Are you a wine lover planning a trip to Porto, Portugal? If so, there’s one thing you absolutely can’t miss: Porto port houses.
While technically located just across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, these historic port producers are just a quick walk or boat ride away.
They make some tasty reds, rosés, and white wines from vines planted as many as 50 years ago. You’ll see top grapes like Touriga Nacional and Tinta Cão.
You won’t want to miss unique finds like the single-vineyard vintage port made from ungrafted vines. Plus, they make an unfiltered late-bottled vintage that you can age in the bottle.
The 5-story Espaço Porto Cruz is like a wine lover’s playground. There’s a tasting room, restaurant, wine shop, and even a gelateria! I mean, it’s hard to say no to wine and ice cream.
For experiencing one of the larger and most famous port houses, I’d recommend Taylor Fladgate. This OG producer has been making port for more than 300 years.
Grapes for the wines come from Quinta da Gricha, a grade-A vineyard in the Cimo Corgo sub-region of the Douro Valley. These are hand-picked and foot-treaded, ensuring the best taste and quality.
This historic port house was founded by the young artist, Adriano Ramos Pinto, who had great success exporting his ports to Brazil.