Taylor’s Port Cellars

No visit to Porto is complete without crossing the river to the port wine lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia, where the wine made in the Douro valley has traditionally been aged and shipped. Taylor's is one of the best-known houses, and its cellars on Rua do Choupelo, up the hill from the waterfront, offer one of the most polished visits. The firm describes itself as being in its fourth century, and its lodge as more than 300 years old.

The visit is self-guided with an audio guide available in 13 languages, which you start by scanning a QR code on your phone, so you can move at your own pace. The route leads through the cellars among rows of oak casks and large vats, explaining how port is made, the difference between wood-aged styles such as tawny and bottle-aged styles such as vintage, and the history of the company. Bring headphones if you have them.

The standard visit ends with a tasting of three wines: Taylor's Chip Dry, a white port often served with tonic, a Late Bottled Vintage and a 10-Year-Old Tawny. Other tastings, cocktails and olive oil tastings are also offered for those who want to go further. There is a separate tasting room for those who want to linger, and a shop selling the house's wines.

The cellar is open every day from 10:00 to 18:15, with the tasting room open until 19:30; hours change on some holidays. Booking online is recommended, especially in summer and at weekends, and lets you choose the experience that suits you. Allow about an hour and a half including the tasting. The lodge is on a steep street, so be ready for a short climb from the riverside, and remember that the tastings are for adults only.

From the Ribeira, cross the lower deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge and walk west along the Gaia waterfront before heading uphill, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The Yeatman hotel is next door, and the WOW cultural district, with its museums and restaurants, is a few minutes away, so the visit combines well with an afternoon on the Gaia side.