Porto is the capital of the port wine industry. That’s why Porto’s most famous attraction is visiting the wine lodges (or caves) where the port wine is stored, then shipped. The lodges are actually located not in Porto but just across the Douro River (Porto has six
bridges) in Vila Nova da Gaia. The Douro River begins in north-central Spain and travels through Portugal’s Douro Valley (we will visit this UNESCO world heritage site next week). The
view of Porto’s old town from Vila Nova da Gaia is
spectacular. There are a number of wine lodges along the river; the one Americans know best is
Sandeman. I
toured Calem, which is popular with both Portuguese and Brazilians. Wine was first shipped to Brazil back in the late 1800s. The
Calem lodge is a beautiful facility; it’s earned a Best of Wine Tourism award for incredible architecture. The
tour takes roughly 30 minutes; it costs just €2 ($2.50), and no appointment is necessary. The higlight for most visitors is not the lesson in how port wine is made (the English added brandy, giving it a sweet taste) or seeing
barrel after barrel aging, but rather tasting free samples of the sweet wine at the end. Of course, the tasting room is also in the
store, so visitors can stock up. Unfortunately, because of new carry-on security rules I bought only mini-bottles that would fit into my checked luggage.
Vinho Porto Calém, Avenida Diogo Leite, 26, Vila Nova de Gaia; email: marketing@calem.pt; tel.: 351-22-3746660.
Porto is the capital of the port wine industry. That’s why Porto’s most famous attraction is visiting the wine lodges (or caves) where the port wine is stored, then shipped. The lodges are actually located not in Porto but just across the Douro River (Porto has six bridges) in Vila Nova da Gaia. The Douro River begins in north-central Spain and travels through Portugal’s Douro Valley (we will visit this UNESCO world heritage site next week). The view of Porto’s old town from Vila Nova da Gaia is spectacular. There are a number of wine lodges along the river; the one Americans know best is Sandeman. I toured Calem, which is popular with both Portuguese and Brazilians. Wine was first shipped to Brazil back in the late 1800s. The Calem lodge is a beautiful facility; it’s earned a Best of Wine Tourism award for incredible architecture. The tour takes roughly 30 minutes; it costs just €2 ($2.50), and no appointment is necessary. The higlight for most visitors is not the lesson in how port wine is made (the English added brandy, giving it a sweet taste) or seeing barrel after barrel aging, but rather tasting free samples of the sweet wine at the end. Of course, the tasting room is also in the store, so visitors can stock up. Unfortunately, because of new carry-on security rules I bought only mini-bottles that would fit into my checked luggage. Vinho Porto Calém, Avenida Diogo Leite, 26, Vila Nova de Gaia; email: marketing@calem.pt; tel.: 351-22-3746660. 
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