the length of the Douro Valley of Northern Portugal. The family is now into its fifth generation of Douro winemakers, although its VINEYARD BRANDS www.vineyardbrands.com