Newfoundland Wine Vaults

Newfoundland was used for several centuries as a storage and maturing location for Portuguese port wine. The benefits of cold weather aging were discovered by accident in 1679, when a Portuguese vessel carrying port wine was attacked by a buccaneer and escaped by going off course and taking shelter in Newfoundland. Forced to overwinter, they stored their port barrels in caves at St. John's harbour, eventually transporting their cargo to its original destination, London. There they discovered the port was much improved in flavour, transformed into a smoother, finer product. It was deemed so superior that they resolved to repeat the process for future vintages.

Many companies followed suit. Wine vaults were constructed to keep the barrels under lock and key. The wine was transported in a long barrel called a pipe, and transferred to smaller barrels for storage. Other places adopted the practice as well, bringing in wines like Madeira and Sherry. The wine vaults eventually fell into disuse after the widespread adoption of refrigeration. Newman's wine vault is the only one remaining and is one of the oldest buildings in St. John's. It has been converted into a provincial historic site.