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Date: Monday 7th of July |
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On the left bank of Douro ... |
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On the south bank of the Douro River, where the waters gently lap against Vila Nova de Gaia promenade, Port Wine lodges and cellars can be found blended neatly into the bold granite and intricate arcades of this charming riverside community.
It is here, in the oasis of Taylor's Port lodge, where one steps inside the domain of Três Séculos - a space apt to please and welcome, which offers both refined gastronomy and skillful friendly service.
Surrounded by leafy quarters, resistant to the city's approaches, Três Séculos' elegant interiors lie within beautiful natural gardens; an ambiance which lends luxury to grand banquets and intimacy to family celebrations, not to mention the appropriate environment for business entertainment and meetings. |
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This visit permits you to indulge our Signature cuisine and also delicacies of Portuguese and international cuisine, while delighting in the neighbourhood's most spectacular view of Porto old town and UNESCO designated World Heritage riverfront.
The essence of the setting, however, is the most authentic of Port Wine Cellars. The great airy warehouses beckon visitors to discover the secret of Taylor's Port, wine forged by the mystical passing of time and honoured by admirers worldwide. |
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| History of Taylor's Port | ||||||||||||||||
Taylor's is now over 300 years old. The finest Port is produced from grapes grown on the steep and rocky slopes of the Upper Douro and its tributaries. Vines have been grown on these remote hillsides since pre-Roman times. In the 17th Century British traders, cut off from their supplies of Bordeaux by frequent wars with France, took a liking to the full-flavoured, robust wines of Portugal. Under the Methuen Treaty of 1703, England granted lower duties to Portuguese wines than to those of France and Germany, becoming for over a century the principal market for the wines of the Douro Valley. |
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| But these wines did not travel well, so the traders added brandy to fortify them against the rigours of their Atlantic sea voyage. Before long pure grape spirit was added during fermentation and Port, as we drink it today, was created. | ||||||||||||||||
Photos and text quotations: © Três Séculos and Taylor's Port |
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