10 Must-Visit Wine Regions

Great grapes produce excellent wines. Here is a peek into 10 of the world’s must-visit wine regions.

Sampling great wines from around the world may make you feel like you’ve taken a journey, but it’s no substitute for the real thing. Sometimes you need to pack your bags, get on a plane and treat yourself to tastings in their native lands. When that mood strikes, the world is your oyster. Exceptional wines are found almost anywhere in traditional and unexpected countries. For your next vino adventure, consider visiting these top wine regions.

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Bourdeaux | France

Bourdeaux needs no introduction, but we’ll give it one anyway. With a total vineyard area of over 120,000 hectares, Bordeaux is the largest wine-growing area in France. There is plenty to enjoy about southwest France’s commercial and cultural hub, but of course, the grapes come first. Bourdeaux offers an array of wine appellations to choose from, ranging from inexpensive table wines to some of the world’s most prestigious (and pricey) wines. The vast majority of wine produced in the region is red. Sweet whites, dry whites, and, in smaller quantities, rosé and sparkling wines follow.

Napa Valley | USA

One of America’s most famous must-visit wine regions is Napa Valley, a picturesque location in Northern California. Unlike some of the other spots on this list, which have histories dating back hundreds of years, Napa Valley’s premium wine production dates back only to the 1960s. Despite its relatively short lifetime, Napa Valley has become home to hundreds of wineries, known primarily for their elegant Chardonnay and expressive Cabernet Sauvignon, which hold their own against anything found in the Old World wine regions.

Barossa Valley | Australia

Located in South Australia, about 56 km northeast of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions. It’s home to some 750 grape-growing families, many sixth generations, who supply grapes to more than 170 wine companies of all kinds. Thanks to its unique mix of warm and cool climate growing conditions, the Barossa Valley can produce a wide assortment of grape varieties, including Grenache, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Semillon. Many of the country’s most notable wineries, such as Penfolds, Peter Lehmann, and Yalumba, are headquartered here.

 

 

Marlborough | New Zealand

Marlborough contains three distinct features: its dry climate, the picturesque Marlborough Sounds, and Sauvignon blanc wine. The region’s fertile soil and temperate weather enabled it to become the birthplace of the modern New Zealand wine industry, and today Marlborough represents 62% of the total vineyard area in the country. As mentioned, the king varietal here is Sauvignon blanc (which many critics consider to be the world’s best), but Pinot noir and Chardonnay are also popular.

Douro Valley | Portugal

There is archaeological evidence that the Douro Valley region of Portugal produced wine dating from the end of the Western Roman Empire.  Grape seeds have also been found at even older archaeological sites in the area. So, yeah, Douro knows what it’s doing when it comes to wine. The region is primarily associated with Port wine production, but it produces a broad spectrum of styles that range from light to rich.

Rioja | Spain

When it comes to Spanish wine, Rioja ranks at the top. The region is divided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. Many wines have traditionally blended fruit from all three regions. However, single-zone wines have grown in popularity in more recent times. Monks were the leading practitioners of winemaking in Rioja in medieval times. The church isn’t so involved these days, but Rioja wine is still a religious experience for many. The region is mainly known for oak aging and the pronounced vanilla flavors in its wines.

Tuscany | Italy

Tuscany is a must-visit stop on your Eat, Pray, Love journey around Italy. Not only is it one of the most beautiful places you’re likely to visit, but it’s also home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions. Viticulture in Tuscany dates back to the Etruscans in the 8^th century BC. In the 3^rdcentury BC, the Greeks immortalized it in a 980-line poem. Italy’s wine country continues to capture worldwide praise. The Sangiovese grape is Tuscany’s most prominent grape, but other varieties found in the region include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Syrah. Tuscany is definitely one of the must-visit wine regions.

Alsace/Baden | France/Germany

A dangerous area along the Rhine River on the border between France and Germany generates controversy between the two nations.

Despite its troubled history, the Alsace region in France and the Baden region in Germany produce some of the most exciting wines in the world. Alsace is all about dry Riesling. Other varieties include Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Crémant d’Alsace. Baden contains grape varieties of the Pinot family, while Rieslings play a minor role.

Stellenbosch | South Africa

In the Western Cape province of South Africa, lies Stellenbosch. The South African wine industry produces approximately 1,000,000,000 liters of wine annually. Since 1971, the Stellenbosch Wine Route (branded now as the Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes) has been a world-renowned tourist destination. Its coordinated network of more than 148 wineries offers five sub-routes, each of which has its own characteristic wine style, climate, and geographical location.

Burgundy | France

Last, in our must-visit wine regions, we have Burgundy. Grape growing in this region dates back to the 2^nd century. The most famous wines produced here are dry red wines made from Pinot noir grapes and white wines made from Chardonnay grapes. Most of the notable wines of the region come are costly. However, Burgundy offers plenty of other rewarding wines that are worth a sip and won’t cost a fortune.