The highest distinction in Port wine
Master
of Port
Portugal's first — and only.
Vasilii Grebencea · Dogma Wine Bar · Porto
What is the Master of Port?
The most demanding test of Port wine expertise — awarded by the same body that regulates its production.
The Master of Port is the highest professional honour in Port wine — a competition run by the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP) in partnership with national sommelier associations. Each edition produces one title holder per country. The winner becomes, in the words of IVDP President Gilberto Igrejas, "an official ambassador of Port wine at the international level."
There is no equivalent title. No other institution awards it. And until October 2025, no one in Portugal had ever held it.
The competition
Rigorous. Multi-stage. Judged by the industry's own.
- History and regulation of Port and the Douro Demarcated Region
- Production methods — harvest, fortification, barrel ageing
- Port styles, leading houses, and benchmark vintages
- Blind tasting and sensory analysis
- Expert food, cheese, and chocolate pairing
Open to professionals with at minimum two years of active wine service. The title is held for life — previous winners cannot re-enter.
Official IVDP seal
awarded to the Master of Port
14 October 2025 · Palácio da Bolsa · Porto
Portugal's inaugural edition.
One winner. A first in the country's history.
The 2025 Master of Port was the first edition ever held in Portugal. The final took place at the Palácio da Bolsa — Porto's 19th-century Stock Exchange Palace — before an audience of sommeliers, producers, and wine industry leaders.
Vasilii Grebencea stood ahead of the field. He is the first person in the history of Portugal to hold the title of Master of Port.
Frequently asked
About the Master of Port
- What is the Master of Port title?
- The Master of Port is the highest distinction awarded for Port wine expertise, organised by the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP) — Portugal's official Port wine regulator — together with national sommelier associations. It is awarded through a rigorous multi-stage competition testing theoretical knowledge and practical skill across the history, production, brands, vintages, and food pairing of Port wine.
- Who is the Master of Port in Portugal?
- Vasilii Grebencea, head sommelier and owner of Dogma Wine Bar in Porto, is Portugal's first and only Master of Port. He was awarded the title on 14 October 2025 at the Palácio da Bolsa, Porto, in the inaugural Portuguese edition of the competition organised by IVDP and the Associação de Escanções de Portugal (AEP).
- How does the Master of Port competition work?
- The competition is open to professional sommeliers and hospitality professionals with a minimum of two years of active wine service in a public-facing venue. Candidates pass through multiple rounds of rigorous theoretical and practical tests covering the history of Port wine, production methods, the Douro Demarcated Region, leading houses and vintages, blind tasting, and expert food pairing. The final is judged by senior members of the wine and hospitality industry. Previous winners cannot re-enter — the title is held for life.
- What does it mean to taste Port wine with a Master of Port?
- A Master of Port holds the highest formal recognition for Port wine knowledge in their country. Tasting with Vasilii at Dogma Wine Bar means every glass is guided by someone who has undergone the most demanding professional evaluation of Port expertise in Portugal — covering blind tasting, production knowledge, history, and pairing. You receive the same depth of insight that judges, producers, and the IVDP itself recognise.
- Where can I taste Port wine with Portugal's Master of Port?
- At Dogma Wine Bar, Rua dos Caldeireiros 238, Porto. Vasilii leads all tastings in person. Port experiences include the Port Introduction (€45 per person), TOP Port Selection (€72 per person), and the rare Ports from Heaven tasting (€210 per person). Bookings can be made directly at dogmawinebar.com.
- Is the Master of Port an international title?
- Yes. The Master of Port competition is organised by IVDP across multiple countries — editions run in the United Kingdom, Canada, Benelux, Scandinavia, and Portugal. Each edition crowns one Master of Port for that country or region. Vasilii Grebencea is the Master of Port for Portugal — the country where Port wine was born and remains exclusively produced.
The only place in Portugal to taste Port wine with its Master.
Dogma Wine Bar · Rua dos Caldeireiros 238 · Porto