Halloween spirit invades Cockburn’s cellars for ‘Fright Night’ 

For the second time, Cockburn’s Cellars opens its doors to fearless visitors on the scariest night of the year. To mark Halloween, ‘Fright Night’ is back at the historic Port wine aging warehouse – owned by Symington Family Estates –, in Vila Nova de Gaia, providing the unique opportunity to discover that space in the silence of the night, at lantern light. The addition of a second date is one of the new features this year, with sessions scheduled for the 28th and 31st of October, at 9:30 pm. 

 Discover the scariest stories from the Cockburn’s warehouse – this is the suggestion of the renowned Port wine house, which invites participants to discover a different side of the Cellars. The experience begins with a guided tour of the lodge, illuminated by the gentle light of lanterns, which will reveal all the details – even the most hidden ones – of the history of Cockburn’s, the warehouse and the wines that age there. Cockburn’s warehouse is the largest in the historic area of Vila Nova de Gaia, holding more than 6,500 barrels of Port wine in aging and the equivalent of more than 10,000 barrels in vats, which allow it to maintain traditional aging in wine-filled oak bark. . 

 At the end, visitors will be taken to the tasting room, where a tasting of three of the brand’s renowned wines awaits them: the irreverent Tails of Unexpected Ruby Soho, Cockburn’s Late Bottled Vintage and Cockburn’s Special Reserve. 

 Participation in the ‘Fright Night’, at Cockburn’s Cellars, costs 18 euros per person and is subject to mandatory reservation, at least 48 hours in advance. For the guided tour, registrants must bring a flashlight or cell phone with them. It should be noted that the activity depends on a minimum of 10 registrations. More information is available on the Cockburn’s website (www.cockburns.com/visit-us), via email (cockburnslodge@cockburns.com), or by telephone (913 007 950). 

About Symington Family Estates – The Symingtons, of Scottish, English and Portuguese descent, have been producers of Port wine in the north of Portugal since 1882. For five generations they have combined their passion for producing wines, especially Port wines, from high quality with its strong commitment to the region and its people. Today, ten members of the Symington family work in their four famous Port wine houses – Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Dow’s and Warre’s – as well as in their Douro wine projects: Quinta do Vesúvio, Quinta do Ataíde, Altano, Prats & Symington (Chryseia) and, his most recent, Quinta da Fonte Souto, in Alto Alentejo. Symington Family Estates is one of the main producers of premium Ports and the family is the main owner of vineyards in the Douro, with 26 farms covering 2,420 hectares, of which 1,114 are vineyards. The vineyards are managed under sustainability principles, with 130 hectares having organic certification – the largest area of organic vineyards in the Douro. The family has made significant investments in R&D in viticulture, to adapt to climate change, and promotes an ambitious sustainability plan called ‘Mission 2025’, which integrates a set of goals. In 2019, the company achieved B Corporation certification, becoming the first wine company in Portugal to take this important step, joining a global business community audited according to the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility, with a commitment to use business as a force for good.