With the sales increasing and the need to escape from dependency on the producers from whom the bulk wines were purchased, but also the aim of a better quality control, a peace of land with vines was acquired in the Quinta dos Avidagos at Alvações do Corgo.
There, in order to assure quality control a winery was built in 1970.
Since then the production of C. da Silva Port Wines was started originating in grapes purchase directly from different farms in the various places in the demarcated region.
The vinification was made by the traditional methods, some of them still in use nowadays for the production of the Vintage Ports.
Actually this winery is substantially different from the original one. In fact in 1998/1999 a complete change was implemented, not only at a structural level but also at a quality one, representing an investment exceeding 2.500.000 Euros.
The production capacity was doubled reaching 3.000.000 litres that are vinified in the most modern set of temperature controlled vats. A careful selection grape insures superb quality in each harvest.
The wine remains in the winery until February/March of the year following the Vintage when they are transported to C. da Silva warehouses in Vila Nova de Gaia.
It is in the City of Vila Nova de Gaia and within the «Entreposto» area established by law that C. da Silva has its cellars in a location exceeding 10.000 square meters.
It is in this place a annual stock of 10.000.000 liters of Port Wine are stored, in dozens of aerial and underground vats and about 2.900 french oak casks where the best Colheitas are ageing dating back many years ago - as well as about 130.000 bottles of Vintages and Late Bottled Vintages of different famous years.
Gonçalo Devesas
