What's New on the Site: Quinta da Boavista

[Cynthia J]

Well, you were speculating in another thread about consolidations in the Port trade and possible divestitures of existing brands or properties. So... here is news of one.

In 2012 Sogrape sold Quinta da Boavista to Lima Smith. Boavista is the quinta most closely associated with Joseph James Forrester - it was owned by Offley Forrester for most of its history, barring the odd mid 20th century hiccup, and Forrester used it as his personal base of operations when he was in the Douro. Sogrape retains the brand of Offley, but this one quinta was sold off.

The buyers, Lima Smith, are a partnership who have caught the attention of both the wine and business press here in Portugal and internationally for their work bringing the Covela brand back to life - Covela is a Minho wine brand based at another legendary quinta situated in the Minho, but right in the corner adjacent to the Douro wine region and just above the Douro River. And, by the way, Lima Smith have also bought the winemaking rights for Douro brand Quinta das Tecedeiras from Dão Sul, and are working to restore that brand to its former glory as well.

This article tells you more about Lima Smith and particularly the work they have begun and their plans for Quinta da Boavista. Both the wines and the tourism project should be superb. http://www.fortheloveofport.com/2014/08 ... -boavista/ Enjoy!

[Bradley Bogdan]

Great read, thanks!

[Paul Fountain]

I'll second that.
It sounds like table wines are more of a priority, but I hope that they will get some port stocks into barrel early.

Coincidentally, I stayed in an apartment at what was Forrester's Porto residence when I was there last year.

[Andy Velebil]

Well done Cynthia! I've visited there once before and it is every bit as grand as described. I'm glad they plan to open it to visitors, as it really was a site to see and I hope many more people get to see it.

Cynthia, did you get to walk into the natural spring that is in the side of the mountain near the top of the Quinta? A few of us did using a very small, and not proper, flashlight. It was pretty cool, but scary as well.