{"id":241,"date":"2025-12-11T14:51:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T14:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realcompanhiavelha.pt\/?page_id=241"},"modified":"2026-02-26T10:17:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T10:17:25","slug":"caves","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/realcompanhiavelha.pt\/en\/caves\/","title":{"rendered":"Cellars"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gaia Cellars: Wine Tourism Programs<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Founded on September 10, 1756, by Royal Charter of King D. Jos\u00e9 I, the Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro, also known as Real Companhia Velha or Royal Oporto Wine Company, is the oldest Portuguese company, with uninterrupted activity since then.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Besides the Douro, where it has five estates and the winemaking center, Real Companhia Velha\u2019s geography also includes Vila Nova de Gaia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Port Wine Lodges of this bi-centennial Company are located in Gaia, on the left bank of the Douro River, in front of the city of Porto. A truly mythical place, marked by deep silence and constant darkness, full of noble wood casks, barrels, casks, vats, where the wine rests and ages for years, decades, and even centuries. The time needed for each wine to reach its exact maturation point and necessary complexity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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It is in these cellars that Real Companhia Velha stores a wide selection of Tawny Ports and also the private cellar of the Silva Reis family, owner of the company, with more than 16.000 bottles of rare Vintage Ports, the oldest dating back to 1765, thus maintaining the prestige and tradition.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Address:<\/span>\u00a0Rua Azevedo Magalh\u00e3es, 314, 4430-952 Vila Nova de Gaia
GPS Coordinates:<\/span>\u00a0N41.13026.\u00ba; W8.59754.\u00ba
Telefone:<\/span>\u00a0223 775 194<\/a>
E-mail:<\/span>\u00a0turismo@realcompanhiavelha.pt<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Wine Tourism Porgrams<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Trio of Experiences in Vila Nova de Gaia <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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To showcase its wine tourism offerings in Vila Nova de Gaia in an immersive way, we created the Real Companhia Velha \u2013 Trio of Experiences in Vila Nova de Gaia program, which includes a premium visit to the Port Wine Cellars, a visit to the Museum of the First Demarcation, and, to conclude, a relaxed lunch at Enoteca 17.56.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The program begins at 10:00 a.m. with a premium visit to the Port Wine Cellars. Guided by an expert, this experience starts with the screening of a video about the history of Real Companhia Velha and the process of making Port wine, from the Douro Valley to Vila Nova de Gaia. It continues through the main aging warehouse, passes through the Vintage Museum, and concludes with a tasting of four Port wines\u2014Extra Dry White, Late Bottled Vintage (LBV), Reserve Tawny, and 20-Year-Old Tawny. It is in these cellars that Real Companhia Velha stores an extensive selection of Tawny Port wines, as well as the private wine collection of the Silva Reis family. A truly mythical place, marked by deep silence and constant low light, filled with casks, large barrels, and vats made from noble woods, where the wine rests and ages for years, decades, and even centuries. Here, with no sense of hurry, each wine is given the time it needs to reach its precise point of maturity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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After visiting the Cellars, guests proceed to the 17.56 Museum & Enoteca of Real Companhia Velha, located at Cais de Gaia. The visit to the Museum of the First Demarcation begins at 11:30 a.m. and lasts approximately one hour. Being an interactive museum, visitors can explore at their own pace, finishing in the shop, where they can discover the Company\u2019s extensive wine offerings. At this museum, Real Companhia Velha\u2019s mission is to share with the public the precious history of the world\u2019s first demarcated wine region and of Real Companhia Velha\u2014both established in unison\u2014through documents and objects from the Company\u2019s collection, assembled and preserved over more than 260 years. The Museum aims to promote and showcase the history and culture of Port wine, which Real Companhia Velha has played a foundational role in shaping.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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After moments of history, unforgettable photographic memories, sharing knowledge, and learning about the company, the Douro region, and its wine culture, it\u2019s time to head up to the first floor of the visitor center for a relaxed lunch at Enoteca 17.56. This spacious venue features a restaurant, two private rooms, and a panoramic terrace overlooking the historic city of Porto. In this program, lunch begins with a refreshing \u201cPort Tonic\u201d as an aperitif and includes a starter, main course, and dessert, in addition to the couvert\u2014where guests can taste the extra virgin olive oil from Quinta dos Aciprestes. For the starter, you can choose between \u201cPata Negra ham\u201d or \u201cburrata with beefsteak tomato,\u201d the latter being a vegetarian-friendly option. The main course offers an \u201casparagus and basil risotto,\u201d as well as options from the menu such as \u201cBacalhau \u00e0 Romando\u201d or the \u201cEnoteca steak,\u201d paired with Evel white and red wines. For dessert, guests can enjoy \u201cmini escangalhado\u201d or fruit, accompanied by a Quinta das Carvalhas Reserve Tawny Port.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Real Companhia Velha \u2013 A trio with experience in Vila Nova de Gaia<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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PROGRAM<\/strong><\/p>