Van Zeller family
Who we are: the van Zellers left the Low Countries (Netherlands) due to political and religious reasons. As Catholics, they arrived in Portugal and established themselves in Porto as Port Wine merchants. Through family ties, the van Zellers are linked to the Douro and to the production of its wines since 1620.
Van Zellers & Co established the first wine trade sea routes between Portugal and the Baltic states, which were part of the Russian Empire at the time, in the 18th Century. In 1811, Van Zellers & Co is considered one of the most prominent Port Wine merchants, exporting yearly over 1000 pipes.
The van Zellers remain in the Port Wine business through other companies: Quinta de Roriz and Quinta do Noval. It is at Quinta do Noval that the new generations explore innovative methods in the vineyard and in different styles of Port. These include ungrafted vines, which gave way to the creation to one of the most famous wines in the world: 1931 Noval Nacional Vintage Port; the birth of aged Tawnies (10, 20, 30 and over 40 years old) and Late Bottled Vintage Ports.
