Fonseca was founded in 1822. The Guimaraens family purchased an existing port company and formed the Port house Fonseca Guimaraens. From these beginnings the Guimaraens family has worked hard to create a unique style of round, full bodied, fruit forward Portos. This style has made Fonseca famous across the globe and has created a reputation for one of the top Port producers in the world.

Today, Fonseca is known around the world not only for winemaking but also for viticultural prowess for Porto. Breaking many traditions Fonseca’s wine director, David Guimaraens, has brought many successful practices from other wine regions to the Douro Valley, in the north of Portugal. The resulting strategies have led to higher quality grapes and fortification spirit (grape) being used by Fonseca. It has even allowed David to move to the use of sustainable viticultural practices for Fonseca's vineyards. David began with his organically grown vines at Quinta do Panascal in 1992 - a change that he started with his late father, Bruce Guimaraens.