Text José Silva | Translation Jani Dunne

It may belong to a big French drinks producer and distributor, but this is a very successful Portuguese company. It leverages its strong Port wine production and has been highlighted as one of the biggest producers of Port wine in Portugal, and more so abroad, where most of the products go.

Also in the portfolio, you will find C. da Silva, who produce Dalva wines, and are a reference in their own sector.

A couple of years ago, the company got hold of most of the capital from Henriques and Henriques, and the total capital from Justino’s – both companies produce Madeira wine. Porto Cruz has recently bought Quinta de Ventozelo, one of the largest extensions of Douro vineyards.

Alijó Winery – Photo by José Silva | All Rights Reserved

Most Modern and Most Revolutionary Technology in Wine Production – Photo by José Silva | All Rights Reserved

However, it previously opened the latest cellar in Alijó, which relies on the most modern and most revolutionary technology in wine production.

This cellar can hold 22 million litres of wine. It has 40 vats that can hold up to 360,000L, other vats of up to 180,000L, among many other smaller vats. Two huge filters feed the entire complex, as do the structures for nitrogen and compressed air. An innovative automatic cleaning and disinfecting system keeps all the vats spotless.

The wine pumping system is also automatic. Everything is controlled via a sophisticated automation system.

Stainless Steel Presses – Photo by José Silva | All Rights Reserved

The Equipment Paraphernalia Impresses the Visitors – Photo by José Silva | All Rights Reserved

The stainless steel presses feed into the vats where wines will ferment and age. The wine is then moved into casks or directly into bottles. All the equipment paraphernalia impresses the visitors, whether due to quantity and quality, or due to the flawless hygiene.

Every process takes place in this cellar, where all the company’s wines are made. They are stored there and dispatched from there.

Stored in Giant Stainless Steel Vats © Blend All About Wine, Lda

Age in The Biggest Park of Mashing Tubs in the Region © Blend All About Wine, Lda

Many go to Vila Nova de Gaia, where they will be stored in giant stainless steel vats, or age in the biggest park of mashing tubs in the region, of enormous dimension.

Equally grandiose, the old facilities were adjusted to modern needs and have seen continuous growth. Inside, the old cement vats still active and part of an efficient use of all the space.

That is also where a sophisticated filling, labelling and packaging system takes place. It fills the enormous daily need for wine, in turn shipped worldwide. Efficiency seems to be the word of order as an announcement is made about improvements being done on the admin and lab sections.

The oenology team is supervised by Engineer José Manuel Soares, who has a lot of experience in wine growing and Douro oenology under his belt. Engineer Jorge Dias is in charge of project and strategy, and he has shown a talent in outlining a new profile for Porto Cruz wines as well as for the company’s branding, which is out for the world to see.

All that visibility is concentrated further down the hill, in the imposing Porto Cruz building – already a landmark of that area – on the riverside avenue in Gaia. From an old construction, they made a space where, as the owners put it, “wine must be lived!” A bold and very modern décor is home to the many visual devices the company invested in as innovative solutions for presenting the wine, especially Port. All of this was very well combined with culture, which fills this space permanently as well as temporarily, and all for the sake of Port wine and its history.

The top floor hosts a modern restaurant, under chef Miguel Castro Silva’s consultancy, but where chef José Guedes works his wonders with a consistent appetising cuisine.

On the terrace, there’s a bar with a 360º view of Gaia and Porto, sitting right opposite. It’s open until late in the warmer months of the year. On S. João night (24^th June – a celebration of Saint John with riverside concerts and fireworks), we sit in the front row.

By the end of a very comprehensive visit, we toasted with some Porto Dalva Golden White 1971.

The river Douro flowed by peacefully…

Contacts
Espaço Porto Cruz
Largo Miguel Bombarda, N.º23
4400 – 222 Vila Nova de Gaia
Tel: (+351) 220 92 53 40 / 220 92 54 01
Fax: 220 924 299
Website: www.myportocruz.com | www.porto-cruz.com