Manoel Guimarãens purchased the old trading firm of Fonseca, Monteiro & Co in 1822, but Mr Fonseca would only sell if the company kept his name. Six generations of the family have respected this condition. Until 1927 the company was based in London following Manoel’s politically motivated flight from Portugal hidden in a pipe of Port! In the post war slump Fonseca merged with Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman but has remained independently run by the Guimarãens and today under David Guimarãens is in the very top flight of Port houses. Pioneering work on organic management of the vineyard’s started in 1992 at Quinta do Panascal.