Quinta do Noval is the only "Portuguese" house to have gained a reputation in the English market. First appearing in land registries in 1715, it was sold after the phylloxera outbreak to the distinguished Port shipper António José da Silva in 1894. He and his family transformed the estate, building the distinctive wide terraces with whitewashed walls. Noval was the first to introduce stencilled bottles, old tawnies and LBV. In 1982 following a disastrous fire, a new lodge was built under the auspices of Cristiano Van Zeller and Noval were the first to move their stocks from Oporto to the Douro. In 1993 it was sold to the AXA group and under the guidance of Englishman Christian Seely is producing premier league Port. Noval produces the legendary Nacional in good years, from a small parcel of ungrafted vines.