Who we are
Who is this
Portuguese Family
with a Dutch name?
Who we are: the van Zellers left the Low Countries (Netherlands) due to political and religiousreasons. 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.
1620
Pedro van Zeller,
Russian Consul in Porto
Russian Consul in Porto
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.
VAN ZELLERS & CO IS
OFFICIALLY FOUNDED
IN 1780
1811
Friends gathering with the family
at Quinta do Noval - 1950/51
at Quinta do Noval - 1950/51
The family at Quinta de Roriz
1950/51
1950/51
1931
Van Zellers & Co is sold
by the family in the middle
of the 19th century
The van Zellers remain in the Port Wine business through other companies: Quinta de Roriz andQuinta 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.
13th generation Cristiano, Fernando, Luis, Isabel and a friend at Quinta do Noval
Arriving by boat
at Quinta de Roriz - 1920
at Quinta de Roriz - 1920
Quinta do Noval is
in the family for
five generations
Through Luis Vasconcellos Porto (Cristiano vanZeller’s great-grandfather), acquires Van Zellers &
Co. Cristiano Van Zeller revives Van Zellers & Co
making it an independent company in 1989 - he is
the 14th generation of the family in the business.
Van Zellers & Co remains in the hands of Cristiano’s
cousin, after the sale of Quinta do Noval to Axa Milesime.
Uncle Luís van Zeller enjoying a glass of Port
Cristiano van Zeller
in a rabelo boat
in a rabelo boat
1989
Cristiano Van Zeller is one of the douro's
greatest storytellers and ambassadors.
He has helped pave the way
for a new Douro.
1993
Joana and Cristiano van Zeller
Cristiano van Zeller
and the new Douro
Since 1993, Cristiano has dedicated his life’s work to the production and communication of the Douro’scapacity of producing DOC Douro wines alongside Ports. He was an active player during the early
years, bringing to the world’s market the news wines of two Douro estates: Quinta do Crasto and Quinta
do Vallado. In 1996, Cristiano and Joana create the brand Quinta Vale D. Maria, after acquiring the
estate from Joana’s family. Soon it became one of the leading quality wines in the Douro and Portugal.
Cristiano in the CV-Curriculum Vitae vineyard
CV-Curriculum Vitae
In 2003, Cristiano van Zeller and Sandra Tavares da Silva (winemaker at the time) find a very oldvineyard, hidden deep into the Torto river valley. To reach it is an adventure on its own, reminding the
more imaginative minds of the Indiana Jones challenges. It is north facing with over 20 varieties. The
wines resulting from the grapes grown here are extraordinary, something that Sandra and Cristiano
felt would enrich their CV-Curriculum Vitae (or resumé). And so, one of the most iconic Portuguese
wines was born: CV-Curriculum Vitae Douro Red.
2003
2003
(from left to right)
Dirk Niepoort, Cristiano van Zeller, Tomás Roquette, João Ferreira Álvares Ribeiro, Xito Olazábal
Dirk Niepoort, Cristiano van Zeller, Tomás Roquette, João Ferreira Álvares Ribeiro, Xito Olazábal
The Douro Boys: A blend
of five winemakers
The Douro Boys were founded in 2003 with the common goal to cultivate appreciation for the quality of Douro DOC wines, alongside Ports, around the globe. Over nearly 20 years, the Douro Boys have organised
presentations, seminars, tastings and masterclasses, placing the Douro region in the map of the leading
wine regions of the world.
2006
The White Side
of the Valley
The Douro is a region known to produce full-bodied and highly concentratedwines. It was ready to surprise once again, this time with the rising stars
being white wines. Cristiano launched his first fresh white wine that soon
proved to age as beautifully as some of the world’s best. VZ White Douro DOC
was launched with the 2006 vintage using grapes from a very old parcel from
higher altitudes with a blend of local varieties.
2007
An unexpected Christmas
Gift: Van Zellers & Co
In 2007, Cristiano receives a phone call from his cousin João. He saw in Cristiano the oneto give continuity to the family’s company and offered him the VZ and Van Zellers’ brands
as a Christmas gift. Cristiano starts to slowly restock the company with old Port Wine and
adds CV – Curriculum Vitae Douro wines to the portfolio.
2013
the 15th Generation
joins the Business
In 2013, Francisca van Zeller, Cristiano and Joana’s eldest childstarts working in the marketing and sales department.
quickly acquires knowledge of the markets and, at the same time,
studies winemaking and viticulture. Her passion still lies in telling
stories of the Douro, its people and its wines.
A new era for Van
Zellers & Co
After the sale of Quinta Vale D. Maria to Aveleda S.A. in 2017,Cristiano and Joana can now dedicate all their efforts to Van
Zellers & Co. By 2019, the company is stocked with 40% of very old
Tawny Ports, 15 hectares of red wine vineyards in the Torto and
Pinhão valleys and 1 hectare of white wine vines in Murça.
2019
a new branding and a new future. We are a family of permanent
reinvention. We witness time being transformed into legacy,
knowledge into creativity and passion into wine. In everything
we have done and do, we challenge and dare.
We are not the only ones, but we believe our
way brings people together, leaving an open
door to future generations.
