The pure expression of the Douro, where the origins of the genuine port wine denomination lie, C. da Silva is clearly recognised for its unique port wines. These are produced under truly exceptional conditions – on the terraces of what is considered to be the first ever demarcated and regulated wine region in the world and one recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage.
Classified plots, carefully selected grape varieties and exceptional harvests produce high quality wines that satisfy customers’ requirements, ensuring the prestige, renown and perceived value of its brands. Among the varieties chosen for their specific characteristics are Tinta Amarela, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Tinto Cão (for the reds), and Malvasia Fina, Viosinho, Donzelinho e Gouveio (for the whites).
Though brought to life on the terraces of the Douro, it is on the slopes of Gaia, opposite Porto, where the wine ages and gains character. In fact, the city has lent the wine its name since the 17th century. The rabelo, the boat used to transport the barrels of port wine from the Alto Douro to the cellars where it is stored and later sent around the world, is the indelible symbol of the city and this famous wine.
The C. da Silva cellars are half way up the Gaia hill and inside the confines of the trading hub legally established in 1926. Here, year after year, the wines gain personality depending on the type of ageing they undergo: in the bottle, to keep the fresh and fruity character of the grapes, or in the traditional oak casks and barrels made by master coopers. These give the wines chromatic, aromatic and gustative nuances via a process of slow oxidation resulting from the years of ageing and the thickness of the wood.
