A Tale of Two Cities: Drinking Port Wine in Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia

This family-run business has been in operation since 1918, and is Opaz’s favourite lodge. “This one stands out for me because it is up the hill away from the crowds on the riverfront, and being a little off the beaten track means smaller crowds, so the tours feel more personal than many of the others,” he says.

The distinctive figure, known as the Don, perched atop the Sandeman Lodge, is one of Vila Nova de Gaia’s most recognisable landmarks. The silhouette of a man swathed in a black cape can be seen from miles around, calling you to visit the centuries-old cellars below. Founded by Scotsman George Sandeman in 1790, this is one of the best known brands of port in the world, and the enormous whitewashed building on the riverbank is one of the first ports of call for many visitors. There’s a free interactive exhibition space, but for those wanting to delve deeper into the cellars and Sandeman’s history, the cellar tours (guided by the Don himself) uncover ancient bottles, casks and vats where port has been aged since 1811.

The biggest port cellars in town belong to this famous name producer, and enjoy a plum position just above the riverfront. It’s a favourite with Opaz, who says: “This is still a working port wine producer and it’s interesting to visit the barrel rooms and see the ‘coopers’ [the craftsmen tasked with building and tending to the vast wooden barrels] at work. The tasting rooms are good, too, with plenty of variety.”

One for the serious port wine buff, this working 1890 port wine lodge is a short walk uphill of the Douro’s south bank, but you can visit by advance reservation only. The views, combined with the sights and sounds of the coopers tending to the thousands of oak casks, make a trip here more than worth the effort. Opaz says the Vintage Room is particularly noteworthy. “It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it if you have the money, as the Vintage Room has enomatic technology that makes it possible to open a bottle without spoiling it, meaning that visitors can try vintage wines by the glass.”

Cálem has been doing a roaring trade since 1859 and is the top-selling brand in Portugal, shifting close to 3m bottles each year. The whitewashed lodge stretches along the river bank, just a stones’ throw from the Dom Luis I bridge and receives hundreds of thousands of visitors each year – the enormous letters spelling out the name of this much-loved brand on the building are a local landmark, visible from Porto on the other side of the river. Tours delve deep into the history of port as well as the brand itself, and can be combined with a fado show for a uniquely Portuguese experience.

This is another internationally renowned brand, and the self-guided tours of the 300-year-old Taylors cellars are a good option for families: visitors can go at their own pace, children under 8 go free, and the kids’ ticket (9-17 years) includes juice and cookies instead of the port for the grown-ups. It’s a stiff 15-minute uphill walk to get here, but cabs can take the strain if little legs aren’t up to the challenge.

For tastings without the tour, look no further. This three-storey riverfront winehouse, a 10-minute stroll from the Dom Luis I bridge, is the oldest port store in town, and one of Opaz’s top picks. He says: “Kopke is a truly historical brand, it’s been in business since 1638, and the views from the tasting room are beautiful. You can buy birth year wines here, too.” If you needed an extra incentive to visit, Kopke also runs wine and chocolate pairing sessions.

Women are conspicuously absent in much of the port wine scene, making Dona Antonia Ferreira a rare exception. The Douro-born entrepreneur and philanthropist founded one of Portugal’s best-loved port brands in the 1800s, and a tour of the riverfront cellars (which have been in operation since 1751) offers a glimpse into her remarkable life through images and other artefacts. The Ferreira Caves are some of the most revered in the region, and visitors to this handsome, high-ceilinged lodge can sample white, ruby and varieties after taking the cellars tour.

Hidden on a backstreet uphill from the river, this small, family-run winery looks unassuming, but Opaz rates it among his top spots for port tastings: ”Unlike the big cellars with the huge crowds of tourists, this is all about an intimate tasting experience with staff who are passionate about helping people understand port wine. The space is being renovated and they have some exciting plans, so it’s one to watch.”

A bright and breezy contrast to the cellars of the historic port lodges, this refurbished 18th-century building on the banks of the river is owned by upmarket producer Porto Cruz, and features multimedia wine-focused exhibitions alongside a chance to sample and buy the famous wines. There’s a slick restaurant, too, and the bar is a wonderful place for a sunset drink as the river turns golden and lights begin to twinkle on the Porto hillside.