June 25, 2025 (San Francisco, CA) — Symington Family Estates, a five-generation producer of world-renowned Ports and premium wines, have unveiled ‘Matriarca,’ a remarkable townhouse inspired by their original matriarch in Portugal, Beatriz Leitão Carvalhosa Atkinson.
Presenting the contemporary face of Port and Portuguese wine, Matriarca seeks to reinvent the traditional members club format that Port was known for with an eclectic three-story townhouse that is open to all. Drawing inspiration from the design and different spaces within these historic clubs, Matriarca marks a bold new chapter for the Port world with a range of opportunities for dining, learning, and discovering exceptional wines.
While the restaurant, wine bar, cellar shop, cocktail bar, and wine academy in this new townhouse are all open to the public, Matriarca also has a wine club offering that was launched online by the family in 2023 and gives members access to special wines and events. Looking over Porto’s historic Carlos Alberto Square, Matriarca and the entire experience across its different spaces has been carefully designed for a new generation of wine lovers.
Matriarca’s story dates to the late 19th century when Beatriz, whose family had ties to the very beginning of the Port trade, married Andrew James Symington – the first of the family to settle in Portugal and start producing Port. Beatriz, who was both Portuguese and British, was well-known for the jovial dinners she would host, bringing people together over good food and wine. Now, five generations later, the Symington family is taking inspiration from these lively occasions with each space within Matriarca sharing Beatriz’s desire to make people feel at home.
The Wine Bar, located on the ground floor, is the ideal place for catching up with friends over a wine tasting and shared dishes, and ‘The Dining Room’ restaurant, warm and elegant, reflects the family’s joint heritage by bringing together the best of British and Portuguese cuisine through the vision of up and-coming Porto chef, Pedro Lencastre Monteiro.
Featuring an unparalleled selection of Symington wines and Ports, The Cellar Shop offers personalized recommendations from knowledgeable staff, and, in the coming months, the family will also open The Attic Bar, specialising in Port cocktails, and adjoining Wine Academy that will offer courses, exclusive masterclasses, and creative workshops.
Symington Family Estates has been a B Corporation since 2019, and each space has been carefully shaped by renowned London-based designers, Thurstan — led by former European Design Director at Soho House, James Thurstan Waterworth. Thurstan have worked together with local artists and craftspeople to decorate each space using reclaimed, repurposed, and carefully restored furniture and materials — simultaneously honouring the past while embracing a more sustainable future.
“Having been in the works for several years, it is an enormous pleasure to finally welcome people to Matriarca. Inspired by Beatriz, we wanted each space within the townhouse to be warm and welcoming with the familiar sense of home. We wanted to build unique spaces that lend themselves to special moments between friends and family over fantastic food and wine.” Vicky Symington (5th generation), Symington Family Estates’ Enotourism Marketing Manager.
The Dining Room, The Wine Bar, and The Cellar Shop at Matriarca opened to the public on 20th June 2025, with The Attic Bar and Wine Academy following later in the year. For more information, please visit the Matriarca website.
Address:
Rua Actor João Guedes, nº 14
4050-310 Porto
Opening times:
The Wine Bar: Monday – Sunday, 12h – 24h
The Dining Room: Wednesday – Sunday, 19h30 – 22h30
The Cellar Shop: Monday – Sunday, 10h – 20h
ABOUT SYMINGTON FAMILY ESTATES
The Symingtons of Scottish, English and Portuguese descent have been Port producers in northern Portugal since 1882. For 5 generations they have combined their passion for 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 Vesúvio, Quinta do Ataíde, Altano, Prats & Symington (of Chryseia fame), and Vértice (one of Portugal’s leading sparkling wines). They also produce wine at Quinta da Fonte Souto in the Alto Alentejo, Casa de Rodas in Monção & Melgaço, and Hambledon in the UK through a joint venture.
Symington Family Estates is the world’s leading premium Port producer and farms the largest area of prime (‘A’ rated) vineyard in the Douro valley, with 26 Quintas (estates) covering 2,462 hectares and 1,114 ha of vineyard. The family business is a founding member of Primum Familiae Vini – an association of 12 European wine families – and in 2020 was voted in 7th place in The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands list by a panel of over 200 international wine experts organised by Drinks International.
All Symington vineyards are sustainably managed under a minimum intervention certification and 130 ha 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 banner of Mission 2025. The company is a certified B Corporation – the first wine company in Portugal to take this step – joining a global community of businesses audited for the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility.
Symington was named Ethical Company of the Year in The Drinks Business 2019 Green Awards. In 2023 Symington Family Estates became the first wine producer in Portugal to achieve the new Sustainable Winegrowing Certification, following a rigorous audit.
More information:
ABOUT THURSTAN
James Thurstan Waterworth is a London-based interior designer known for crafting storied spaces that feel effortlessly lived-in. Based in the historic enclave of Charterhouse Square, James’ eponymous practice, Thurstan, is dedicated to creating timeless interiors that seamlessly marry comfort and practicality with a reverence for architectural heritage and surroundings.
Since its launch in 2018 Thurstan’s award-winning work—spanning bespoke hospitality projects and private residences worldwide—has earned a place on House & Garden and Country Life’s prestigious Top 100 Interior Designers lists. With a multidisciplinary team skilled in interior design, architecture, and product design, the studio is defined by its ability to craft enduring spaces that feel deeply personal.
Upon graduating Waterworth began his career under the tutelage of celebrated designer Martin Brudnizki, a formative experience during which he set up the New York studio and led the development of Soho House Miami, a project that paved the way to becoming European Design Director at Soho House. Here he played a pivotal role in shaping the club’s distinctive aesthetic—a blend of lasting comfort and quiet elegance—across several of its celebrated outposts, including Istanbul, Miami, Barcelona, and London.
Waterworth’s approach to interiors is an exercise in deliberate simplicity, where every element balances both form and function without ever feeling forced. His designs create a refined yet relaxed backdrop to contemporary living, anchored by a carefully curated palette of natural materials and soft, considered patterns. At the heart of his process is an intuitive, organic evolution.
With a client list that includes the Duchy of Somerset, Nick Jones, and The Zetter Group, Thurstans’ current projects span heritage estates, townhouses, luxury hotels, private members’ clubs, and wellness retreats worldwide. Thurstan also took part in WOW!house 25 for the design of the ‘Snug’ in collaboration with British lighting specialists, Hector Finch.
ABOUT MATRIARCA HEAD CHEF PEDRO LENCASTRE MONTEIRO
Head Chef Pedro Lencastre Monteiro has honed his craft via formal education, then professional training via several Michelin starred restaurants in Portugal – Forteleza do Guincho, Ocean, Belcanto (which earned its first then second star while Lencastre Monteiro was there) and The Yeatman. He was also sou-chef to Nuno Mendes at Cozinha das Flores when it first opened. He has been a consultant on Matriarca from the beginning and then put himself forward as Head Chef and a full-time member of the team.
Symington Family Estates has seen a great transformation over the last 40 years since Johnny joined the company. The family’s four historic Port brands – Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s – have launched a remarkable series of premium products and designs aimed at strengthening relationships with existing consumers and attracting a new generation. The family began producing still wines in 1999 and, over the last 25 years, they have developed an exciting portfolio of wines produced from the Douro, Alentejo, and Vinho Verde regions in Portugal, and sparkling wine from Hampshire in the UK. The wine tourism side of the business has expanded too, particularly in the last few years under Johnny’s leadership. This includes opening two restaurants at the family’s Quinta do Bomfim estate in the Douro, a visitor centre at Quinta da Fonte Souto in the Alentejo, and an exciting new project soon to be launched in downtown Porto.
“The past 40 years have been a time of incredible progress, innovation and growth. Our company has gone through several total transformations over the last few decades, which has enabled us to become more relevant and successful in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive market. What has impressed me most over the years are the people who make things happen. Despite the changing times, their motivation, adaptability and commitment have shaped our business for the better. Their resilience and courage through the covid pandemic was truly impressive. I’m filled with confidence in those that will succeed me and the future of our company. I’m certain that our long-standing legacy and reputation for quality and reliability will continue. We will maintain our ability to adapt to a world that may well change as much in the next 40 years as it has in the last 40.” – Johnny Symington.
