Food

Love Wine? Add These Destinations To Your Bucket List

Wine! Who knew fermented grapes could be such an incredible drink, filled with such rich notes, flavors and history? Today we’re sharing some of top destinations wine-lovers should add to their bucket lists!

Bordeaux, France

Wine buffs know that Bordeaux has got it going on! After all, Bordeaux touts some of the world’s biggest wine-tourism experiences and over a quarter million acres of vineyards. With six regions, 10,000 wine-producing (and simply stunning!) châteaux’s, ample wine routes, guided tours, cruises, tasting classes and more… you won’t be lost for experiences to have here.

Duoro Valley, Portugal

The Duoro Valley is magical. It’s not only a great spot for a life-changing solo trip, but incredibly stunning in landscape and delicious in its table and Port wines. The river that flows through the hills and valleys of the nourishes the vineyards on the hillsides is one of the oldest unmarked wine-region in the world. Plus, wine tours throughout the valley typically depart from beautiful Porto. (P.S. we’ll be doing a wine tasting in the Duoro Valley on our Portugal trip this July! Join us!)

Cape Town, South Africa

Situate yourself in Cape Town and you’re in the perfect location to explore South Africa’s bustling wine region. Besides its incredible food scene and coffee culture, Cape Town’s Table Mountain and Atlantic oceanic air provide next level wines. In Cape Town’s restaurants, you’d be hard pressed to find one without a fantastic wine list! Sip on South Africa’s famous sparkling wine Methode Cap Classique or Pinotage, a unique combination of Cinsaut and Pinot Noir.

Thessaloniki, Macedonia

Sure, you’ve probably heard of Santorini’s fantastic grapes… but have you heard of its next door neighbor’s up and coming wines? North of Greece is the world’s best hidden wine destination! In the port city of Thessaloniki, you’ll find rare grapes that have made this country “the next big thing” in affordable, international travelers seeking incredible wine.

Corsica, France

Island wine has a certain appeal to it, doesn’t it? Corsica’s coastal vineyards wrap around the whole island, which is why most wines created there are also consumed by locals. Traveling to Corsica for its delicious wine is a once in a lifetime experience, especially for this reason!

North Coast Of California, USA

Napa and Sonoma are notoriously famous wine destinations for good reason! With over 600 wineries dotting these two north coast counties alone, wine enthusiasts will be overjoyed at the vast selection of tours to choose from! This “wine trail” packs a punch, no matter your preference in wine varieties (and it’s a great place to get your feet wet in the wine tasting scene!). Plus, you can also double it up with a trip to Yellow Stone National Park or San Francisco.

Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

Hawke’s Bay is the oldest wine region in New Zealand (and also the second largest!)… so why wouldn’t you add this area to your wine destination bucket list? Fun fact: Hawke’s Bay’s climate is very similar to Bordeaux’s! The area is famous for its full-bodied reds and Chardonnays. And it’s warm climate is a great escape for a traveler looking for a relaxing vacation filled with wine festivals and tours around New Zealand’s beautiful countryside.

Moselle Valley, Germany

Riesling lovers rejoice! The Moselle Valley is known as the best place in the world for classic Riseling whites. Its extremely steep hillsides are a treat for the eyes and also for its soil, which produces rich nutrients from the Moselle River below. It’s unlike most vino regions in the world for this reason!

Finger Lakes, New York, USA

Just 200 miles north of New York City is one of United States most underrated wine regions. The Finger Lakes is made up of many scattered, deep lakes that are incredibly relaxing and picturesque… perfect for a wine lover who wants to be treated by the beauty of nature in between exploring the region’s wine trails that are well connected and easy to navigate.

Tasmania, Australia

Tasmania is perfectly situated to produce some of Australia’s most incredible wines! Because of its cooler climate and grape varieties, wine lovers can savor some of the world’s best pinots, chardonnays, sauvignon blancs, rieslings, and more within one area. Tasmania delights visitors with its variety and its rugged parks and forests, so make sure you sign up for a winery tour or visit in between seeing Australia’s island wildlife!

Tuscany, Italy

Rounding out our list of vino destinations is a classic – Tuscany! It’s been said that it’s impossible to find a bad Tuscan wine. Now… it’s up to you to solve that mystery! But in the meantime, Italy’s biggest grape production region is well-loved by tourists and aficionados alike for its magical castles and ancient wineries with grapes dating all the way back to the Estruscans. Get lost in the splendor of Italy’s heartland, its rolling hills and absolutely mouth watering wines.


Have you had an incredible wine experience somewhere not on our list? Tell us where! 

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  • Alaina Rhind February 10, 2019 at 8:29 am

    Great list! We have also had great wine experiences in:
    Piedmonte, Italy – Barolo, Barbaresco etc and really great small, local producers.
    Rioja, Spain – huge variety and amazing wineries and wines, Bodegas Baigorri visit was a highlight.
    Duoro in Spain – great Temperanillo .
    Croatia – more spread out throughout Croatia, but north of Rovinj and Posip from the island of brac were excellent.
    Dolomites, Italy – there are also some interesting wineries and wines in South Tyrol.
    Might be something to add to your list/travels!

    • Nastasia February 10, 2019 at 8:08 pm

      Great recommendations! 🙂

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