Oporto’s music marks a trip inside Graham’s Caves

 The historic building of Graham’s – owned by Symington Family Estates, which has a privileged location on the south bank of the Douro River – was recently the stage for a surprise concert by the Porto band ‘Homem ao Mar’. The premiere of Douro Unplugged, reserved for guests, was promoted within the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the reopening of Graham’s Cellars, after a period of renovation, and the opening of Vinum at Graham’s restaurant & wine bar. 

 After the musical moment, those present had the opportunity to enjoy a cocktail on the newly opened terrace of Vinum, the award-winning restaurant that results from a partnership between the Symington family and the Sagardi group. The recent expansion of the terrace – a process that took into account the history and design of the building – represents new options for visitors to the space, who will be able to taste, in the late afternoon, special gastronomic proposals, while enjoying, from a terrace open, with a unique view of the Douro and the D. Luís I bridge. 

 The possibility of having lunch and dinner on the terrace is also new, as is the signature cocktail menu with Porto Graham’s. Vinum at Graham’s restaurant & wine bar has been recognized for the homage paid to the cuisine of northern Portugal, through suggestions prepared with local products, and for the offer of gastronomic experiences that go beyond a simple meal. 

 Over the last decade, Graham’s Caves have also strengthened their position as a reference in the wine tourism sector in Portugal. The intimate Douro Unplugged concert will be another opportunity to get to know the space – which, after renovation, has already been visited by more than half a million people – and the wines produced by the Symington family. 

 The next editions of the event, whose periodicity should be annual, will now be open to the public, providing an exclusive experience that combines port wine, typical cuisine and the best music in the city. With the rafts and barrels where Graham’s wines rest as a backdrop, fans of wine, music and northern gastronomy will have the opportunity to hear, annually, some of the best musicians from Porto in an unrepeatable environment and full of history. 

About Symington Family Estates 

 The Symingtons, of Scottish, English and Portuguese descent, have been Port wine producers in the north of Portugal since 1882. For five generations they have combined their passion for producing high quality wines, in particular Port wines, with their strong commitment to the region and its people. Today, ten members of the Symington family work in their four famous Port 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 totaling 2,420 hectares, of which 1,114 are vineyards. The vineyards are managed under principles of sustainability, 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 ‘Missão 2025’, which includes 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 the commitment to use business as a force for good.