Wine country in Portugal (rental, cycle, hotel, reservations)

[Roadking2003]

We will be in Portugal in May and plan to spend a few days in both the Douro Valley and Alentejo wine region.

I'm looking for opinions about which wineries to visit and also other activities and sights in these two wine regions. We've been to hundreds of wineries and dozens of winery tours so will limit the tours to one per region. What we really like are unique wineries, not necessarily the most famous ones.

Also, any information regarding the need for tasting reservations would be helpful.

Your comments are welcome.

Edit: We will have a rental car.

[StealthRabbit]

We stayed at a small winery in Douro Valley. (in a restored home)

Owners were gone to their city home, we had the whole place to ourselves.
Great view from veranda for outdoor meals. (not posh, but very nice, especially being the only guests)
https://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/cas...oking_window=2

Many wine tours nearby from vintage farms to high end places.
Seems both the boat and the rental car would be good (motorcycle better!)

I would suspect the owners (of guest homes) will be able to help with the tours. As well as meeting folks at the small town farm / ag stores

We were there in May and did several tours / day (drop-in / not guided). Often we were the only people there! (no waiting !)
Not expensive (we only sampled).

ritzy, but informative
https://acruisingcouple.com/2017/06/...ley-wine-tour/

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/portuga...OVALLEY/360356

[Roadking2003]

Did you tour a cork factory?