Vesúvio & Bomfim Experience wins “Best Of Wine Tourism” award in the Innovative Experiences category

11/11/2025Symington Family Estates has once again been recognised internationally: the Vesúvio & Bomfim Experience won the Best Of Wine Tourism 2026 award in the Innovative Experiences category, consolidating the family's role as a benchmark for excellence and innovation in wine tourism in the Douro.

The Douro continues to assert itself as one of the most inspiring wine tourism destinations in the world, and Symington Family Estates is once again at the forefront of this distinction. The Vesúvio & Bomfim Experience was awarded in the Innovative Experiences category of the prestigious Best Of Wine Tourism 2026 awards, promoted by the international Great Wine Capitals Global Network, which every year recognises excellence and creativity in the wine tourism sector.

The winning proposal offers an immersive and exclusive journey that takes visitors to explore two of the Symington family’s most emblematic estates — Quinta do Vesúvio and Quinta do Bomfim — through a combination of tradition, landscape and wine culture. The highlight is the train journey along the Douro Line, accompanied by an expert guide who shares stories and curiosities about the region, making the journey a unique sensory and cultural experience.

At Quinta do Vesúvio, one of the most legendary and remote properties in the Douro, visitors learn about the terroir and history of the estate before enjoying lunch on the iconic balcony overlooking the valley. This is followed by a train journey to Pinhão, through stunning scenery, culminating at Quinta do Bomfim, where participants are welcomed for a premium wine tasting and a final dinner. Lasting approximately 10 hours, the experience takes place between 1 May and 31 October, at a cost of €800 per person.

‘This award recognises our commitment to providing experiences that go beyond wine tasting, involving our visitors in an authentic journey through the Douro,’ says Ana Rodrigues of Symington Family Estates. ‘The train journey is the distinguishing feature that allows us to connect the past and present of this region, making the experience truly unforgettable,’ she adds.

This distinction brings the total number of Best Of Wine Tourism awards given to Symington Family Estates to 14, adding to a remarkable portfolio of national and international recognitions. These include the title of Global Winner 2024 and the Best Architecture & Landscape 2024 awards for Quinta do Bomfim and Innovative Experiences 2023 for Quinta do Vesúvio.

With over 140 years of history, Symington Family Estates is one of the most respected families in the Portuguese wine industry, owning iconic brands such as Graham’s, Dow’s, Warre’s and Cockburn’s, and Douro wines such as Quinta do Vesúvio, Altano and Chryseia. The company, which manages 28 estates in the Douro with 1,076 hectares of vineyards, is also recognised for its commitment to sustainability — being the first wine company in Portugal to obtain B Corp certification.

The Vesúvio & Bomfim Experience thus reinforces Symington Family Estates’ role as a pioneer in innovative and responsible wine tourism, celebrating the unique identity of the Douro through a journey that combines history, nature and wine — the eternal pillars of this unique region.