Established in 1920 by the brothers José, Manuel and Albano Costa, the cellars Caves S. João are a family company that, in its beginnings, was dedicated to the commercialization of fine wines and liqueurs of the Douro region. This company, which is nowadays the most ancient wine-producing family company in full activity in the district of Anadia, turned to the production and commercialization of table wines from Bairrada after a bill passed in the 30s prohibited the production of Oporto Wines outside the area of Vila Nova de Gaia. At the same time, it also initiated the production of sparkling natives, according to the "Champenoise method", after the help and knowledge of the renowned French winemaker M. Gaston Mainousson.
