Smith Woodhouse is a historic but relatively small Port house whose origins date to 1784. It was founded by Christopher Smith, a British Member of Parliament and later Lord Mayor of London. Today Smith Woodhouse belongs to Symington Family Estates and is particularly associated with Vintage Port and Late Bottled Vintage. Much of its identity is linked to the Rio Torto Valley and Quinta da Madalena.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1784 |
| Founder | Christopher Smith |
| Owner | Symington Family Estates |
| Region | Douro, Portugal |
| Key vineyard | Quinta da Madalena, Rio Torto |
| Madalena vineyard area | 4.9 ha |
| Focus | Vintage Port, LBV, classic Ruby and Tawny styles |
| Symington ownership | Since 1970 |
Christopher Smith established a Port shipping business in Oporto in 1784. His son Newman Smith took over in 1810. In 1818 the Woodhouse brothers joined as partners and the name Smith Woodhouse became established. During the nineteenth century the house developed a solid reputation. After the Second World War, like many smaller shippers, the company came under financial pressure and was sold to a London wine importer, while W. & J. Graham supplied the wines. When the Symington family acquired Graham's in 1970, Smith Woodhouse became part of the same group. Since then it has been maintained deliberately as a smaller specialist house focused on classic Port styles.
The principal source area is the Rio Torto Valley in the Cima Corgo. Quinta da Madalena covers 7.3 hectares in total, of which 4.9 hectares are vineyard. Around half the vines are old, mixed plantings with very low yields. The principal plant material is described as old mixed vines and Touriga Franca. The vineyards face mainly south-west and west and lie between about 124 and 197 metres. These old vines provide particularly important components for Vintage Port and LBV.
Smith Woodhouse is best known for balanced, floral Vintage Ports. The later ripening cycle of the Rio Torto helps create wines with freshness, balance and aromas reminiscent of roses, violets and dark fruit. Late Bottled Vintage is another important style, supplemented by Reserve Ruby and Tawny bottlings.
Smith Woodhouse combines a history reaching back to the eighteenth century with deliberately limited modern production. Quinta da Madalena is the principal terroir reference. Membership of Symington Family Estates provides technical and logistical resources while preserving the identity of Smith Woodhouse as a distinct niche Port house.