Port wine is probably the most famous product from Portugal, and likely one of the first things to come to mind when thinking about the country. And while having Port in Portugal is an obvious must, touring the port cellars in Porto is a close second. After seeing the Port vineyards and wineries in Douro Valley, we toured Sandeman Port Cellars in Porto to complete our Port in Portugal experience.

Sandeman dates back to 1790, when two Scottish brothers started the company with just £300. Yes, Scots founded a Portuguese Port brand! Thanks to the popularity of Port in England, many original Port producers were British. That’s why so many have English names (like Croft, Taylor’s, and Graham’s).

As an iconic and historical brand, touring Sandeman Port cellars is an excellent example of how port ages in Vila Nova De Gaia, Porto.

Touring Sandeman Port Cellars in Porto

Sandeman is one of the oldest registered trademarks in the world, registered in the United Kingdom Patent Office in 1877.

Let’s talk About Port

Port is a fortified wine, meaning a neutral grain spirit is added to the wine. It stops the fermentation, increases alcohol percentage (to about 20%), and — its original purpose — makes it easier to transport. Made from five different grapes, Port must be made in Portugal to have that prestigious name.

(If not made in Portugal, it’s called Port-style wine or described as tawny. Except in the United States, where “Port” is not legally protected and does not mean the wine is from Portugal. So check the bottle for an authenticity stamp or location of origin stating Portugal.)

The grapes grow on the mountainous vineyards in the Douro Valley, about a two hour drive from Porto. I highly recommend taking a day trip to the Douro Valley to see the vineyards — it was one of the highlights of our trip! After being made in Douro, the wine makes its way to Porto’s Vila Nova de Gaia neighborhood for aging. Historically transported by boat on the Douro River, today the wine makes gets to the city in a truck. (Boring, but much more reliable!)

The view of Porto from Vila Nova de Gaia, along the Douro River.

Aging Port in Vila Nova de Gaia

The neighborhood of Vila Nova de Gaia, on the south side of Porto, is perfect for aging Port. For one, being next to the Douro River meant the wine could originally be transported from the vineyards by boat. Two, it’s somewhat sheltered from strong winds and direct sunlight, keeping the temperature more mild (and better for aging). And third, it’s outside of Porto, so producers avoided paying taxes in the 13th Century. (Everything comes down to politics at some point, right?)

Today Port cellars line the streets of Vila Nova de Gaia. Literally, dozens are nearby each other: Ferreira, Sandeman, and Graham’s on the river; Taylor’s, Cockburn, and others behind them. But touring the Port cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia is not like visiting most wineries or distilleries. Tours require advance reservations. Unlike many other wine-tasting regions, not even tastings are possible without reservations. So plan ahead!

The floor is recycled wood from barrels and wet every morning to help with humidity.

Touring Sandeman Port Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia

The lobby of Sandeman Cellars opens to a Port museum, with artifacts about the wine’s history and bottles dating to the 1600s. After perusing the museum, our tour guide walked us through an alley of barrels in every size imaginable. Many are small, stacked on top of each other; others are 20,000 liters. There are even a few 100,000 liter barrels that can last 100 years! The larger vats slow oxidation while smaller barrels give more wood flavor to the wine.

We walked along barrels and barrels, then passed bottles of Vintage Port, a few dating back to 1908! Vintage Port, from a single vintage and declared to be one of the best by The Port & Douro Wine Institute, spends 2-3 years aging in a barrel before spending decades in the bottle.

Tasting 10, 20, 30, and 40 year tawny Port at Sandeman Cellars.

Sandeman Port

Besides Vintage Port, there are several different types of Port each with their own tasting profiles. Ruby Port, vibrant in color and taste, aged in steel or concrete. White Port, bright and fruity, made with white grapes and unaged. And Tawny Port, sweet and nutty, aged for decades in wood. The age of Tawny ports is an average of the wine in the bottle.

Our tour included a tasting of four Tawny Ports in the private tasting room. The Tawny 10 Year (23€) was darker (an indication of youth), with flavors of ripe fruits and raisins. The Tawny 20 Year (49€) was more balanced, with flavors of honey, nuts, and vanilla. My favorite, the Tawny 30 Year (120€), with dried apricots, hazelnuts and vanilla flavors. And the Tawny 40 Year (156€) had flavors of oak and honey with dried fruits and a lingering finish.

The tour ended in the gift shop, of course, where we shopped for wine, vintage advertisements, and glasses. I couldn’t leave without a bottle of Tawny 20 Year. Even though it’s available in the States, having it from Sandeman Cellars was a perfect souvenir.

100,000 liter vats of Port in the Sandeman cellars.

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Taking a tour of Sandeman Port Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia is a must do in Porto. But remember: tours require advance reservations. You can make them online here. Tours range from 14-42€. Or tour several cellars together with a tour like this one.

Disclaimer :: I was graciously treated to this tour at no cost. As always, all opinions are my own. • Some of the links in this post are affiliate links and I may receive a commission from them. Thank you for supporting the companies that support Whiskied Wanderlust.