Fodor's Expert Review Quinta Vale D. Maria

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.