Vila Nova de Gaia Port Wine Cellars
Caves de Vinho do Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia
A century-old cluster of port wine cellars on the south bank of the Douro. Sandeman, Taylor's, Graham's and other famous houses offer tours and tastings, and riverside viewpoints face the old town.
Vila Nova de Gaia sits on the south bank of the Douro and has been the center for aging and exporting port since the 17th century. Wine made in the Douro Valley was floated downriver, aged in temperature-stable cellars, and shipped abroad, mainly to England. Today dozens of wine lodges (caves) still line the riverbank, their giant rooftop signs visible across the water. The classic tour route includes Sandeman (black-cloaked figure logo, founded in 1790, tours from about €20, with a museum); Taylor's (founded in 1692, a long-established British house, with tours including two tastings for about €20 and a terrace garden with superb views); Graham's (founded in 1820, located highest on the slope so you have to climb to it, with a terrace offering the most beautiful view of the whole city and lunch reservations available); Cálem (near the bridge end, with fado performances at set times); Ferreira (a Portuguese brand and one of the oldest port houses in Portugal); as well as Cockburn's, Ramos Pinto and others. Tours usually last 45–60 minutes and cover the styles of port (Ruby, Tawny, White, Vintage, LBV) and how it is aged, ending with a tasting of 2–4 wines. In peak-season weekends, book through each house's website. The WOW (World of Wine) complex, opened in 2020, contains several museums, restaurants and viewpoints. The riverside walkway (Cais de Gaia) has a quay with Rabelo boats and many restaurants and bars, directly facing Ribeira. It is the best spot for a panoramic photo of the north bank. Getting there: it is a 10-minute walk from Porto across the lower deck of the Luís I Bridge, or you can take the Gaia cable car from the upper deck at the bridge end down to the riverbank. The nearest metro stop is Jardim do Morro on line D. After tasting, watch your footing on the riverside steps. White port with tonic (Porto Tónico) is a popular summer drink locally. The coordinates above refer to the riverside cellar area.
Opening hours
Cellars approx. 10:00–18:00 (until 19:00 in summer); tours by reservation
Nearby sights
- Teleférico de Gaia
- Church of São Francisco
- Palácio da Bolsa
- Ribeira
- Dom Luís I Bridge
- Monastery of Serra do Pilar
- Porto Cathedral
- Clérigos Church & Tower