Fonseca Guimaraens, often simply referred to as Fonseca, is one of the largest Port houses in Portugal. Manoel Pedro Gonçalves Guimaraens and his brother João Gonçalves Salgueiro founded the company in 1822. They then gained control of the Fonseca and Monteiro Company by purchasing the majority of Fonseca shares.
David Guimaraens, the great-great-great-great grandson of the founder Manuel Pedro, has been head winemaker since 1994. The Guimaraens family has been deeply involved in the production of wine. Nearly every vintage label Port from 1896 was created by Frank Guimaraens, his cousin Bruce Guimaraens and now Bruce's son David Guimaraens. One notable exception is the 1955 vintage that was created by Frank's daughter Dorothy after her father passed away and before Bruce was ready.