Porto: Graham’s Port Lodge Tour with Premium Wine Tastings
Hightlight
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English-Speaking
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Group-Friendly
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Local guide
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Reservations
History
Graham’s Port Lodge was founded in 1820 by two Scottish brothers, William and John Graham, who accepted 27 pipes of Port as payment for a debt—launching a dynasty. The current lodge, built in 1890 on a granite ridge in Vila Nova de Gaia, was designed by Portuguese engineers to house vast oak vats while maximizing river breezes for aging.
Today, it remains a working cellar with over 2,000 pipes and 40 massive vats, cradling Vintage Ports that can slumber for a century. Its panoramic terrace overlooks Porto’s UNESCO-listed Ribeira and the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge, a view unchanged since the lodge’s first harvest.
Highlights
- Learn about the history of the 1890 Graham’s Lodge
- Discover the secrets of the production process of Port wine
- Taste cellar wines paired with cheese, chocolate, and Pastel de Nata
- Marvel at spectacular views of Porto and the iconic two-tier bridge
- Explore a working cellar with 2,000+ oak pipes
- Savor three premium Ports in perfect food harmony
- Browse the lodge shop for exclusive Vintage releases
Full Description
Arrive at the whitewashed lodge gates on Rua do Agro and step into 130 years of winemaking tradition. A multilingual guide leads you past granite walls into cool, dimly lit cellars where the air is thick with vanilla and dried fig from aging oak.
Walk among towering vats—each holding 15,000 liters—and peer into the Vintage library where bottles from 1890 rest under dust. Learn the alchemy: late harvest grapes, foot-treading in lagares, fortification with aguardente, and decades of patient evolution.
The tasting unfolds in a private room with river views: LBV with dark chocolate, Quinta dos Malvedos with aged cheddar, and 20-Year Tawny with warm Pastel de Nata. End on the terrace, glass in hand, as Porto’s rooftops glow at golden hour.
Why Choose This Experience?
This isn’t a generic cellar crawl—it’s an intimate journey through a living legend, led by guides who know every barrel’s story. The 2-hour pace is leisurely, the pairings masterful, and the views unmatched.
Wheelchair-accessible paths, small groups, and a working lodge atmosphere make it authentic. Perfect for oenophiles, foodies, or anyone seeking Porto’s soul in a glass.
What’s Included
- Guided tour
- Wine tasting
- Food pairings
- Three premium Port tastings (LBV, Quinta dos Malvedos, 20-Year Tawny)
- Chocolate, aged cheese, and warm Pastel de Nata
- Access to Vintage library and working cellars
- Terrace photo stop with panoramic views
- Optional lodge shop visit
Itinerary
- Arrive 15 min early at Graham’s reception (Rua do Agro 141)
- Welcome briefing and lodge history
- Guided walk through barrel rooms and Vintage cellars
- Tasting session with three paired Ports
- Free time on terrace for photos
- Optional shopping in lodge boutique
- End at reception
Pricing
From $46 per person
Meeting Point
Graham’s Port Lodge – Rua do Agro 141, 4400-003 Vila Nova de Gaia. Enter via main reception gate.
How to get there
- By metro: General Torres (Line D) – 10-min uphill walk
- By bus: Line 904 or 906 to “Graham’s” stop
- By funicular: From Ribeira + 15-min walk
- Walking from Porto: Cross Dom Luís I upper deck (20 min, scenic)
- By taxi/Uber: Request “Graham’s Port Lodge, Gaia”
Good to Know
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes (some slopes)
- Light jacket (cellars are cool)
- Camera (terrace views are epic)
- Appetite for Port and pastries
- Reusable water bottle
Know before you go
- This experience is meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace
- Plan your venue ahead: Please note that there is a lot of work in progress in the surrounding area. The meeting point is our reception, located at Rua do Agro, 141, 4400-003 Vila Nova de Gaia
- We recommend arriving at the cellar 15 minutes before your activity starts for check-in
- Wheelchair accessible (ramps throughout)
- Not suitable for children under 8 (tastings are alcoholic)
- Photography allowed (no flash in cellars)
Reviews
- Max was a Port wizard—funny, passionate, and paired the 20-Year Tawny with Pastel de Nata like a dream. Views from the terrace? Postcard-perfect.
- Seamless from start to finish. The working cellar vibe, the chocolate-LBV combo, the history—worth every euro. Walk from Porto is easy!
- First-class all the way. Guide’s stories brought the barrels to life. The cheese pairing was genius. Highly recommend.
Maps
Video
FAQ's
How does the food pairing enhance the Port tasting?
Each pairing is engineered to amplify the wine’s profile: the LBV (late bottled vintage) has bold plum and spice notes—dark 70 % chocolate tempers the tannins and echoes the fruit, creating a silky mouthfeel. The Quinta dos Malvedos, a single-quinta vintage character, offers blackberry and pepper; aged cheddar’s salt crystals cut the sweetness while its nuttiness mirrors the wine’s oak. Finally, the 20-Year Tawny—caramel, fig, almond—meets warm Pastel de Nata: the custard’s vanilla custard echoes the rancio, the flaky pastry crunches like toasted nuts. Served in sequence, the trio evolves from youthful power to elegant maturity. Past guests call it “a masterclass in harmony.”
Is the lodge really still a working cellar?
Yes—Graham’s is fully operational, producing 2.5 million liters annually. You’ll walk past active lagares (granite treading tanks), smell fermenting must, and see coopers repairing 550-liter pipes. The Vintage library holds bottles from 1890 to current declarations (e.g., 2016, 2017). Forklifts move barrels daily; the air hums with work. This isn’t a museum—it’s a living winery where your guide might pause to greet a winemaker. The authenticity elevates the tour beyond static exhibits.
How strenuous is the walk through the lodge?
The 2-hour experience is gentle: 80 % indoors on flat, wheelchair-accessible paths with ramps. The only incline is a short, paved slope from reception to cellars (50 m, 5 % grade). Tasting is seated. The terrace is level with benches. Comfortable shoes suffice—no hiking. Seniors, families with strollers, and mobility-impaired guests manage easily. Staff assist with doors and pacing. The leisurely rhythm includes pauses for photos and questions.
Can I buy the tasted Ports or Vintage bottles?
Absolutely—the lodge shop stocks everything tasted, plus exclusives: the exact LBV and Quinta dos Malvedos bottles, 20-Year Tawny in gift tubes, and rare Vintages (e.g., 2000, 2011) in wooden boxes. Prices are cellar-door (10–20 % below retail). Staff pack for travel (bubble wrap, sturdy boxes) and handle EU/UK shipping. Popular add-ons: mini-Pastel de Nata gift packs or chocolate bars from the pairing. Card payment only. Many guests ship a case home as the ultimate souvenir.
What makes Graham’s views so special?
The lodge sits 80 meters above the Douro on Gaia’s granite ridge—higher than any other cellar—offering a 180-degree panorama: Porto’s red-tiled Ribeira cascading to the river, the Dom Luís I Bridge’s two tiers (road above, metro below), and the Atlantic haze at sunset. No obstructions, no crowds. The terrace has tables for lingering with a final glass. Photographers time golden hour; romantics propose here. It’s the only lodge where you taste Port while watching the city that made it famous.
