Wine in Douro Superior, Douro Valley

Quinta do Vale Meao ★ 4.8

Founded in 1877 by Dona Antonia Ferreira and run by her descendant Francisco Olazabal, this Douro Superior estate makes one of Portugal's most sought-after reds plus the Meandro second wine.

Tasting: Estate visits by appointment at the Douro Superior quinta.

Signature wines: quinta-do-vale-meao-tinto, meandro-do-vale-meao

Quinta do Vesuvio ★ 4.7

A grand Douro Superior estate bought by the Symington family in 1989, Quinta do Vesuvio still treads its grapes by foot in granite lagares and makes a single-quinta Vintage Port every year it declares.

Tasting: Private full-day estate experience with foot-treading lagares, by reservation.

Signature wines: quinta-do-vesuvio-vintage-port

Quevedo ★ 4.3

A five-generation family producer based at Quinta Senhora do Rosario near Sao Joao da Pesqueira, Quevedo makes approachable Port and DOC Douro wines and welcomes visitors at both winery and Gaia lodge.

Tasting: Family winery and vineyards at Sao Joao da Pesqueira plus a Gaia lodge; tastings by appointment.

Signature wines: quevedo-vintage-port

Quinta do Vale Meao ★ 4.6

A historic Douro Superior estate of the Ferreira lineage, source of one of Portugal's most coveted reds, tucked far up-river beyond the usual tourist routes.

Tip: It sits in the remote Douro Superior, far from the tourist core; serious collectors make the trip, and the wines reward years in the cellar.

Quinta do Orgal (Quinta do Vallado) ★ 4.3

Vallado's Douro Superior property at Castelo Melhor has 35-plus hectares of organic vineyards, certified organic in February 2015 with effect from 2012.

Tip: The Quinta do Orgal Organic Vineyards bottling is the estate's certified-organic Douro Superior red; look for it specifically.