The Best Port Cellars in Gaia: Tours and Tastings

Across the river from Porto, the hillside of Vila Nova de Gaia is lined with the historic lodges where port wine has been aged for centuries. A cellar tour and tasting is one of the essential Porto experiences. Here’s how to choose a cellar and what to expect.

Quick answer: the big names, including Graham’s, Taylor’s, Sandeman, Cálem, Cockburn’s and Ferreira, all offer tours and tastings. Some sit on the riverfront, while others are up the hill with views. Book ahead, especially in summer, and compare tasting options from basic to premium. Tours last about an hour. See port cellar tours and tastings.

What a cellar visit includes

• A guided tour of the lodge, its barrels and vats, and the history of the house.
• How port is made: from the Douro vineyards to ageing in Gaia.
• A tasting: usually two or three styles, such as white, ruby and tawny. Premium tastings include aged tawnies or vintage ports.

How to choose

• Riverside lodges: easy to reach from the lower deck of the bridge, and good if you’re short on time.
• Hilltop lodges: a steep walk up, but rewarded with views of Porto from terraces and restaurants.
• Big brands vs small houses: large lodges have polished tours and museums, while smaller producers offer a more personal experience.
• Tasting level: pay a little more for older tawnies if you love wine.

Other ways to taste

• Wine bars in Porto and Gaia offer tastings from many producers.
• WOW (World of Wine): a cultural quarter with a wine experience and restaurants.
• A walking tour with tastings. See port tasting tours.
• The Douro Valley: visit the quintas where the grapes are grown. See the Douro day trip from Porto.

Tips

• Book ahead for English-language tour times.
• Eat first: port is strong.
• Shipping: many lodges can ship bottles home.

More: the port wine guide, Vila Nova de Gaia and wine tours in Portugal.

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