Dow’s is one of the leading producers of Port. Based in Oporto, Portugal, it has a long and colorful history dating back several centuries. Dow’s history is unusual in that the company was started when Bruno da Silva, a Portuguese merchant, started shipping his wines to England. During an era when the Port trade generally involved English or Scottish entrepreneurs opening business establishments in Portugal, da Silva opened offices in London and married an English woman. His heirs continued to run the business before the company was acquired in the 20th century by the Symington family, a Port dynasty which also owns Graham’s and Warre’s.