There are so many wine regions around the world that it can be overwhelming to choose the best destination for your next vacation. Check this list of some of the top wine tours and book the one that suits you the best.
One of the best ways to make a holiday unique and memorable is to take a multi-day, multi-destination tour.
Be it in Europe or the USA, there are so many popular vineyards that are perfect for wine connoisseurs.
Italy is already known as Europe’s best wine region around the world, but this article will introduce you to many more such gems.
If you love a tipple and want to explore the best wine regions in the world, here are a few of the destinations you need to visit.
Best wine regions and wine tours
Napa & Sonoma
Whether you love a crisp white wine or a rich cask red wine, Nape and Sonoma are the only places to visit in the United States for exceptional wines.
With over 400 wineries in the area, this is the ideal place to tour and enjoy a wide variety of wines.
One thing that many people love about touring this area is the lack of pretentiousness and how the tours are fun, holistic, and, most importantly, incredibly informative.
Hunter Valley
Heading to Australia now, Hunter Valley is the premier destination for incredible Aussie wines.
Getting to Hunter Valley can take some time, but once you get there, you will be in the heart of one of the finest Shiraz regions in the world.
Thanks to the high temperatures and dry climate, the area is ideal for growing Shiraz grapes, but the warm temperatures also give the wine a fuller body and an almost jammy flavour.
Alentejo
To Europe now, and the Alentejo region of Portugal.
Home to over 250 wineries across eight regions, this is not only one of the biggest win-making regions in Portugal but arguably the best one, too.
The most exciting part about a tour here is the surprising amount of variety you will come across.
Due to varying weather conditions and the different types of soil, there is almost always something new waiting for you just around the corner.
Cape Winelands
The Cape Winelands are world-famous and the hub of wine excellence in Africa.
Stretching across Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek, wine has been made in this region since the 17th century and has only become better over the decades.
With 45 producer cellars and over 450 private cellars to explore, there is no shortage of wine here.
Plus, the wine tram in Franschhoek gives visitors a convenient hop-on and hop-off tour experience, allowing you to visit multiple spots in a day.
Maipo
The Maipo Valley is the birthplace of Chilean wines and can be found in the greater Santiago area.
The easiest way to visit the vineyards is by taxi, and your first stop should be Cousino Macul, which has been owned and operated by the same family since the 1850s.
Afterwards, head to Concha y Toro, where you can see the original “Devil’s Cabinet;” this is where the original owners stored their best vintages and spread the rumour that it was possessed by the devil to deter theft.
Santorini
Heading to the beautiful region of Santorini in Greece, while wine may not be the first thing on your mind here, it would be a mistake to miss out on it.
With nine indigenous grape varieties, the history of wine-making here is much older than you may think.
In particular, traces of the Assyrtiko grape have been found in a prehistoric village excavation.
Plus, the unique growing method of twisting the vines to form a wreath, with the grapes going in the middle to protect them from wind, is something rarely seen outside of the island.
Tuscany
No wine tour list would be complete without mentioning Tuscany in Italy.
The region has, by royal decree, been making wine, in particular Chianti, since the early 1700s. The area is home to around 100 wineries, all producing wine in a fairly unique way.
Winemakers here aim for natural winemaking, some even using Roman terracotta vats.
Beyond that, winemakers try to grow their vines in the most natural way possible, creating exquisite wines that reflect the way wine was made hundreds of years ago.
Bordeaux
Another exceptionally famous European wine region that you have to visit is Bordeaux.
More specifically, the five crus in Medoc, which include 4 chateaus that are producing some of the best wine on the planet.
This is not an area that can be experienced all in one day, with many wine buffs insisting on a multi-day tour to allow you to take it all in and taste as much wine as possible.
Rioja
If you have ever had a Spanish red wine, it was most likely a Rioja.
This region is all about red wine, in particular aged reds that should be enjoyed seven or eight years after bottling. However, there are a few white wines around the area for those who aren’t partial to an aged red.
On top of the wine, no tour would be complete without a wine and tapas lunch or dinner, with the two pairing perfectly and giving you a taste explosion.
Vayots Dzor
Armenia is another country many don’t associate with wine, but the Vayots Dzor region has a very long and storied history.
According to the Bible, it was the first wine-producing area in the world when Noah planted the first vine here.
Archaeologists have also uncovered a winery that is over 6,000 years old, backing up the claim of the age of the area.
Wine and the wine-making process still abides by the old ways, and this is the place to be to be in the presence of wine history.
Be it Pourtugal’s Alentejo or Armenia’s Vayots Dzor, I am sure these wine regions will surprise you with some of the best wines and informative tours.
Have you visited any of these wine regions? Which one would you like to explore next?
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