Winery · Douro

Taylor's, Graham's, Sandeman

Name: Taylor's, Graham's, Sandeman
Address: Douro, PT

Porto's Big Three—Taylor's (1692), Graham's (colonial), Sandeman (200+ years)—dominate Gaia's cellars with iconic Port styles. Audio-guided tours of historic lodges aging in oak casks overlook the Douro.

What to do there

TourGaia: Rabelo Sails, Black Roofs and Wellesley's HillFor centuries the Douro brought Port down to these lodges by boat. The heaviest late 18th-century rabelos carried 70 to 100 casks until a 1779 law capped them at 70; the last commercial run is said to have been in 1964. The port houses still keep rabelos on the river and race them under sails bearing their names. In May 1809 Wellesley, headquartered in the Serra do Pilar monastery, sent his soldiers across in four captured wine barges. You can read the sails, match casks to glasses in Taylor's cellars, ride over the lodge roofs and find, from the bridge, the seminary his soldiers took.

Wineries nearby

Winery · Vila Nova de Gaia Port Wine Lodges of Gaia Historic Port lodges row (since 1600s) across Douro from Porto—Taylor's, Graham's, Ramos Pinto + 10+ houses in walkable Gaia.
Winery · Vila Nova de Gaia Taylor's Port Wine Cellars - Self-Guided Journey Taylor's Port (since 1692) in Vila Nova de Gaia — 300-year-old cellars with audio-guided tour in 13 languages plus Barão Fladgate restaurant.
Winery Niepoort Niepoort Port since 1847—family-owned 5 generations, 150+ years in cellars with 1,000 barrels of tawny, Colheita + Vintage Port.