Best 17 Port Wine Cellars in Porto for Port Wine Tasting

Visiting Porto requires visiting the best Port Wine Cellars, even if it’s just to taste Port Wine. After all, wine is the main wonder of Douro region, more important than the monuments, in my opinion. I’m not even a big wine connoisseur, but it’s practically impossible not to delight in the sweet taste of this specific Portuguese nectar.

It would be ideal to visit all the available cellars, but such a complete experience would not be easy on the pocket. Usually only one, two or three Port Wine Cellars are visited, and this article is here to help you in that selection, which is not easy at all, believe me. 😉 I really hope I can help you through the whole process.

But before that, do you know what the Port Wine Cellars are? Do you know the difference between cellars and wineries?

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Port wine cellars in Porto vs Douro Valley Wineries

Many people do not know the difference between the Port Wine Cellars and the Douro Valley Wineries, and even think that they have already visited cellars, when in fact what they visited were the Wineries. Or vice versa.

In the wine production process, the cellars come last, for maturation. The cellars are those places that you find in Vila Nova de Gaia to visit, and I will mention them in this article. In the past, Port wine barrels were transported to Gaia on Rabelo boats that are now available to tourists on river cruises.

The Wineries, in turn, consist of the place where the grapes are worked, after being harvested directly from the vineyard. Here, the entire winemaking process takes place until the wine is sent to the cellars for maturation.

In Douro Valley there are mainly vineyards and wineries, although there are also some cellars. Next to Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia you only find cellars.

My suggestions for Port Wine Cellars in Porto

My main suggestion are Ferreira Porto Wine Cellars. They are considered by many to be the most Portuguese and traditional, so you shouldn’t ignore them!

If you have time to visit two cellars, I would opt for the British cellars of Graham’s or Cockburn’s, also very old and with a long history… but they are not Portuguese!

If you are looking for a more intimate experience, how about resorting to the small producers that I will recommend in this article?

I would avoid the more touristy and busy ones, like Calém and Sandeman. However, if you like fado, be sure to visit Calém with access to a live show.

Best 17 Port Wine Cellars in Porto

Finally, I present you the list of the 17 Best Port Wine Cellars in Porto, to help you in your choice. More important than the description I am going to leave, based on the research I did and the knowledge I acquired about the cellars, are the links to make your reservations.

The 17 Best Port Wine Cellars are presented in no order of preference, but you already know that I totally recommend the Ferreira Cellars, because my experience there was the most fantastic.

1. Graham’s Port Wine Cellars

Graham’s is in the port wine business in Portugal, but is British in origin, having been founded in 1820 when the brothers William and John Graham founded a textile company in northern Portugal. It is said that they switched to the wine business when they received several barrels of port as payment. 😉 Did they fall for it or was it just an eye for business?

In 1890, Graham’s acquired its first wine farm, Quinta dos Malvedos, ceasing to be just a merchant. At the same time, they built their Port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. Today, all Graham’s Port Wines are produced from the grapes of the vineyards they own, and they age according to their rules on their cellars.

Note that Graham’s has belonged to the Symington family since 1970. On a visit to these cellars, you can follow several different programs, depending on the wines you want to taste at the end, classic or vintage. Graham’s also has a restaurant and winebar available to visitors, with a magnificent view over the city of Porto.

2. Cockburn’s Port Wine Cellars

Also owned by the Symington family are Cockburn’s Port Wine Cellars, a brand that originated in 1815 when John and Robert Cockburn, two Scots, founded the company of the same name. They supposedly house the largest number of wine barrels in Gaia.

3. Churchill’s Port Wine Cellars

Churchill’s is relatively recent, founded in 1981 by the Graham family, a strong name in the business. In 1999 Churchill’s acquired Quinta da Gricha and all of its vineyards are classified as high quality by the region’s standards (letter A, the highest classification). It produces premium wines, and if you are looking for a more intimate visit, away from the big producers, this could be a good option.

4. Ferreira Port Wine Cellars

Ferreira Porto Wine Cellars are for me the best choice on this list. After all, Ferreira brand has around 270 years of history (going back to 1751), and is linked to Dona Antónia Adelaide Ferreira, also known as Ferreirinha, for many the most charismatic and outstanding personality that has ever been linked to the port wine business. She was really an obstinate woman at the time, in a man-filled business.

This is also considered by many to be the most Portuguese brand of all Port wines! Today, Ferreira belongs to Sogrape, founded by Fernando Van Zeller Guedes in 1942, and which also owns Sandeman.

The visit includes a guided tour through the process and history of Ferreira, involving Dona Antónia herself. There are several hundred barrels of wine inside the cellars, and I particularly highlight the collection of Vintage Ports, the oldest of which dates back to 1815.

5. Sandeman Port Wine Cellars

The Sandeman Cellars are among the most visited of all the Best Port Wine Cellars, and are also one of the best located and easily accessible, right in the heart of Ribeira de Gaia, and right next to Luis I Bridge. The building where they are located dates back to 1811.

Unlike the Ferreira brand, Sandeman is not of Portuguese origin, although it is now part of Sogrape, like the first one. Sandeman was created in 1790 in London, when George Sandeman started selling Port and Jerez wines there.

Sandeman claims to have pioneered many aspects of the Port wine process, for example in bottling, labeling and advertising its wines. Sandeman’s brand image is unmistakable (the man in the hat and cape holding a glass of wine), and corresponds to “The Don”, having been created in 1928. The Don is for the Sandeman house what Dona Antónia is for the Ferreira house.

Link for Sandeman website
You can sleep in The House of Sandeman during your stay in Porto.
Location of Sandeman Port Wine Cellars.

6. Taylor Port Wine Cellars

Taylor is one of the oldest Port wine houses, dating back to 1692. It was founded by Job Bearsley, an Englishman, but initially sold simple Portuguese red wine from the Minho region. It was his descendants who became particularly interested in port wine:

Peter Bearsley was the first English businessman in the Port wine trade business to visit the Douro region.
And in 1744, Bartholomew Bearsley was the first British exporter of port wine to buy property in Douro Valley.

Taylor’s management ended up changing hands over the years, with emphasis on Joseph Camo (key person during the Napoleonic wars), Joseph Taylor (who gave it its current name), John Fladgate (from the time of the phylloxera disaster) and the Yeatman family.

You can visit Taylor Cellars with an audio guide, so in this case it is not necessary to book in advance.

Know more on Taylor’s website.
What about sleeping at the Yeatmans during your stay in Porto?
Location of Taylor Port Wine Cellars.

7. Fonseca Port Wine Cellars

Fonseca has Portuguese origins, having been founded by João dos Santos Fonseca in 1815. A few years later it already had a branch in England to facilitate the export of port wine to London. This branch was headed by Manoel Pedro Guimaraens, whose descendants later took full ownership of the company.

Unfortunately, not everything went well for Fonseca at the beginning of the 20th century, financially, so it ended up being dependent on loans from Taylor and the Fladgate group. It was later sold to them in 1949, maintaining, however, its traditions and the style of wine produced.

Already recovered and re-established, Fonseca ended up acquiring excellent wine estates, namely Quintas do Panascal, Cruzeiro and Santo António.

If you want to visit Fonseca Port Wine Cellars, follow the links below.

8. Quevedo Wines Tasting Room

Quevedo Wines compares with Churchill’s in terms of antiquity, as its history only dates back to 1970, when Oscar and Beatriz Quevedo decided to settle in São João da Pesqueira, in the heart of the Douro demarcated region. The brand itself, however, only appeared in 1993.

This is a small producer that you can choose for a more intimate wine tasting experience when visiting Porto. The space is not very big, in fact, but it already offers a series of activities to the visitor, which you can learn more about on the official website.

Location of Quevedo Wines Tasting Room.

9. Porto Cruz

Porto Cruz needs no introduction as a Port wine brand of excellence. Its foundation dates back to 1887, and today Gaia has a very well-prepared place for visitors, with nice tasting rooms, an auditorium and even a panoramic terrace. Learn more here.

You can, if you so wish, sleep at the Gran Cruz House, right on the riverside area of Porto.

10. Ramos Pinto Port Wine Cellars

Ramos Pinto emerged in 1880 and quickly stood out in exports to Brazil. Its wines result from the transformation of grapes from four Douro wineries: Bom Retiro, Urtiga, Bons Ares and Ervamoira. Note that the elegant building of Ramos Pinto Museum was acquired by the company in 1907.

11. Vasconcellos Port Wine Cellars

With regard to House Vasconcellos, I refer to its foundation in 1879 by José Teixeira Pinto Vasconcellos. Today it is owned by Christie’s Port Wine Producer & Shipper. To schedule a visit, use the contacts on the official website.

Location of Vasconcellos Port Wine Cellars.

12. Quinta do Noval Shop

Quinta do Noval has only one small shop and tasting room in Porto, where you can learn about its history, which dates back to 1715, and taste its wines. As a curiosity, this was the first Port wine producer to centralize the entire winemaking process in the Douro Valley, having built its most recent cellars and warehouses in the Pinhão and Alijó areas.

Location of Quinta do Noval small shop

13. Kopke Wine House

Kopke is the oldest Port wine house, having been founded in 1638 by Cristiano Kopke and his son, Nicolau Kopke, who came to Portugal as Consul General of the Hanseatic League. In 1781 he bought his first wine estate in Douro Valley, taking his first steps as a port wine producer. Quinta de São Luiz, however, where all Kopke wines are produced today, was acquired only in 1922.

14. Calém Port Wine Cellars

I also mention Calém Port Wine Cellars and the possibility of attending a live fado show during your visit. They are undoubtedly the most touristy and visited cellars in Porto, not because they are the best, but because they are the easiest to access, along with Sandeman. If you opt for them, get ready for more modern spaces and more interactive exhibitions.

Calém originated in 1859 when it was founded by António Alves Cálem, who wanted to export port wine to Brazil. It belongs to Sogevinus today.

15. Burmester Port Wine Cellars

As for Burmester, its history dates back to 1750, founded by Henry Burmester and John Nash, with the aim of exporting port wine to Europe. These cellars are right next to the Luís I Bridge, and promote different types of visits, from the most classic to the most exclusive.

16. Poças Port Wine Cellars

In this article I presented Ferreira Port Wine Cellars as being one of the most portuguese in tradition, however Poças was born portuguese in 1918, and remains so until today, owned by the same family that founded it. Its founder was Manoel Domingues Poças Júnior.

Currently, Poças has 3 wine farms: Quinta das Quartas, Quinta de Santa Bárbara and Quinta de Vale Cavalos. It promotes guided visits to the cellars and also Port wine tastings, both in groups or in a more exclusive way. It also allows other types of gastronomic experiences, always associated with Port wine.

17. Real Companhia Velha Port Wine Cellars

I end with Real Companhia Velha, formed in 1756 by the Marquis of Pombal and made up of the main producers and merchants of Port Wine (as announced at the time), in order to combat the deterioration in the quality of Port Wine that was felt at the time, and consequent underproduction, which seriously affected exports to England.

Real Companhia Velha started by demarcating estates according to the quality of their wines, which resulted in the creation of the first demarcated and regulated region in the world in the heart of Douro Valley.

Foi também responsável por várias obras públicas importantes na região do Douro, e que vieram a facilitar todo o processo de transporte e exportação do vinho.

Today, Real Companhia Velha owns Quinta das Carvalhas, Quinta dos Aciprestes, Quinta de Cidrô, Quinta do Casal da Granja and Quinta do Sítio, in addition to the fabulous cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia where you can enjoy various wine tourism experiences. For example, how about going for a full morning with lunch, visiting the Cellars, the Enoteca and the Museum of the 1st Demarcation?

Map with the best Port Wine Cellars in Porto

Tours to visit Porto + Tickets

If you want to visit more of Porto than the best Port Wine Cellars, check the following guided tour tips by Civitatis, Viator and Get Your Guide, all over the city. How about renting an electric bike for your stay in Porto?

Examples of Porto Tours:
1 - Porto Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
2 - Porto Card + Public Transportation
3 - Douro River Six Bridges Cruise
4 - Palácio da Bolsa Guided Tour
5 - Porto pub crawl
6 - Torre dos Clérigos Entrance Ticket
7 - Ticket to World of Discoveries
8 - FC Porto Stadium + Museum Tour
9 - SEA LIFE Porto Tickets
10 - Serralves Foundation Museum + Park Ticket
11 - Casa da Guitarra Fado Show
12 - Fado Show at Ideal Club
13 - Complete Porto Tour with Tickets
14 - Porto Jetboat experience
15 - Douro Sunset Sailboat Experience in Porto
16 - Port Wine Tour | 3 Cellars | 7 Tastings
17 - Private Electric Tuk Tuk Sightseeing Tour
18 - Craft Beer & Food Tour in Porto

Ribeira | Things to do in Porto — Ribeira do Porto

Day trips from Porto

You can also opt for day trips to various points of interest in the north and center of Portugal, and even Galicia, always departing from the city of Porto. Other possibility is to just rent a car with Discover Cars and do it by yourself.

Day trips from Porto with Get Your Guide:
1 - Douro Valley Tour from Porto
2 - Vineyards Tour from Porto with Lunch
3 - Braga and Guimarães day trip
4 - Surf Experience
5 - Santiago de Compostela Day trip from Porto
6 - Paiva Walkways day trip from Porto
7 - Peneda-Gerês National Park Day trip from Porto
8 - Aveiro Day trip from Porto
9 - Fátima and Coimbra Day Trip from Porto

Day trips from Porto with Viator:
1 - Douro Valley Small-Group Tour
2 - Authentic Douro Wine Tour with River Cruise
3 - Best of Braga and Guimaraes Day Trip
4 - Aveiro & Costa Nova Half Day Tour
5 - Full-Day Tour to Santiago de Compostela and Valença do Minho
6 - Peneda Geres National Park Tour from Porto
7 - Arouca Suspension Bridge and Paiva Walkway Day Tour from Porto
8 - 4x4 Porto Mountain Excursion
9 - Fátima and Coimbra Full Day Tour

Day trips from Porto with Civitatis:
1 - Guimarães and Braga Day Trip
2 - Douro Valley Wine Tasting and Tour
3 - Douro Region Full day Tour
4 - Fátima and Coimbra Day Trip
5 - Day trip to Santiago de Compostela
6 - Paiva Walkways + 516 Bridge Tour
7 - Peneda-Gerês National Park Day Tour
8 - Aveiro and Costa Nova day trip
9 - Matosinhos Surf Class
10 - Régua Day Cruise from Porto
11 - 1 Day Cruise to Pinhão