Kopke

Kopke is a long-established Portuguese wine house based in Porto. The company is regarded as the oldest port wine house in the world and was founded in 1638. Over several centuries, Kopke has made a name for itself producing high-quality port wines as well as selected Douro wines. The house is particularly renowned for its aged Colheita ports, which are among the company’s most significant products.

Kopke logo

History

Kopke was founded in 1638 by the German merchant family Kopke, who settled in Porto and initially traded in wine and other goods. Over the course of the 17th and 18th centuries, the company developed into one of the leading exporters of Portuguese wines.

As international demand for port wine grew, Kopke increasingly focused on its production and marketing. Over the centuries, the company changed hands several times, but always remained closely linked to the Douro wine region.

Today, Kopke is part of the Sogevinus Fine Wines Group, an association of several long-established Portuguese wine houses.

Locations

The company’s headquarters are in Porto, whilst the vineyards and production facilities are mainly located in the Douro Valley. The historic wine cellars (lodges) in Vila Nova de Gaia are used for the storage and ageing of port wines, as well as serving as a visitor centre.

Products

Kopke produces various types of port and Douro wines. The range includes, amongst others:

  • Ruby Port
  • Tawny Port
  • White Port
  • Late Bottled Vintage (LBV)
  • Vintage Port
  • Colheita Port
  • Red, white and rosé wines from the Douro

Kopke is particularly renowned for its long-aged Colheita Ports, which are made from a single vintage and mature for many years in wooden casks.

Viticulture

The grapes come mainly from vineyards in the Douro Valley, one of the oldest legally protected wine-growing regions in the world. The steep terraced slopes along the River Douro offer ideal conditions for growing traditional Portuguese grape varieties such as:

  • Touriga Nacional
  • Touriga Franca
  • Tinta Roriz
  • Tinta Barroca
  • Tinto Cão

For white wines and White Port, grape varieties such as Malvasia Fina, Gouveio and Viosinho are used, amongst others.

Significance

Kopke is one of the most renowned producers of port and is particularly prized for its aged Tawny and Colheita ports. The company combines centuries-old winemaking traditions with modern cellar technology and exports its products to numerous countries worldwide.

Tourism

In Vila Nova de Gaia, there is a small Kopke shop (website), which is ideal for tasting or purchasing port wine.

Located in the Douro Valley is Quinta de São Luiz, the historic heart of Kopke. The estate is situated on the left bank of the Douro between Régua and Pinhão and covers approximately 125 hectares, of which about 95 hectares are vineyards. This is where both the well-known Kopke port wines and the Douro DOC wines under the São Luiz brand are produced. The Quinta is one of the most important estates in the Douro region and combines centuries-old winemaking traditions with modern cellar technology.

Visitors can take part in guided tours, explore the vineyards, the boutique winery, and the traditional lagares (stone basins for grape processing), and taste various Port and Douro wines. The estate is also home to the boutique hotel The Vine House, which features a restaurant and views of the Douro, making the Quinta an excellent choice for a longer stay The Vine House. I stayed at the hotel myself in the spring of 2023 and can highly recommend it.

Awards

Kopke’s wines regularly win awards at international wine competitions. The Colheita and Tawny ports, in particular, frequently receive high ratings from wine critics and specialist magazines.