Andrew James Symington, a Scot, traveled to Porto in 1882 at the age of 18 to work for the Grahams, another Scottish family long established in Portugal. Not long after, 'AJS' went to work for himself in the port trade, where he gradually earned a reputation as an expert taster. In 1894 he made the famous sale of the port of Burnay on behalf of the Portuguese Government. In 1905 he became a partner in Warre and Co, the first and oldest British port company established in Portugal, and within a few years he became the sole owner of the company. Interestingly, at that time the The Warre family, who were the principal owners of Dow's, had no remaining interest in the company that bore their name. In 1912, Dow's senior partner, George A. Warre, decided to return to England and invited AJS to manage Dow's vineyards in the Douro Valley, their lodgings and stock in Gaia. In the same year, a stock swap took place whereby AJS took a 30% stake in Dow's and 'GAW' took, in return, shares in Warre and Co. The successful partnership between the Symingtons as producers of Port on the Douro and Gaia and the Warres in London dealing with sales lasted half a century until 1961, when the Symingtons finally became the sole owners of Dow.

Andrew James Symington, a Scot, traveled to Porto in 1882 at the age of 18 to work for the Grahams, another Scottish family long established in Portugal.

Not long after, 'AJS' went to work for himself in the port trade, where he gradually earned a reputation as an expert taster. In 1894 he made the famous sale of the port of Burnay on behalf of the Portuguese Government. In 1905 he became a partner in Warre and Co, the first and oldest British port company established in Portugal, and within a few years he became the sole owner of the company.

Interestingly, at that time the The Warre family, who were the principal owners of Dow's, had no remaining interest in the company that bore their name. In 1912, Dow's senior partner, George A. Warre, decided to return to England and invited AJS to manage Dow's vineyards in the Douro Valley, their lodgings and stock in Gaia. In the same year, a stock swap took place whereby AJS took a 30% stake in Dow's and 'GAW' took, in return, shares in Warre and Co.

The successful partnership between the Symingtons as producers of Port on the Douro and Gaia and the Warres in London dealing with sales lasted half a century until 1961, when the Symingtons finally became the sole owners of Dow.