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Museum and Cellar Tour

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A tour through the history of Port and the Douro Valley.

interactive museum

Guided tour, vintage cellar, wine tasting.

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Tour & Taste

Everything you need to know about portowine from the vineyard to the glass, in an unique format that includes an interactive museum tour, guided tour and a premium wine tasting..

Tour, Taste & Fado

Learn, taste and enjoy an authentic fado show in the incomparable facilities of our cellars..

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Calem Porto Wine Cellar Tour – Is It Worth It?

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And when in Porto, Portugal, drink as the Portuguese do. In other words, drink the local port wine, preferably on a port wine tasting tour that explains the wine-making process from vineyard to table, with lots of tasting samples!  That’s exactly what you’ll get on a tour of the Calem wine cellars in Porto – an unmissable experience on any trip to the city.

I recently spent almost two weeks in Porto, Portugal, and a big part of my trip was learning about the region’s famous wines. The nearby Douro Valley was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, with thanks to its 2,000 years of wine production and, specifically, its world-famous port wine.

I spent a full day in the Douro Valley visiting vineyards and seeing the wine-making in action, but I know that not everybody has that much time in Porto. For travelers on a tighter schedule, the next best thing is a Porto wine cellar tour in the Vila Nova de Gaia neighborhood. Here, dozens of winemakers store and age hundreds of millions (!) of liters of wine, and in recent years many of those winemakers have opened their doors to the public.

One of the wine cellars in Porto that is open to the public is Calem. I spent several hours visiting their caves, learning about their history and tasting some of their finest port wines. If you’ve been thinking about visiting a wine cellar in Porto, keep reading to see what you can expect on a visit to Calem or one of the neighboring wine companies.

Note: I paid in full for my Calem wine cellar tour in Porto and I didn’t disclose to my guide, or any staff members, that I was a blogger. Also, I should note that technically Calem is written like Cálem, with an accent over the “a”. However, I know some computers and phones have problems showing that symbol so I’ll be omitting it throughout this post.

All About the Calem Wine Cellars in Porto, Portugal

Although Vila Nova de Gaia is technically its own city, most people think of it as being part of Porto, Portugal. Located on the opposite bank of the Douro River from Porto’s historic center, it’s easy to reach by foot, bus, metro or car in less than five minutes (seriously, it’s that close!).

In 1926 the Portuguese government passed a law requiring all wine producers in the nearby Douro Valley to move their storage, aging and export processes to Vila Nova de Gaia, freeing up space in Porto and concentrating port wine production under the government’s watchful eye. This law stayed in place until the 1980s, cementing Vila Nova de Gaia as the heart of Portugal’s port wine industry.

Calem is one of the many port wine producers who still maintain operations in Vila Nova de Gaia today. The company was founded in 1859, and at first focused primarily on breaking into the lucrative Brazilian market. As the years passed Calem also rose in popularity with local Portuguese drinkers, and today it is one of the most recognizable wine houses in the country.

Calem’s wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia are located directly on the waterfront, less than 100 meters from the lower level of the Ponte Luis I Bridge.

Calem Wine Tour Overview

I recommend that you purchase your tickets to Calem in advance, especially in high season. They can and do sell out, especially for the English-language tours. I bought my tickets about three days in advance to get the time that worked best for me.

There are a few different tasting options, which I’ll discuss below. Generally, though, I recommend choosing one of the tours that includes three wine tastings.

At the time of my visit in 2023, the Calem Wine Tour experience featured four main stops:

• Port Wine Museum – We were given free time to explore this interactive, hands-on museum that explored the process of wine-making from soil to bottle.
• Tour of Calem Wine Cellars – Then, our guide led us into Calem’s wine cellars to see how port wine is aged and stored.
• Calem Port Wine Tasting – Finally, we were taken upstairs to a wine tasting room and seated based on which tasting package we’d purchased.
• Calem Wine Shop – On your way out, you’ll exit through Calem’s boutique. Here, you can buy full bottles of the wines you tasted, along with small gift sets (perfect gifts for friends and family back home) and some local treats like jams and chocolates.

I see that Calem is currently building a “5D Cinema” that will include “a film full of sensations” but it hasn’t opened yet (as of Fall 2023). If it’s open by the time you visit, please let me know if you enjoy the experience!

Calem Port Wine Museum

You’ll want to arrive about five to ten minutes before the time on your ticket – no need to come earlier. You’ll be invited to queue at the entrance gates until the exact moment you’re scheduled to enter, at which time the staff will start scanning tickets and letting guests inside.

The first stop on a Calem Porto tour will be a self-guided tour of the museum. The interactive exhibits here explain what makes the Douro Valley region so conducive to wine-making, from the specific type of soil to the climate. Then, you’ll learn how the grapes are harvested and processed to become wine, as well as what separates the different types of wines and ports.

It can be a bit crowded here, with up to fifty guests in the museum at once time. I recommend starting at the opposite end of the exhibits and then backtracking, so you’re going against the crowd.

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Inside the Calem Wine Cellars

After you’ve had about twenty minutes in the museum, your guide will collect the group and you’ll go into the Calem wine cellars.  This is where they store millions of liters of wine, carefully monitoring the aging and fermentation to ensure that the finished product is absolutely perfect.

Your guide will be wearing a microphone so that everyone in the group can hear what they’re saying as they discuss the harvesting of the grapes, how they are processed into wine, and the art and science of both aging and fortifying the wine to make Portugal’s iconic port beverage.

I’ve done quite a few wine tours before but I always find it interesting to hear regional differences and preferences, and to understand the interplay between wine production and the local culture and economy.  While you are supposed to stay with your guide throughout the door, nobody minded when I stepped away a bit to snap some photos and to look for a barrel from the year I was born (I didn’t find one – maybe you’ll be luckier than me!).

Your tour through the cellar will take about thirty minutes, and during this time you’re welcome to ask questions about what you’re hearing. You can sign up for a tour in English, French, Italian or Spanish, so you can trust that your guide will be able to explain things in a way that you’ll understand!

Calem Wine Tour Tastings

After our guided tour of the Calem Porto wine cellars, we headed upstairs to the tasting room.  On the way we were separated into groups based on which of the tasting packages we’d purchased, and we were then guided to the pre-set table with the wines we’d selected.

• Book a tour with two or three wine tastings. 🍷
• Book a tour with three wine tastings, plus a chocolate and cheese pairing. 🍫
• Book an evening tour with four wine tastings during a live Portuguese Fado music performance. 🎵

I had bought a ticket that included three wine pairings (highly recommended – two is not enough!), so I was seated in that area. Each bench seats two people, so couples can sit beside or opposite one another, and solo travelers will be seated with another person.

Once seated, you are free to start your tasting right away. There are several staff members working in the tasting room and they will circulate to explain the different wines, but generally it’s more of an independent tasting.

Apparently I’m a cheap date, as I found I actually enjoyed the less-expensive ports (especially the rosé!) more than the very-expensive vintages. However, I’m glad I got the chance to try some pricier ports so that I’ll never wonder what I missed out on!

The Boutique at Calem Porto

You don’t have to wait for your group to finish their wine tasting – when you’re done, you can head downstairs to Calem’s boutique and gift shop. There shouldn’t be any surprises here as your table in the tasting room will have a list of the bottles you tasted (and others) as well as their retail price.

Personally, I didn’t make any purchases in the gift shop as I still had a few weeks left in my Portugal trip and didn’t want to be carrying around heavy bottles of wine. I was very tempted by a few of the other products, like a really interesting pumpkin jam and some local chocolates, but I didn’t want to carry them around for the rest of the day.

If you feel the same you can always swing by the gift shop at the end of your day of sightseeing, as you can enter directly from the street without needing to pass through the cellars.

One things I did was snap a photo of the price list and I compared it to the prices for Calem wines at the Continente supermarket near my Porto hotel. The prices were quite similar, but the official shop here in Vila Nova de Gaia definitely had a much better selection. If there’s a particular bottle you really want, you should pick it up here or plan to possibly have to order online.

Is a Calem Wine Tour in Porto Worth It?

If you have two days or less in Porto, a Calem wine tour is definitely worth it. This region of Portugal is renowned internationally for its port wines, and a short visit to Calem gives you a good introduction to the regional specialties.

However, if you have three days or more in Porto, I would recommend spending one of those days in the Douro Valley itself. Visiting the actual vineyards and seeing the natural landscape that produces these grapes is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that was by far the highlight of my week in Porto.  This is the specific tour that I recommend , and this is my article about what you can expect on the tour.

Of course, if you’re an oenophile, you could do both the Douro Valley tour and a tasting at Calem (or one of the other cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia).

If you have children, you really need to consider their tolerance for sitting around while you drink wine. 😉 The kids I saw at Calem seemed moderately interested in the museum and tour, but very bored during the tasting experience. The upcoming opening of the aforementioned “5D Cinema” might make this a more attractive option for families in Porto.

Other Port Wine Tours & Tastings in Porto

As I mentioned, if you have three or more days in Porto I would highly recommend spending one of those days on an excursion to the Douro Valley.  My recommended tour is run by a local family and takes you to independent wineries – click here for all the details.

However, there are other wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia that run similar tours to Calem. Here are a few other Porto wine cellar tours to consider:

• Graham’s Port Lodge Tour & Vintage Room Wine Tasting – A signficantly more upscale experience, this wine cellar on the hill of Vila Nova de Gaia is open by invitation and appointment only. They have premium and super-premium tastings, each with single-harvest and vintage port wines.
• Burmester Cellar Tour with Tasting & Pairing Options – Burmester is one of the oldest port producers in Vila Nova de Gaia, as their business dates back to 1750!  Their cellars are located right at the end of the Ponte Luis I (even closer than Calem!) and they offer guests standard tastings, premium tastings, and tastings paired with chocolate and cheese.
• Cockburn’s Cellar Tours and Tastings – Founded by two brothers from Scotland in the early 1800s, Cockburns is now one of the biggest port producers in the region. This is reflected in the many different tastings they offer, all of which follow a one-hour cellar tour. As with Calem, don’t book anything with fewer than three tastings!
• Self-Guided Tour of the Fonseca Wine Cellars – Worried about your kids getting bored? You can go through this wine cellar (dating back to 1815) at your own pace, and then end your tour with a glass of wine or grape juice. They also have an affordable family ticket for two adults and two kids.

If you’re really into wine and can handle your drinks, you could definitely visit two or three Porto wine cellars in a single day.  Just book each one at least two or three hours apart, and try to book them in geographical order (from east to west it’s Burmester, Calem, Fonseca, Cockburns and Grahams, and you’ll pass several others along the way).

Planning a trip to Porto?  I’m writing all my Porto travel guides as fast as I can, but for now I recommend you check out:

The Best Douro Valley Wine Tour from Porto

How to Take a Day Trip from Porto to Guimaraes

The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Porto

The 3 Pairs of Shoes You (Seriously!) Need to Pack for Portugal

(Seriously, I never thought I’d write a post about shoes until I encountered the unimaginably slippery stone sidewalks in Portugal!)

Planning a trip to Portugal?  Pin this post for later!

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• Cálem: Tour in the most visited cellar in Port Wine

Last updated: 06/25/2022

Discover Cave Cálem, one of the most traditional Port wine cellars where you can take a guided tour, tastings and even watch a traditional fado show.

Porto Cálem is a company founded in 1859 by António Alves Cálem. The wines come from the incredible Douro region and, for decades, were transported to Vila Nova de Gaia (a city next to Porto where the famous cellars are located) by rabelo boats, a traditional Portuguese wooden boat. The wines are aged in Gaia due to the perfect temperature and humidity conditions provided by the cellars in this area.

At a time when trade routes were mainly European, Cálem decided to export to Brazil, establishing a very successful trade relationship. And it was precisely with the success of exporting Port wine to Brazil that Cálem's business expanded and the company ended up acquiring its own shipping fleet.

The Calém brand stands out in the market for the excellent quality of its wines and centuries-old history. Its cellars have a great reputation in the wine sector and stand out as a world reference, being one of the most visited cellars in the world. Remaining in the same family for four generations, it was acquired by the Sogevinus Group in 1998.

TYPES OF PORT WINE PRODUCED BY CÁLEM

Cálem basically produces 4 types of Port wines:

• White : Straw-white or straw-yellow colour, delicate aroma of fresh fruit, floral notes | good to be served as an aperitif, with fresh salads and tropical fruit desserts
• Ruby : Ruby color, notes of red fruits, fruity | ideal to accompany cheeses, sweets with red fruits and chocolates
• rosé : Bright pink color, floral and fruity aromas of strawberry, cherry and raspberry | can be consumed in a glass with ice, herbs or berries or as a base for cocktails
• tawny : Auburn color, with aroma of nuts and fruits, velvety | wines from a single year that age for a minimum period of 10 years, are produced from a blend (mixture) and contact with the wood of the barrels | good to accompany nuts and sweets

CAVE CALÉM INFRASTRUCTURE

Cave Calém has a space for holding various cultural, social and business events, which include Reception Rooms, Lunch Room, Dining Room, Exhibition Room, Meeting Room, in addition to an Auditorium with capacity for 20 people. equipped with multimedia projects and advanced audio system, and a terrace overlooking the Douro River with capacity for 20 people. The most popular experiences are those that include a tour of the cellars and wine tasting. Below, learn more about each of the main experiences on offer.

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TYPES OF EXPERIENCES IN THE BASEMENT CALEM

THE Cave Cálem is the most visited Port wine cellar in the world . It offers some types of experiences, all of them with Port Wine tasting, of course! See more information about each of them below.

1. VISIT & TASTING

This is the most common tour, where visitors can learn more about the Port wine production process. The visit is available in Portuguese, Spanish, English and French.

• 15-minute interactive museum visit
• Informative visit to the cellars
• STANDARD: 2 wines (Cálem Fine White and Cálem Special Reserve Tawny)
• PREMIUM: 3 wines (Cálem White & Dry, Cálem Tawny 10 Years Old, and Cálem LBV)
• Schedules: tours between 10am and 12:20pm and 2pm to 5pm, usually every 20 minutes – check the tour language before booking
• Ticket: 14€ – Click here and book now, pay later, with free cancellation option up to 24 hours in advance

2. VISIT, TASTING & FADO

This is one of the most popular tours because it manages to combine an informative tour, Port wines and a fado show. Everything on this tour is done in English.

• Informative tour of the cellars in English
• Tasting of 2 wines (Cálem Fine White and Cálem 10 Years Old Tawny)
• Fado show lasting 45 minutes
• Schedules:  daily at 6:30 pm
• Ticket:  €23 (over 11 years old) –  Click here and book now, pay later, with free cancellation option up to 24 hours in advance

3. VISIT & GASTRONOMY

For those who like to pair wines with cheeses and chocolates, the request is to participate in a gastronomic tour. There are two options available:

>>> WINE AND CHOCOLATE

Tasting of chocolates paired with wines. The tour is available in Portuguese, Spanish, English and French.

• Visit to the interactive museum
• Guided tour of the cellars
• Tasting of Cálem Colheita and Cálem 10 Years Tawny wines with 4 types of chocolates (allergenic: milk, chestnuts and nuts, soy and egg)
• Schedules: tours between 10:00 and 12:20 and 14:00 to 17:00, usually every 20 or 40 minutes – check the language of the tour before booking
• Ticket: 25€

>>> WINE AND CHEESE & CHOCOLATE

Tasting of cheeses and chocolates paired with wines. The tour is available in Portuguese, Spanish, English and French.

• Cálem Late Bottle Vintage, Cálem Vintage and Cálem Colheita wine tasting with two types of cheese, two types of chocolate, crackers and jam (allergens: milk, chestnuts and nuts, soy and egg)
• Ticket: 35€ –  Click here and book now, pay later, with free cancellation option up to 24 hours in advance

4. VISIT, TASTING & 5D

This visit will be available soon and includes a tour, tasting and a 5D experience through a film that aims to awaken the sensations of visitors.

CAVE CALEM STORE

Right after the visit, on the way to the exit, we pass through the Cave Cálem store , with many products that go beyond wine bottles, but also miniatures for gifts, snacks, among other items. Even if you don't do any tour, it's possible to enter the shop and buy various items.

TOURS AND TICKETS TO CAVE CALEM

Below you will find a variety of tours, tours and tickets that include Cave Cálem. In addition to the previously mentioned experiences, you can choose to take a boat trip on the Douro River, see the city by hop-on hop-off tourist bus, among other options.

OUR EXPERIENCE AT CAVE CALEM

We chose experience “1. VISIT & TASTING” to learn more about Cave Cálem. We have already visited many wineries on other trips and were eager to learn more about the production of Port Wine, a process very different from traditional wine. We bought our ticket online and arrived at Cave Cálem a few minutes beforehand to exchange the voucher.

As the city receives many foreigners, wines that all tours in English, French and Spanish that day were already sold out, except for the tours in Portuguese. Anyway, I recommend buying the ticket in advance to guarantee the desired time.

The tour begins with the guide leading visitors to the museum. The space is very interesting, full of information panels about wine production. For us, it was quite a learning experience, because we discovered that Port Wine is not really a wine, in the sense that the way it is produced is unique, reminiscent of a liqueur, except for the fact that it has no added sugar. The guide gives a series of explanations and also leaves a few minutes available for us to explore the museum on our own and ask him questions.

2. BASEMENTS

The second stop of the visit is the Port Wine cellars, where the explanations continue and projections are made on the large wooden barrels. The guide passes on a series of information and numerical data, talks about the types of wines produced, among other concepts.

What irritated me during our visit was that there was a family that apparently had French as their native language and, probably, as they couldn't find a time available for the tour in French, they entered our tour in Portuguese and couldn't stop talking to each other. , disturbing those who wanted to hear the guide. It was pretty disrespectful.

After all the information in the basement, we went up the stairs that led to the tasting room. The guide was separating people by the tables to taste.

There are two types of tasting, one with two and one with three wines, but we didn't get a chance to choose which one we wanted to do. The guide has already directed us to a table with two wine tastings, right next to the French-speaking family who continued to speak during the explanations. How lucky for us, no?

I confess that I'm not a fan of sweet wines, in fact, of very sweet things in general because I get a little sick with high doses of sugar. The tasting experience could have been more interesting if there had been some food to accompany and “break” the sweetness brought by the wine a little. At least, in my case, it was. After the tour, you can stay in the tasting room for as long as you like and order other wines and assorted foods. See all available options and prices in this link .

IS IT WORTH THE VISIT TO THE CAVE CALEM?

Yes a lot! It was super interesting for us to learn more details about the production of Port Wine in one of the most traditional cellars in the region. But, I confess that, with my experience of visiting wineries, mainly in California, I wouldn't be able to do the same of going to 3, 4 cellars in the same day. First, because Port wines have a much higher alcohol content than traditional wines (on average, around 20% versus 12% to 14%), second, because I find it impossible to consume sweet wines at the same pace as traditional wines, precisely because be sweet and combine more with a dessert or to end a meal.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Address:  Av. by Diogo Leite 344, 4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
• Schedules:  daily from April to October from 10 am to 7 pm | November to March from 10 am to 6:30 pm
• Entrance: varies between €14 and €35 depending on the type of experience

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Read more about Portugal:

• Portugal: What to do in Porto – 2 or 3 days itinerary
• Portugal: How to get from Porto Airport to the center
• Port: Hotel One Shot Aliados Goldsmith 12
• Portugal: Guided Tour of the beautiful Palácio da Bolsa in Porto
• Restaurante Onze: Haute cuisine in Porto
• Porto: Restaurant Francesinhas Al Forno da Baixa
• Vices at the Table – Bad Habits: Pizza and culture in Porto
• Porto.CARD: Savings tip in the city of Porto
• Porto: Lello Bookstore, the most beautiful bookstore in the world
• Portugal: Ribeira Square Restaurant in Porto
• Kind Kitchen: Casual Vegan Food in Porto
• Portugal: Curiosities and Tours on the 6 Bridges of Porto
• Lisbon accommodation tip: Brown's Downtown Hotel
• Portugal: What to do in Lisbon – 3 days itinerary
• Portugal: Guide to where to eat in Lisbon (with map!)
• Lisbon: Dinner with Fado performances at Adega Machado
• Lisbon Card: Savings tip in the Portuguese capital
• Portugal: The historic Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon
• Portugal: How to visit São Jorge Castle in Lisbon
• Portugal: Visiting the Belém Tower in Lisbon
• Portugal: How to get from Lisbon Airport to the center
• Portugal: Discover the National Pantheon in Lisbon

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Cálem Wine Cellars Guided Tour

• 8.40 / 10 1,395 reviews | 18,380 travellers Very pleasant treatment and very clear explanations for laymen. Everything very good. 10 Silvia Muñoz
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the service starts

Do you know the secret to the famous Portuguese port wine?  Discover what makes it so special with this tour of the  Cálem wine cellars , one of the best-known in Porto!

Cálem Cellars Guided Tour

We'll meet at the Cálem wine cellars , on the banks of the river Douro, at your selected time. Here we'll start a guided tour of the bodega  to find out all about how the famous Porto wine  is made. Guided by an expert wine-maker, we'll delve into the cellars and find out some of Cálem's most interesting stories , as well as what it is that makes these port wines so special.

We'll also visit the winery's interactive museum to find out more about its history. After visiting the winery, we'll finish the hour-long tour in the bodega's shop where you can buy souvenirs and gifts to truly remember your trip.

When booking, you can choose between 3 options:

• Tasting of 2 wines: At the end of the visit, you'll enjoy a tasting of two wines in the cellars.
• Tasting of 3 wines: In addition to visiting the winery, you'll taste three local Port wines.
• Tasting of wines, chocolates and cheeses: We'll end the visit with a tasting of three superior quality wines, chocolates and cheeses.

More Information

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.

English–speaking guide

Entrance to the Cálem cellars

Entrance to the interactive museum

Wine tasting (only over 18s)

Orange juice (only for children 6–17 years old)

Tasting of chocolates and cheeses (depending on selection)

When to book?

You can book up until 10 hours before the activity as long as there are still places. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible. This must be indicated in the reservation.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

• Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
• Uphold fair employment standards.
• Foster the growth of local communities.
• Preserve the integrity of local culture.
• Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
• Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
• Operate with honesty and transparency.
• Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

• No printing of documentation required.

Sogevinus Fine Wines Show more

Corporate name: Sogevinus Fine Wines SA

Not permitted.

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Port wine cellars – Calém cellars tour review

Port is appreciated worldwide, being famous since the 16th century. Despite being called Port it is not produced in Porto but in the demarcated Douro region about 100 km from Porto. After its production in the Douro, the wine was transported on the Douro river in Rabelo boats to the numerous cellars in Porto where it was left to age in the barrels. A visit to the cellars is mandatory to learn more about the history of Porto and Port wine. The cellars and wine have shaped and defined the history of the city of Porto.

All the main brands of Port wine have cellars open to the public on the south bank of the Douro River in Vila Nova de Gaia. In this article, we will explore specifically the Cálem Cellars, one of the biggest brands. We have examined everything you need to know to visit the Cálem cellars. We were in no way sponsored by the Cálem cellars and our assessment is based on our personal experience.

Cálem Cellars

Cálem Port Wine was founded in 1859 by António Alves Cálem and has remained in the family for 4 generations. António Cálem was an entrepreneur and adventurer who distinguished himself by exporting Port wine to Brazil. At that time, Port wine was mostly exported to Great Britain. Cálem started by exporting Port wine to Brazil and in return, he received exotic wood that was used in the construction of ships. Hence, the caravel as the Cálem.

Cálem wines are produced in the Cima Corgo area and the high Douro, and are later transported to the cellars where they are aged in vats and barrels. One of the estates where Port Cálem wine is produced is at Quinta de Arnozelo and at the Vinification Center in São Martinho da Anta.

Cálem has a range of Port wines that include White, Tawny, Ruby, and Rosé. The best-selling Port wine produced by Cálem is the range “ Os Velhotes ” a Tawny, which is the Port wine most consumed by the Portuguese.

In 1998 Calém was sold and became part of the Galician group Sogevinus Sa. A group that has several companies in the wine sector such as Kopke, Quinta da Boavista, Burmester and Barros.

Cálem cellars tour

The Cálem cellars are one of the most visited cellars in Porto. The Cálem Cellars tour includes a visit to the museum about Port wine, the area where the wine is preserved, and a Port wine tasting in the end. Visits are made with a guide who will accompany you throughout the whole visit. The guide explains the process of making and aging Port wine and clarifies any doubts that may arise. There are guided tours in several languages: Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English.

The visit begins at the small Calém Port wine museum. During the visit to the museum, you will learn about the vineyards, the demarcated Douro region, and the different types and characteristics of Port wine. You will also explore Port wine history and the Cálem brand in particular.

The museum is very interactive with photo projections and touch screens that you can explore freely. One of the funniest activities in the museum is an exhibition with various types of Port wine, where you can analyze the different characteristics of the wine such as color and smell. The purpose is to guess which type of Port wine is used each time. The museum, despite being small, is interesting and fun.

After the museum, the visit continues to the winery, where the oak barrels are located where Port is aged. Before visiting the interior of the cellars, there is a projection in the wine barrels with some facts related to the barrels, their construction, size and about the cellars themselves. Then we go to the wine storage area with different types of barrels, barrels and barrels. You are only allowed to visit a small portion of the cellar, so you end up not perceiving the actual size of the cellars. Finally, we go to wine tasting which is done over the cellars in a large room with hundreds of bottles of Port wine.

Wine tasting

In the wine tasting section you can taste 2 or 3 types of Port depending on the ticket you bought:

• The standard ticket (14 € adults) includes wines: Cálem Fine White and Cálem Special Reserve Tawny;
• The premium ticket (17 € adults) includes 3 wines: Cálem White & amp; Dry, Cálem Tawny 10 Years Old, and Cálem L.B.V.

During the tasting the guide explains the different characteristics of the wine and the best way to taste the wine.

At the end of the visit, outside the cellars there is a Cálem port wine store where there are dozens of port wines and different varieties and years of production. It is the ideal place to buy a gift or even a souvenir from the visit.

How to visit the Cálem Port Wine Cellars

The easiest way to visit is to buy the ticket directly on the Cálem official website. You can choose the time and language of the visit, the process is very easy. There are different types of tickets with different options such as watching a fado show or wine and cheese tasting.

As previously mentioned, the base price of the visit is 14 € adults, which includes the visit to the cellars and the tasting of 2 wines. Children under 10 do not pay and children aged 11 to 17 pay 50% (6 €). Visits are accessible to people with reduced mobility, and wheelchairs. (2020 prices)

Visiting hours are from 10 am to 7 pm in the summer (May to October) and from 10 am to 6 pm (November to April), the last entry is one hour before closing.

You can also buy a ticket directly at the entrance of the cellars but we do not recommend this option, especially during high season. There are usually many visitors to the cellars and you may be at risk of not getting a place.

Another option is to buy a pack that includes a two-day pass on the tourist bus, a trip on a cruise, and the entry ticket to the Cálem cellars. Getting everything for € 25.50 turns out to be cheaper and an option that is well worth the price.

Calém cellars tour Review

In general, we liked visiting the Cálem cellars and we recommend these cellars to anyone visiting Porto for the first time.

The guide was able to keep the tour interesting and patiently answered all our questions. And they were a lot. As we visited the cellars in an extremely low season, we had few people in the group, which made the visit last longer than the usual 30 minutes.

However, we are sorry that there is no possibility to further explore the winery itself.

The entrance price is similar to the other cellars, around 14 to 18 €, which may seem a little expensive but we need to take into account that it includes a Port wine tasting.

Other cellars

On the south bank of the Douro River, you will find many more cellars, about 15 cellars. Those can also be interesting to visit, but it depends on how much time you have to visit the city.

Other cellars that we suggest visiting are Taylor’s Caves, Ferreira Caves, Real Companhia Velha Caves, Sandeman.

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Wine tasting and tour at Cálem Wine Cellar

Wine tasting and tour in porto, porto & douro: immerse yourself in the heritage of winemaking with a wine tasting and tour at cálem wine cellar.

Calem Wine Cellar hosts one of the most popular wine tours in the world. You can visit their interactive museum to learn about Port Wine history. Take a guided tour of the cellar to check out the production process among the barrels and vats. The guide will tell you more about the winery’s iconic history and the Demarcated Region of Douro. Choose from one of the many activities.

You can take part in a Museum & Cellar Tour as we read above. You can check out a live and entertaining Fado performance or even watch a 5D film here at the estate. The best thing is the wine and food pairing after this. Taste some of the best, iconic Port Wines paired with traditional snacks and desserts. Use our online service to book Wine Tasting and Tour activity at Calem Wine Cellar.

Experience Highlights

Cálem Wine Cellar

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Visit & Tasting

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1 Hour 0 Minutes

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Cellar, Tasting Room

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Port cellar tours and Port tastings in Porto - updated for 2024

Porto is famed for producing Port wine, and a tour of one of the historic port cellars along with a port tasting session, is one of the best unique activities of the city.

Ancient laws dating back to the 17th century, dictate that for the sweet, fortified wine to be classified as Port, it must be stored and matured within the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, which sits opposite Porto on the southern banks of the Douro River. This means that within a relatively compact area of Vila Nova de Gaia are all of the major Port houses and their cellars (which are referred to as Lodges)

Many of the Port houses provide guided tours of their cellars along with Port tasting sessions. These tours and tastings sessions are informative, social and surprisingly inexpensive, and are a fantastic experience while on holiday to Porto.

This guide will detail the best Port tour and tasting sessions and help you get the most from this very enjoyable experience. Related articles: Introduction to Porto – Top 10 Porto

Being many centuries old, the Port cellars are rich in heritage - such as the Caves Burmester, pictured above

Tawny Ports are aged in small, oak casks and are typically stored for between 10 and 40 years

Port cellar tours in Porto

All of the Port cellars are situated on the southern side of the Douro River in the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. Each of the Port houses provides a slightly different experience, but they generally follow the same pattern: • An overview of the production of Port • The history of their company • A guided tour of the cellars (including photo opportunities) • A tasting of two or three ports

The tasting session often compares the three types of Ports; White, Ruby and Tawny or a selection of Ports of different ages.

The typical cost of a cellar tour, with a basic tasting, will range from €14-17. This type of tour is offered by all of the Port houses. More expensive tours include a premium selection of Ports, often hosted in a more impressive tasting room.

All of the Port cellar tours (except for Taylor's) are led by a tour guide, so they have a maximum number of spaces and set times for different languages. Tours should be pre-booked before heading to Vila Nova de Gaia, as turning up on the day can often lead to disappointment, especially in the peak summer season.

We always suggest visiting at least two Port cellars during your stay in Porto. This is a fantastic activity for later in the afternoon or evening, as you may leave a little bit tipsy!

The main tourist area of Vila Nova de Gaia lies along the banks of the river, and the port houses in this area (such as Sandeman and Cálem) will always be the most popular and sell out first. The cellars further away from the river, which are up a steep hill, provide a calmer atmosphere and often have more spaces available. These cellars include Real Companhia Velha, Graham's and Cockburn's.

The interactive map below shows the location of the Porto lodges within Vila Nova de Gaia. The shaded yellow area marks the main tourist area. ( Note: zoom out to see all of the points)

Key: 1) Augusto's 2) Burmester 3) Cálem 4) Churchill's 5) Cockburn’s 6) Ferreira 7) Fonseca 8) Graham’s 9) Poças 10) Ramos Pinto 11) Real Companhia Velha 12) Sandeman 13) Taylor's 14) Vasconcellos

Sandeman is one of the most popular Port cellars

The colour scale and storage time of the different varieties of Port, as seen in the Cálem museum

The best Port cellar tours and tastings sessions in Porto

With more than ten different Port houses providing tours and tasting sessions, there is a wide choice available to you. As these are all very similar, you will have a fantastic time whichever one you choose to visit.

The best Port cellars to visit are: 1) Ferreira 2) Cálem 3) Real Companhia Velha 4) Graham's 5) Sandeman 6) Taylor's 7) Ramos Pinto 8) Cockburns 9) Burmester

Insight: If you are new to Porto, we would recommend starting with one of the more tourism-focused Port cellars, such as Cálem or Sandeman, then have a second (or third) tour to one of the more atmospheric cellars, such as Real Companhia Velha, Ferreira, Graham's or Cockburns.

Ferreira is regarded by the residents of Porto as the best Port cellar to visit. It offers an informative tour of some of the oldest port cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia and concludes with a great selection of Ports. The Ferreira company is highly regarded by the Portuguese, as it is a wholly owned Portuguese company (most Port houses were British owned) started by an inspirational woman named Dona Antónia Ferreira.

If you have no prior knowledge of Port, Cálem makes a great starting point. It provides knowledgeable guides and fascinating interactive displays. The downside is that it can get very busy, with large tour sizes and slightly rushed tasting sessions. ( Cálem cellar tour tickets )

Real Companhia Velha provides a more authentic experience and features magnificent port cellars, however it is a long way from the main tourism area of Vila Nova de Gaia. Real Companhia Velha is one of the oldest wine companies of Portugal, having been started by King Jose I in 1757. ( www.realcompan hiavelha.pt)

Graham's is a highly recommended experience, with a relaxed atmosphere and a larger set of cellars (www.grahams -port.com ). The Sandeman cellar, at the heart of the tourism area, has enthusiastic guides and is always a popular choice with visitors: www.sandeman.com

Taylor's should also be mentioned, as it provides a self-guided tour with a multi-language handset. This tour is not limited by visitor numbers, which is great for the busy summer season or if your desired language tour is sold out at other cellars. Taylor’s also has a pretty outside tasting area in a charming courtyard garden. ( www.taylor.pt )

Ramos Pinto makes an interesting choice for your second or third Port tour, as it includes the original 19th-century office and details the 'unique' marketing techniques of the company. www.ramospinto.pt/

Cockburn's is the largest Port cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia. Their tour provides something extra, as here you are able to watch the coopers at work as they preserve and repair the wooden barrels. ( www.cockburns.com )

Burmester is a smaller Port cellar at the base of the Ponte Luís I, which is also well worth a visit.

Porto tasting

Tourist insight: The port tours are excellent value, but the bottles of Port sold in the shops attached to the Port houses are often not good value. For standard bottles of Port, it is much better value to visit the wine shops in Porto or even the supermarkets. Unique gift: Each bottle of Port states the year it was produced, which can make a unique gift for a birthday or to commemorate a special year such as an anniversary.

Why are the Porto lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia?

All of the Port cellars are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, and the reason for this dates back to the 13th century.

Medieval Porto was effectively ruled by the bishop of Porto, and he taxed all boats that moored in the city. King Alfonso, seeking to avoid these taxes, established a second port in Vila Nova de Gaia (New Town of Gaia) opposite Porto on the southern banks of the Douro.

This port became the main centre for the transportation of grapes from the Upper Douro, and it became law in the 18th century that all Port must be matured within Vila Nova de Gaia.

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Cálem port wine lodge, cálem port wine lodge vila nova de gaia (caves cálem).

The Cálem Port Wine Lodge (Caves Cálem) is located in Vila Nova de Gaia across the River Douro from Ribeira in Porto.

It's the nearest wine lodge to the iconic Ponte de D. Luis I Bridge and in normal years receives around 100,000 visitors to its 19th-century cellars.

Porto Cálem was founded in 1859 by Antonio Alves Cálem. He was determined to market his wine in Brazil at a time when the main market was largely Britain and the rest of Europe.

With its own fleet of ships, the venture was a success and now the company's logo is a caravel being loaded with port barrels. It is present on every bottle.

The business was continued by his son Antonio Alves Cálem Junior. Cálem's famous port wines include a White, Tawny, Rosé, and Ruby.

Visitors can once again enjoy a tour of Cálem's cellars and museum. Wall panels explain the history of the wine, the growth of the grapes in the Douro Valley, and the aging process in Vila Nova de Gaia. The tour includes an interactive fado show and free tasting of two port wines, a fine White and a 10-year-old Tawny.

Cálem is one of the leading brands of port in Portugal and in 2014 sold 2.6 million bottles.

Access - Getting There

Avenida de Diogo Leite 344 4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia calem.pt

Daily from 10 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 7 pm.

Porto buses 900, 901 904, and 906 all stop close to the cellars. Jardim do Morro is the nearest Porto metro station.

More on Porto

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Sandeman Cellars

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Porto Calém Cellars Admission with Tour and Wine Tasting

• Interactive museum
• Wine tasting
• Guided tour
• 10% discount on any wine purchase in-store
• Local taxes
• Additional alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
• Caves Cálem, Av. de Diogo Leite 344, 4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
• Wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Minimum drinking age is 18 years
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

• Hen432 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Very good but large tour group Good tour, passionate guide and very informative. Very slick and professional the way it is run, but this lost some authenticity due to the large group. They take up to 45 people. Read more Written April 2, 2024
• sarakapralova 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour, would recommend! Had an amazing time at their Port wine tasting. Our guide was a lovely lady, who provided us with a great knowledge of how Port wine is made and took us on a tour of their cellar after which we had the oppurtunity to taste three of their wines. My partner who had no previous knowledge about what Port wine is and how its made loved the tour and well ofc the wine too! Would recommend 100% Read more Written April 2, 2024
• MKJourneys 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Fun Experience If you’re in Porto you must visit a Port wine cellar. There are numerous cellars and tour options along the Gaia Promenade along the Douro River. The tour was very informative and Calem did a nice job with the interesting interactive exhibitions throughout the tour. Our guide Margarida was energetic and informative. At the end you get a tasting of three different port wines. Definitly a fun experience. You’re in Porto, so you should learn about Port. Read more Written April 1, 2024
• AnnH980 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Good experience We opted for a tour of the cellar along with a Fado show and tasting. An very informative tour of the cellars taught us a lot about the production of all the different types of port and we saw the impressive huge barrels that kept the port. The Fado show was entertaining and the three samples of different ports were good. The only negative was that there is a gift shop at the end of the tour but we felt very rushed as they were wanting to close. We didn't get a chance to look at everything so left without purchasing anything. It seemed a little odd that when you have a captive audience of people you aren't keeping the retail open until everyone has a chance to look around. Read more Written March 29, 2024
• Olhica 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Not sure if I would recommend Disappointing experience at the wine tasting event. Despite paying for tickets, there was no provision for water, even for the kids accompanying us, aged 14. It's essential for venues to cater to all guests, regardless of age, to ensure a positive and inclusive experience. Read more Written March 9, 2024
• VGTravelGirl 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Just "okay" for the price Beginning with time in the tiny museum (could be less time) - the tour is big on information and small on things to see. Lots of stats that are interesting (some more interesting than others). Tour is in very small area and you can sometimes hear the other tour groups in front and/or behind you. On the positive side - our tour guide was very good and animated. Samples at the end are fine. Would have been better if the tour included a walk through the large facility to get a feeling of the enormity of the operation. Read more Written March 1, 2024
• 713juditha 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Interesting, informative and enjoyable. A very interesting and enjoyable visit to the Calem port wine tour and tasting. Located just across the river by bridge from the historic old town of Porto. There was a small museum to start the visit, followed by an informative talk and tour of the cellars. We came away feeling that we had a good understanding of the different types of port. The tour ended with a tasting of wines, the number and type dependant upon which ticket you purchase. We opted for the classic, basic ticket, which gave us two good ports to try; this was enough for an afternoon visit. There was no rush to get you to drink up quickly, so we relaxed and enjoyed our ports. Read more Written February 28, 2024
• S4767RRyolandac 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great tour We did a Wine Tour at Càlem. It was off- season and we went for the first tour at 10am, there was just myself and my sister with 2 other people on a tour. The guide was really great, he gave us lots of information and answered all our questions. We had the English tour but they do several languages. The tour starts as a self-led wander around the museum then you're led through the cellar by the guide. Our booking was 22 euros each and we booked it prior to arriving via their website. It included wine tasting with 3 wines. Overall we really enjoyed ourselves and our guide was friendly and chatty, which made the experience better. Read more Written February 27, 2024
• emmlau17 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Good experience, don’t pay for extras Paid for two tickets for the tour, wine with cheese and chocolate tasting at $45 each. The tour was about 15-20 minutes and informative. The cheese and chocolates mixed with Porto was delicious but did not equal the value of the ticket. It was a simple tasting and it tasted great but $100 later for 30-40 minutes and a couple pieces of cheese and chocolate is not necessary. You will be more than satisfied paying for a simple tour and tasting without the extras! Read more Written February 12, 2024
• MIchkoM 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Very nice place to try port I enjoyed some fabulous old tawny port wine. Loved the atmosphere. Staff was extremely friendly. A bit pricey but I thought it was worth it Read more Written January 18, 2024
• barry c 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Calem We were in Vila Nova with some time on our hands and realized we’d be remiss if we didn’t take a Port tour. We chose Calem and weren’t disappointed. Walk up price for the short English tour was about 17 euros. Had to be at max 10 other folks in the tour. The tour itself was fine! A large area of videos, maps, and history was provided before the start of the tour. We did the walk thru of the aging barrels, then went up stairs to the tasting room. It was great. Had a couple glasses of port. We weren’t pressured to leave. The exit was through their port store where we proceeded to purchase six bottles which are being shipped home. Read more Written December 25, 2023
• marciap462 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Delicious porto wine Great porto wine. Pleasant place. We got some nice white porto wine. There are many options and the service was very good. Read more Written December 2, 2023
• Garfieldluvr 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Good Wine Tour and Tasting Lots of wineries to choose from for a tour and tasting. I booked the tasting online in advance and highly recommend you do the same, as when I arrived, all the tours for the whole day were sold out. I read online that the tour takes about 45 minutes, so I booked dinner reservations with that in mind. The tour ended up taking longer than that, so my tasting was done quicker than others around me (lol) as I needed to meet my boyfriend at dinner. I would recommend planning for at least an hour and 15 minutes for this tour. The tour itself was good, very educational about the different wines. The tasting was also good, the wines were very tasty. Read more Written November 24, 2023
• bjilek 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Wanted to love it but it sucked Got a recommendation from a friend and sadly he was way off. I would never recommend this place. Tour was super blah and to guide was quiet and could not be heard. Tours overlap so you are hearing French at the same time as English in some rooms which is stupid. Tasting is meh so we just wanted to get out. Do not waste your precious time at this tour (we did the Exclusive tasting) Read more Written October 25, 2023
• 14jkc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles good introduction Enjoyed drinks here that were very good. Our server demonstrated good knowledge of the various ports. I recommend a flight if you don't know what you like and a generous porto tonico if you like white port. You can see part of the operation inside where the store part is located. Read more Written October 24, 2023

More to explore in Porto

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Porto Calém Cellars Admission with Tour and Wine Tasting provided by Porto Càlem

• Top Attractions
• Cellars and vineyards

Cálem Cellars

Producing quality wine since 1859, Cálem Cellars is still one of the main wineries in Porto with excellent tours and wine tastings. Find out more about this fascinating Port wine brand.

The House of Cálem was founded in 1859 by António Alves and is still today one of the main Port wine brands in the world . It has been a family business for four generations and has won numerous awards and prizes.

Since its creation, Cálem focused on exporting its wines to Brazil . Even today, the company's brand symbol is a Caravel, representing the transatlantic crossings. 

Cálem Cellars was renovated in 2006 and is an interesting option in which you’ll visit its museum, winery and finally be given two Port wines for you to taste.

Cálem is located in Gaia, very near the other Port Wine Cellars , next to the Dom Lu ís I Bridge .

Avenida Diogo Leite, 26

May- October: every day from 10am – 7pm. November – April: every day from 10 – 6pm. *Last visit one hour before closing time.

General entrance fee: € 15 ( US$ 16.20)

Bus : lines 900, 901 904 and 906.

Nearby places

Ramos Pinto Cellars in Porto (82 m) Sandeman Cellars (203 m) Vila Nova de Gaia (257 m) Casa do Infante in Porto (342 m) Ferreira Cellars (410 m)

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Ferreira Cellars

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Museu do Carro Eléctrico

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