An international competition challenges photographers to explore the concept of “Generations” through black and white photography.
Nov. 4, 2026 (San Francisco, CA) — Symington Family Estates, producer of some of the finest Ports in the world for five generations and owner of the renowned Port house Dow’s, announces the launch of its fourth Dow’s Black and White Photography Competition. The theme of this year’s competition is “Generations.”
Dow’s distinguishes itself through a winemaking tradition spanning generations and a deep connection to the Douro Valley. With the Black & White Photography Competition, the brand continues to explore the relationship between its heritage and different forms of artistic expression, inviting photographers from around the world to look at the concept of “Generations” through their lenses.
The international competition invites photographers to interpret the concept of generations, from human relationships to the passage of time, from memory to heritage, and from tradition to modernity. More than a photography competition, the initiative seeks to establish a bridge between heritage, art, and culture—concepts deeply linked to Dow’s identity. Through black and white photography, the brand challenges participants to find new ways to represent what remains, what transforms, and what is transmitted between generations.
Entries are open now through January 2nd, 2027. At the end of January, the jury, composed of Filipe Braga, artist and professional photographer at the Serralves Foundation, João Porfírio, photojournalist for Observador, and Nuno Moreira, Portuguese photographer and art director, will select the 15 best photographs, which will be presented in February of next year in a two-week exhibition at the Da Vinci Gallery in Porto. The top three winners will be announced during the exhibition.
Winners will receive the following prizes (substitutions may be necessary in states with shipping restrictions on alcohol).
The first-place winner will have the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive photographic experience in the Douro Valley and Vila Nova de Gaia, with access to private spaces and different perspectives on the Douro landscape, the city, and the world of Port wine. The prize also includes a bottle of Dow’s Vintage Port 1985.
The second-place winner will receive a bottle of Dow’s Vintage Port 1994 and a copy of “100 Leica Stories” photography book.
The third-place winner will be honored with a bottle of Dow’s Vintage Port 2003 and a copy of “100 Leica Stories” photography book.
The fifteen photographers selected for the shortlist will have their work compiled in a commemorative book of the competition, created as a record of this edition and shared with participants and Dow’s partners.
The competition is open to individuals over 18 years of age, of any nationality and anywhere in the world, provided they have access to a camera. Submitted images must be in black and white and interpret the theme “Generations”.
Entries must be submitted through the dedicated competition page, accessed via the QR code below. For inquiries, participants can contact dowsblackandwhite@symington.com.
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, nine 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 Vesuvio, Quinta do Ataíde, Altano and Prats & Symington (of Chryseia fame). In 2017 they launched a new venture, Quinta da Fonte Souto, in the Alto Alentejo.
Symington Family Estates is a leading premium Port producer and the leading owner of prime vineyards in the Douro valley, with 26 Quintas 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. In 2019 the company became 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.
More information:
• http://www.symington.com
• http://www.instagram.com/symingtonfamilyestates
• http://www.twitter.com/symingtonfamily
