In 1784, Christopher Smith, a wine merchant and Lord Mayor of London, founded a small company shipping Port from offices based in Oporto. In 1835 after Smith's death, the Woodhouse brothers joined the firm and Smith Woodhouse was created. Since 1970, the company has been owned and run by the Symington Family. The main vineyard for Smith Woodhouse is Quinta Madalena based in the Rio Torto which is in the heart of the Douro region and widely renowned for its high quality ports.