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Fonseca Guimaraens Port Winery Guide

Cellar Tours Insight — Since 2003, Cellar Tours has planned private wine journeys through the world’s leading wine regions, pairing tailor-made itineraries with VIP winery visits, fine dining, and expert regional guidance.

Winery Overview

Considered by top wine experts to be the “Petrus of Port,” Fonseca is quite definitely one of the best Ports in the world. Fonseca Guimaraens was established in 1822 when Manuel Pedro Guimaraens acquired control of the Fonseca & Monteiro Company. Of Brazilian origin, the Fonseca family had been involved in the trade (primarily in wine, but also olive oil and cloth, which they exchanged in Brazil for sugar cane and hemp from the colonies). As a condition of selling their shares to Guimaraens, the Fonsecas stipulated that whoever owned the business must retain their name as a brand name.

Over the next twenty years, Manuel Pedro, assisted by his oldest son, Manuel Fonseca Guimaraens, developed the important British, Dutch, Belgian, and Scandinavian markets. By 1840, Fonseca became the second-largest exporter of port wines. Near the end of that decade, the firm shipped its first vintage port, “the 1847,” to England.

Despite becoming part of the larger Fladgate Partnership group (which also owns Taylors and Croft), the family has played an important role in every Fonseca Vintage Port since the beginning. Frank Guimaraens served as the winemaker from 1896 until 1948. Following his death, his daughter, Dorothy Guimaraens, made the wines until 1955. Bruce Duncan Guimaraens, the great-great-grandson of the founder, made every Vintage from 1960 to 1992. His son, David Guimaraens, took over in 1994. David, a prodigy winemaker, formalized his education in enology at Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia and has gained winemaking experience in Australia, California, and Oregon. He is the current head winemaker for Tailors and Croft as well. Fonseca stands out slightly from the rest of the Port Houses as that extra bit special.

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Further Reading

Author

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Genevieve Mc Carthy

Genevieve, originally from San Diego, California, has spent the last 25 years living in Europe, primarily in Spain, Ireland, and Italy. She has a background in the wine industry, having worked for a top wine importer in Ireland and a prestigious winery in Italy's Franciacorta region. In 2003, Genevieve founded Cellar Tours, a boutique wine tours company based in Madrid, Spain. She holds wine education credentials from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in London and has a strong network within the European wine industry. Genevieve's specializes in organizing VIP tours to exclusive wineries that are not accessible to the general public. With a passion for food and wine, fluency in multiple languages, and expertise in luxury travel and tourism, Genevieve has built a successful career in creating unique wine experiences.

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Private wine travel experts, recommended by leading travel publications

  • National Geographic
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  • Travel + Leisure
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  • Forbes Travel Guide