Poças in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

Port wine originated in the Douro Valley centuries ago when someone discovered that adding brandy to the wine before aging made it taste exceptional. This drink became associated with Porto, the city where many barrels were brought and aged, creating one of the world's most famous wines. Poças, a relative newcomer in the world of port wine, was started in 1918 by a 12-year-old brandymaker and is still owned by the fourth generation of his descendants, making it the only port house still owned 100 percent by locals. The brand produces a line of traditionally produced port wines from vineyards in each of the various sub-districts of the Douro Valley. Some of the wines are aged in ancient Portuguese oak or chestnut barrels in cellars in Vila Nova da Gaia, opposite the Douro River from central Porto. Poças also produces some not-so-standard wines, including being the first house to make rosé port. In 2018, to celebrate the brand's centenary, they produced bottles of vinho quinado, a fortified wine supplemented with quinine, a drink once consumed in Portugal's former colonies but an anomaly today. They also produce vermouth, a drink common next door in Spain but a rarity in Portugal, made from white port, 16 herbs, and five fruits from the Douro Valley. Poças' innovative approach to port wine production has made it stand out in the industry.