3 Best Sights in Sintra, the Estoril Coast, and the Setúbal Peninsula, Portugal

For a close look at the wine business, visit the manor house and cellars of the José Maria da Fonseca Company. The intriguing tours talk about the long history of the winery and allow you to see all stages of production, including a peek into its dark and mysterious prized Moscatel cellars, where 200-plus-year-old bottles are still aging gracefully. The tour takes 20 to 40 minutes and ends in a shop where select products can be tasted and purchased.

Wine-loving locals flock to this scenic family estate to stock up on its wonderful red and white table wines. It’s hidden down a long dusty track, but well worth the trip: you can take a seat at one of the outdoor tables and enjoy those excellent wines by the bottle or glass, along with the Quinta’s equally delicious homemade cheeses and preserves. Friendly goats, piglets, and ponies keep younger visitors entertained while the adults enjoy the food, wine, and beautiful views of the surrounding vineyards and the Arrábida hills.

The jewel in the crown of this winery set in a late-16th-century mansion is its box-hedged garden and striking azulejo-lined paths. Visitors can tours the building, gardens, and wine cellars (advance bookings are advised). Among the highlights are three pyramidal towers, including the so-called Casa do Fresco, which houses the country's oldest azulejo panel. Dating to 1565, it depicts the story of Susannah and the Elders. Scattered elsewhere are dramatic bright blue sculptures, Moorish-influenced panels, fragrant groves of fruit trees, and enough restful spots to while away an afternoon.