Real Companhia Velha, founded in 1756 by the Marquis of Pombal, is the oldest Portuguese wine company, operating continuously since then. The company is known for shaping and protecting the Douro Demarcated Region, making it the first regulated wine region in the world. Real Companhia Velha is also the only company founded by the Marquis of Pombal that remains in operation, and is a benchmark in Portugal and abroad. The company owns five estates and its winemaking center in Vila Nova de Gaia, where it stores a wide selection of Tawny Port wines and bottles of rare Vintage Port wines. The company owns historical brands of Port DOC, such as Royal Oporto, and Quinta das Carvalhas, making Single Vineyards Port DOC & Douro DOC wines.