The new Rewilding edition released under Symington’s Altano brand is a classic Douro blend, sourced from higher altitude vineyards to produce a fresh, elegant and fruit-driven wine, using the Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Tinta Barroca varieties. The wine comes in a unique cardboard bag-in-tube format holding 2.25 litres (pictured), the equivalent of three bottles. Once opened the wine remains drinkable over a period of four to six weeks. The bag-in-tube is easy to recycle and has a much lower carbon footprint than the equivalent volume in glass.
Of Scottish, English and Portuguese descent, the Symingtons have been port producers in northern Portugal for five generations since 1882, producing fine wines and ports with a deep commitment to the region’s land and people. Today, ten Symingtons work across their four port houses: Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s, as well as their Douro wine brands – Quinta do Vesuvio, Quinta do Ataíde, Altano and Prats & Symington (of Chryseia fame). In 2017 they launched a new venture, Quinta da Fonte Souto, in the Alto Alentejo.
All Symington vineyards are sustainably managed under a minimum intervention certification and 130 hectares are organically farmed – the largest area of organic vineyard in northern Portugal. The family have invested significantly in viticulture R&D to adapt to climate change and have an ambitious sustainability plan, with a series of public goals under the Mission 2025 banner.
Rewilding is an innovative approach to large-scale conservation on abandoned or marginal land. It aims to restore natural processes and wildlife corridors, with a particular focus on keystone species. Rewilding Portugal is part of the Rewilding Europe network, which works with partners in eight countries and was recently featured in a new TV series by National Geographic –Europe’s New Wild.