Nestled into a narrow side street of the ancient customs zone of Vila Nova da Gaia, you’ll find The Lodge — Churchill’s working port lodge and visitor’s centre showcasing our world class port and table wines. At The Lodge, we invite guests from around the world to experience the buzz and tranquility of the the port trade in action. Groups frequently break ranks for passing forklifts and new inductees into port find themselves lost in thought amidst the rows of ageing barrels in the cavernous tawny storage house. In the summer of 2020, we launched the 1982 Bar – a wine bar and event space in a 2,000m2 oasis of green in the midst of the warehouses of Gaia.

Churchill’s Lodge is positioned as a more intimate and authentic port tourism experience than many of the other port lodges in Vila Nova da Gaia. From an experience point of view, our tours and tastings function more like a tasting room visit than a tourist attraction. Guests are sat at private tables with a server/wine educator who provides personalised service while educating them about the port trade and Churchill’s wines. These intimate tours and tastings are offered daily in English, Portuguese, French, Spanish and Russian. During the tour, guests are introduced to the port industry and the Douro Valley, taken through the port ageing process – from the large Reserve and LBV vats, to our private vintage cellar and the tawny wharehouse. The tour usually ends with a port tasting in our intimate tasting room overlooking the Douro River.

Churchill’s Lodge also offers private events, either in our beautiful private room overlooking the Douro river, Gaia riverside and the Porto city, or in our amazing garden.