more breaking news

[Glenn E.]

http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/the-symin ... 63.article

Congrats to the Symingtons! This is a great purchase for them. :)

[Andy Velebil]

Very cool. I know they wanted this Quinta so glad to see it becoming part of Bomfim.

[Roy Hersh]

Yes, very good news. Here is another view ...

http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/ ... ter-101213

[Ronald Wortel]

This link gives at least an idea of how much the "undisclosed amount" must have been: http://www.remax.pt/Quinta-Venda-Pinhao ... Lang=en-US

Does anyone know what happened to the port produced at the quinta before the Symingtons bought it? I know their table wine went to Lavradores de Feitoria, but surely they must have produced some decent quality port there as well?

[Roy Hersh]

Am I seeing right, Ronald Wortel?

Wow, good to see you popping by! I hope you and your family are enjoying your time overseas and have a great Christmas.

[Ronald Wortel]

And a great Christmas to you as well Roy.
Not much Port around where we are I'm afraid, so I don't have much to write about these days (and am far too busy otherwise), but at least we'll be moving to a more wine friendly country soon.

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks Ronald. Where are you moving the family to?

[RonnieRoots]

We're off to New Zealand. Probably still a bit of a port wasteland, but the rest of the wines are very interesting!

[Andy Velebil]

1.5 Million asking price. I'm sure that came down a little..

15 rooms, 13 bedrooms And they're adding in the farm equipment to. A ready to go Quinta...not like the Sym's need a ready to go one, but it helps I'm sure

Here's the property description from the link Ronald posted (google English translated)

The Farm Sabordela has an excellent location since it is
situated in the parish Pinion region birthplace of Port wine.
Standing inserted in the Alto Douro wine region, with more than 26 thousand hectares,
a UNESCO world heritage site since 2001.
The vineyards of the property are all located in the best area of production
of port wine, and a low quota which gives them the highest rating
for quality - the designated letter A in a breakdown of the Wine Institute of
Oporto, which has six levels decreasing quality, from A to F.
In addition to the wine value, the fifth of Sabordela also has a value
added of the notable tourist point of view, with stunning views
over the Douro River, upstream and downstream of the Village Pinion because is
sandwiched between the parishes Pinion, along the river, and couple Loivos on
top of the hill. Property is around 45 hectares of which 35 hectares are vineyards producing 7 hectares of olive groves, orchards and the rest, paths, small areas of fallow and various buildings including the main house, warehouses and wineries. The main house is all stone, with 2 floors and a total floor area of 1140m2, including 2 stone mills. In addition to the main building, there are still a number of buildings composed of the facilities of the home, the houses intended for auxiliary staff, garages and two cellars, the oldest mills in addition to 2 stone with a covered area of 154m2 and the latest in much higher dimension, 984m2 of covered area, which is fully equipped with tanks and stainless steel tanks with capacity of more than 200 barrels of wine storage, and production of approximately 500 barrels per day, and with the other equipment essential for wine production as Vaslin presses, overwhelming - stemmer, lift pumps, stainless steel self priming pump with speed control and transformer substation of 100 KVA. global area of Sabordela Farm: The Farm Sabordela also owns the remaining equipment needed to farm, including 2 tractors, a trailer with a capacity of 3000 kg of grapes, vines crushers, pulverizers, drills holes for planting, etc.. production vineyard Note that about 30 hectares are old vines, although all mechanized, including 18 acres of Touriga Francesa, about 5 acres ink Roriz and other 5 Baroque, and the rest are dedicated Touriga Nacional. Of total vineyards producing only 4.5 hectares of vines are under the age of 10 years. The approximately 125,000 vines in production, have a potential for productive variable depending on weather changes, having reached an annual value of approximately 160 barrels, but with an average value of the order of 120 barrels of 550 liters per harvest. As is known , stocks port wine increased in recent years, which has led the Institute to decrease the granting of production of port wine license per hectare of cultivation across the Douro region, the so-called "benefit", leading to that some of the farmers also chose to channel the surplus production in the annual quota of "benefit" for the production of table wine, and the Farm Sabordela involving themselves in the company of Farmers Trading Post, to dispose of these surpluses, and while registered its own brand, B & B, Braga Barros. exists at this time the conviction that such license, similar to what has happened in previous years will rise again, for the reduction of past vintages have been excessive , expecting Farm Sabordela, re- use of a value close to 130 barrels of "benefit" annual. Briefly, we believe that the Farm Sabordela, has all the conditions to be an excellent investment opportunity, given the various strands offering.

[Andy Velebil]

Here's a pic of the location. Bomfim being just to the right of the bridge running north/south (the longer one on the right) and by where the boat can be seen docked. A large property it is.

[Eric Menchen]

This link gives at least an idea of how much the "undisclosed amount" must have been: http://www.remax.pt/Quinta-Venda-Pinhao ... Lang=en-US

A lot of fixer-uppers to be found in the Douro (and I expect all over Portugal). I haven't found my retirement property yet

[RonnieRoots]

Eric, I was thinking the same
That said, if I'd just won the lottery in time I could have beaten the Syms in buying this Quinta. I've been up there in Casal de Loivos looking down on Sabordela and Bomfim and it is just a stunning location. I wouldn't mind owning that!

[Andy Velebil]

Eric, I was thinking the same
That said, if I'd just won the lottery in time I could have beaten the Syms in buying this Quinta. I've been up there in Casal de Loivos looking down on Sabordela and Bomfim and it is just a stunning location. I wouldn't mind owning that!

Yup, good location near town. I would have sold the vines to the Sym's and just asked to keep the house and a tiny bit around it as a yard. But I haven't won the Mega-Lotto yet

[Al B.]

I'm interested in the brief comment that there will be a visitors centre and access to the vineyards for walkers. I've often thought it would be really pleasant to spend a few days walking in the Douro.

[Tom Archer]

Now, there's interesting..

I have an owc of Sabordella 1985 somewhere, but have never got round to opening it...

[Andy Velebil]

I'm interested in the brief comment that there will be a visitors centre and access to the vineyards for walkers. I've often thought it would be really pleasant to spend a few days walking in the Douro.

This center has been in the works for some time. TFP is also building one at Quinta d. Roeda as well. Pretty smart given their locations right in the heart of Pinhao.

What is even more interesting is Bomfim is going back to lagars. Since 1963 all the Dow's VP's have been made using autovinfication. Which always is fun to bring up when people talk about how they don't make great wines.

[Roy Hersh]

Yeah like the false argument about only old vines making great Ports. 1931 Nacional proved that one wrong, long ago.

Agree that it will be great to have more places to be able to visit in Douro for normal tourists who want to walk around town. I think in 20 years we will see a very different looking Douro.

[Tom Archer]

Agree that it will be great to have more places to be able to visit in Douro for normal tourists who want to walk around town.

Provided they have the physique of a mountain goat..

[Derek T.]

Agree that it will be great to have more places to be able to visit in Douro for normal tourists who want to walk around town.

Provided they have the physique of a mountain goat..

Are you talking about me again, Tom?

[Roy Hersh]

You been listening to Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" too much, Derek.