Best Port Wine Cellars in Porto for Tastings and Tours

Across the Douro River from the old city of Porto is Vila Nova de Gaia, where some of the oldest and best port wine cellars are located. Most of these port wine houses have tastings rooms for you to enjoy the best port that the Douro wine region has to offer. If you are a wine lover, make sure this is on your itinerary.

What is Port Wine?

Port wine is a unique and luxurious beverage crafted exclusively in the steep hills of the Douro Valley in Northern Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its traditional method of winemaking dating back centuries. What sets Port apart is the addition of neutral grape spirit during fermentation, which halts the process and preserves the wine’s natural sugars, resulting in a rich, sweet, and fortified wine. The production of Port wine is a labor of love, with meticulous attention paid to every step, from the careful tending of the vines to the intricate blending process. The region’s unique microclimate, with its hot, dry summers and cool winters, contributes to the distinctive character of Port wines, which range from the vibrant and fruity Ruby to the deeply complex and age-worthy Tawny and Vintage styles.

Why visit a Port Cellar?

A visit to a Port cave (cellar) is an immersive experience that will transport you to the heart of this ancient winemaking tradition. These historic lodges, many dating back centuries, are carved into the granite hills along the Douro River, offering a cool and stable environment for aging the precious Port wines.

As you explore the cavernous cellars, you’ll be enveloped by the rich aroma of aging Port, mingled with the scent of oak from the casks that line the walls. Your knowledgeable guide will regale you with tales of the region’s winemaking history and the intricate processes involved in crafting each style of Port. But the true highlight of a Port cave visit is the opportunity to sample the exquisite wines themselves. From the vibrant Ruby to the velvety Tawny and the rare and coveted Vintage Ports, you’ll be guided through the full experience of a tasting journey that will awaken your senses and deepen your appreciation for this liquid treasure. As you savor the complex flavors and aromas, you’ll gain an understanding of the passion, skill, and dedication that goes into every bottle of Port wine. Whether you’re a seasoned wine lover or a curious newcomer, a visit to the Port cellars promises to be an unforgettable experience that will forever etch the magic of Port into your memory.

The Most Famous Port Houses 

If you are new to Porto wines, start small with a guided tour and 3 tastings. Get your bearings on how Port wine is made, the different ways they are made and how this affects the taste. Then start with the basics: white, ruby, and tawny. Once you have grasped that , move on to a tasting that perhaps has 4 or five different port wines.

Each of the Port houses and lodges offer tastings and most offer tours of the cellar. Each tour gives you a comprehensive history of the wine and how it is made. The tour also includes tastings, some very simple and some more formal and with food pairings. I have put together a sheet that tells what each port house offers. Click here to see it. Some of these port caves are owned by the same companies, many that started as family businesses. Ferreira will tell you that if you cannot find what you want there, go to Sandeman since they are both owned by Sogrape and offer the same wines. Many of these port cellars also have restaurants and some feature snacks and tapas. The best time to go is pretty much anytime during the day since most close their tasting rooms by 6pm. Make sure you call and reserve your tour and/or tasting (if you can) because times fill up quickly, especially in the summer months.

Sandeman/ Ferreira

Sandeman and Ferreira Port houses both feature some of the best wines in the world. We have visited both of these port houses and found the port to be delightful but different from one another in both tours and wines.

Our visit at Sandeman wine cellar was a great experience. First, the informative tour was much better and easier to understand and gave a comprehensive look into how port wine is made. The tour guide took his time to answer our questions and tell great stories about port wine that made it a unique experience. The port house tour at Ferreira was focused on Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, the only woman to own a port wine business and the only port wine business that has been solely owned by a Portuguese family. The tour took us through the museum and and gave us a guided tour of the cellars but he rushed through the tour not leaving much time for questions. The port wine tasting however, made up for that experience. We tasted 5 port wines: the white port, ruby port, two tawny ports and a vintage port. We loved the Tawnies, but came home with the Ruby since we had bought a Tawny at Sandeman.

Ferreira also has a DOC table wine tastings for those that do not particularly like port. You can taste a white wine, red wine, and a rose.

Dow, Graham, and Cockburn

All three of these caves are owned by Symington Family Estates but got their starts as 3 different companies from Great Britain. When William and John Graham accepted 27 barrels of port wine as a payment of a debt, they soon realised that they needed to tap into the port wine industry. Of the 3, Graham’s Lodge offers the most comprehensive list of port tastings that span over all three port lodges. Both W&J Graham’s and Cockburn’s offer a more formal tasting if you prefer. They have several that include vintage Tawny Ports and private tours. Graham’s also has a restaurant on site called Vinum, which offers modern interpretations of traditional Portuguese food with wine pairings. Cockburn’s has a lovely outside terrace, the perfect place for an afternoon picnic and tasting.You can get tastings at Cockburn’s with food pairings as well. Dow’s doesn’t offer a tour of their port house, but does have a Quinta (do Bonfim) in the Douro Valley that you can tour and taste. For more about the Douro Valley tours, check out our blog post.

Taylor Fladgate

Founded in 1692, Taylor’s Port wine is one of the most famous port wine’s in the world. They pride themselves on being the “Benchmark” of vintage port. They are one of the oldest port companies and according to their website, the first British merchant to visit the Douro region. Taylor’s offer a self-guided audio tour (in many different languages) and include a tasting of the late bottle white port and the late bottled vintage port. This is also an excellent tour for the whole family. At the tasting, underage children are served grape juice and cookies. If you are a gin and tonic fan, make sure you check out the Port tonic, which is port wine and tonic. They sell these by the can as Chip Dry and Tonic.

Calém Port Lodge

If you are gazing across the Douro river from Porto, you cannot miss the giant CALÉM sign lighting up the street. As one of the most famous port wine houses, they offer you the “true port wine experience.” You get a guided tour of the museum which is an interactive experience and can choose from a variety of tastings. There are also food and wine pairings and once a month (coming soon) will offer a Fado show. I have only tasted one of their wines, the ruby, and find it a good value for the price.

Ramos Pinto

Ramos Pinto’s vineyards have been in business since the late 19th century and became a great success when he took his wines to Brazil to open the market for Portuguese wines all over the world. Since then, they have been making some of the best Port wines in the world. Ramos Pinto port lodge does not offer reservations for tastings. They offer tastings in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, but only at certain times so you have to come when they are offered on their website.

Kopke Port House

For those of you wondering what the oldest port house in Portugal is, well, now you know it is the Kopke Port House. Nestled between Calém and a row of restaurants, you can’t help but notice its charm. This historic port house does not offer tours but has a tasting room where you can order wines and ports by the glass. So if you are looking for a simple tasting, this could be a great place to try a variety of port.

Caves Burmester 

One of the most popular port houses, Burmester is the first one you encounter as you cross the bridge (lower deck) coming from Porto. It’s back off to the left and almost looks like an old tavern. They offer 3 tours and tastings. Children under 6 are free and Children from 6-17 cost €8. You can also come in for a tasting with no reservations, but I highly recommend a reservation during peak season. Personally speaking, you get a better deal with other tours. To compare, check my cheatsheet.

Espaço Porto Cruz

As you travel anywhere throughout Porto and Lisbon, you will see advertisements for Porto Cruz everywhere. They have a tasting room on the bottom floor of the building where you can taste and buy their wines. They also have a restaurant on the 3rd floor and a rooftop bar. I highly recommend eating at the restaurant where you will get a free tasting of the white port as an apéritif and you can also order port by the glass after the meal. When you finish there, head up to the top floor to get great port cocktails and a fantastic view of the city.

The Last Option

The next option is for those of you that happen to be there during peak season and can’t get into any of the cellars. Any one of the restaurants on the river would be happy to give you a tasting. The cool thing about this is that you don’t just get one cellars wines, you can get a sample of several. We happily sat in the sunshine and drank 6 glasses of port while the crowds glided past us.

More information on Port cellars and Port tours

Visiting a port wine cellar offers the unique experience of not only tasting amazing wine, but doing it in the cellar that has been used to produce wine for centuries. With way more than 10 port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, it is hard to figure out what might be the best option for you. However, I have put together a list of the cellars as well as what they offer, cost, times, and wines they feature in their tastings. IF you would like a copy, just click here! We also produce a Podcast on all of our adventures, including wine tastings and tours. You can listen on Spotify, Apple, Prime, YouTube and most places where you find podcasts.