5 Best Sights in Northern Portugal, Portugal

One-hour tours of this quinta, which has a 100-year-old inn and two guest villas, start at 11 am and are limited to 24 people—during high season, reservations are essential. But if the 11 am tour is full, they'll arrange another at 11:30, depending on staff availability. After the tour, tastings are available. Custom tours and tastings can also be arranged, including tastings of a bevy of wine and port and a spread of charcuterie, cheese, almonds, and chocolate. A three-course lunch or dinner, including wines and ports, a tour, and tastings is excellent value. And, if you're lucky enough to visit during harvest season (September and October), you can try your hand (or feet) at treading your own vintage.

On the left bank of the Duoro River, this vineyard sits atop a hill facing the river. The land has been used as a vineyard since the mid-18th century, and today three wines are produced under the Carvalhas brand: Branco; Tinta Francisca; and Vinhas Velhas. The vineyard is quite large, so tours can be done either on foot or by minibus, driving on and off-road. From the mountaintop Round House, a cool 1,800 feet up, the 360-degree view is breathtaking. The staff is friendly and happy to answer questions and make recommendations.

Walking distance from Pinhão train station is the Symington family's Duoro vineyard, which opened to the public in May 2015. The hour-long tour starts in the vineyard's museum, which explains the history of the site and of the Symington family. You'll then see where port is produced and learn about the production process both via an explanation from the tour guide and a short film.

This vineyard offers great value for money with a 30-minute audio-guide tour, available in nine languages, and three Fonseca port tastings, accompanied by explanations. Taste an extra-dry white Siroco, a Bin No. 27, and a 10-year-old Tawny from the comfort of the veranda. Ports by the glass, including an organic selection, can be tasted in the visitor center, and if you're keen on Fonseca vintage port, you can make a reservation for a personalized tasting. Quinta do Panascal also has a restaurant, for which groups of 10 or more should make a reservation.

Tours, tastings, and lunch at this beautiful vineyard through which the Duoro River runs are by appointment only, so you'll have the whole place to yourself. Quinta Vale D. Maria came into the hands of its current owners, Sandra Tavares da Silva, Joana Pinhão, and her husband, Cristiano van Zeller, in 1996, when the vineyards were more than 50 years old, but the farm needed reconstruction. Today the quinta comprises 77 acres of vineyards, about half of which are 60–80 years old. After a thorough tour, you can sit down to sip six wines—three reds, three ports—and then dine with the owners and staff.