Dating between circa late 1700’s to the early 1800 the Newman Wine Vaults is one of the oldest standing structures in St. John’s. Constructed of brick and stone, the vaults were used to age the Celebrated Newman’s Port. The Newman Wine Vaults tell the amazing story of a 300-year connection between wine produced in sunny Portugal, aged in the cool climate of Newfoundland, and sipped by England’s aristocracy for generations.
Open from the Victoria Day long weekend until just before Thanksgiving.
Who knew that wine vaults would make such a nice location for wedding photographs? In St. John’s, Newfoundland, the Newman Wine Vaults is extremely popular for wedding photography due to its romantic atmosphere.
It is arguably the oldest building in St. John’s. According to legend, in 1679 a Newman & Company vessel loaded with port wine left Portugal for London but was driven off course and came to pass the winter in St. John’s. When the ship returned to England the following spring, her cargo was found to have improved in flavour. From then until 1996 Newman’s celebrated “Ruby Port” was aged in Newfoundland – much of it in the romantic stone vaults on Water Street.
“I think it’s the atmosphere that makes it a romantic spot. Minimal lighting, candlelight, stone walls and a wooden floor”, Shared Laurie Roche-Lawrence, Public Programming Officer of Provincial Historic Sites, in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Photo: Romantic wedding photo taken in the Newman Wine Vaults (photo by Alex Stead and submitted by Provincial Historic Sites (Newfoundland and Labrador))
