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Cockburn’s

A reservation-only lodge from 1815, home of the Special Reserve, with no prices published online.

Zone
Vila Nova de Gaia
Founded
1815
Owned by
Symington Family Estates
Visiting
reservation only; visits including a tasting last approx. 1.5 hours
Hours
1 Apr-31 Oct: visits 10:00-17:30, tastings 10:00-18:30, shop 9:30-19:30. 1 Nov-31 Mar: visits 10:00-17:00, tastings 10:00-17:30. Closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan
Address
Rua Serpa Pinto 346, 4400-307 Vila Nova de Gaia (car access: Rua Dona Leonor de Freitas 225, 4400-123)

Facts last checked against published sources on 17 September 2026.

Cockburn’s was founded in 1815 by two Scottish brothers, Robert and John Cockburn, and is now part of Symington Family Estates. Its best-known wine is the Special Reserve, launched in 1969 and described by the house as bridging Vintage and Ruby Port.

How visits work

Visits are by reservation only and last about an hour and a half including the tasting. Booking is through a reservation form, and Cockburn’s does not publish prices, so ask when you book. That lack of a public price list is the main thing that makes Cockburn’s harder to plan around than Sandeman or Burmester, where you can see every option before you commit.

The pedestrian address is Rua Serpa Pinto 346. If you are driving, use the car access on Rua Dona Leonor de Freitas 225 instead.

When to go

From April 1 to October 31, visits run 10:00 to 17:30, tastings until 18:30 and the shop from 9:30 to 19:30. From November 1 to March 31, visits run 10:00 to 17:00 and tastings until 17:30. The lodge closes on December 25 and January 1.

Worth knowing

Cockburn’s shares an owner with Graham’s and Dow’s. If you want to understand how one family group gives its houses different characters, Graham’s private Boardroom tasting pours Graham’s, Dow’s and Warre’s Vintage Ports side by side.

What to ask when you book

  • The current price per person, since none is published.
  • Which Ports the tasting pours, and whether the Special Reserve is one of them.
  • Which languages the guided visit runs in on your date.
  • Whether the car entrance or the pedestrian entrance suits your arrival.

Asking those four questions up front turns a reservation-only lodge from a gamble into a planned visit. If you would rather see every price before you choose, our comparison of Porto tastings lists every house that publishes one.

Canto Cooking is a commercial partner of Pinot Squirrel and we earn from bookings. Winery and lodge prices on this page come from each producer's own website.

Short on time?

Taste Sandeman, Graham's, Taylor's and Ferreira side by side in one hour, on the Porto side of the river.

Canto Cooking · 4.9 on Google and TripAdvisor

“Best of the Best” Port Tasting with Artisan Chocolates

€22 per person · 1 hour · Adults only

Check dates & bookPrice checked 17 Sep 2026

The wines to know

  • Cockburn's Special Reserve