Dow's Port is owned by the Symington family, which has a tradition of Port making that dates back over centuries. Dow's Ports come from Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira: both estates were originally acquired by the company in the 19th century and today they produce some of the greatest wines in the Douro. Dow's was one of the first Port houses to invest in the Upper Douro Valley, acquiring in 1896 the Quinta do Bomfim near the village of Pinhâo. Bomfim's 49 hectares (121 acres) of south-facing vineyards, give optimal ripening conditions. The old vines on stone-walled terraces planted by Maurice, John and Ron Symington in the 1920s bring added complexity to the traditional dry finish of Dow's Ports. Dow's is owned by the Symington family, Port producers for five generations since 1882, although through their great-grandmother Beatrice, they can trace their Port ancestry back to the 17th century. Today, five members of the Symington family work in the company, responsible for the vineyards and the winemaking of all Dow's Ports.