One of the best aspects about wine tasting is being able to travel to different areas to experience the wine at the winery it was created. You get to see the vineyards where the grapes were grown, by taking a tour of the property you can experience the process of actually making the wine and what goes into it. And finally, you get to taste the wine exactly how the winemaker intended.
In addition to tasting the wine, you get to experience the towns and regions that were specifically developed with wine culture in mind. Wine country is so much more than just going to a few wine tasting rooms and drinking wine all day. It’s about meeting the winemakers, pairing the local wine with delicious food, and understanding exactly what goes into making wine and why these regions are so special.
Different wine regions and destinations are all going to offer up unique experiences. Tasting rooms in one region may be mostly outdoors, while others may need to shield visitors from the weather by having tasting indoors. You may be able to play games and mingle amongst other visitors, while in other situations you may have your own private area.
The saying “if you seen one, you’ve seen them all” most definitely does not pertain to wine country. With different wine destinations all over the world, wine lovers should try to visit more than just one. We’ve put together a great list of some of our favorite wine destinations that you won’t want to miss.
Wine Destinations Around the World
1. Paso Robles California
While we are a bit bias when it comes to our own home town of Paso Robles, California, there are a number of reasons why this wine region should be on everyone’s list of wine destinations to visit.
When you talk to people about wine coming out of California, the more popular region (for the moment) is Napa Valley. It’s been featured in tv shows and movies, and has built up a reputation as being the place to visit in California if you love wine, but we would argue that you’ll have a better experience in Paso Robles.
Paso Robles is home to some of the best wines in the world (like the Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon), but it’s also home to some of the best overall wineries, scenic views, not to mention incredible food from some of the top chefs in the country.
Downtown Paso Robles in small but with a big heart. You’ll find plenty of places to visit and explore while walking around the town square. There are also some incredible hiking trails and adventures to be found just outside of town as well.
If you’re looking for something with incredible wine and that small town feel, Paso Robles will not disappoint.
2. Tuscany, Italy
Italy is a major producer of wine around the world and some of the most famous brands come from Italy. The climate in Tuscany is ideal for producing some of the world’s best wines. In addition to the climate, the scenery in Tuscany rivals that of any other place on the planet. The rolling hills and beautiful overlooks make this an ideal place to visit while on your wine adventure.
And don’t even get us started on the food. Italian food pairs extremely well with wine and being able to get authentic Italian food right from the source, while pairing with a wine produced just down the street, it doesn’t get much better than that.
3. Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux, France is known as the wine capital of the world, and for good reason. Here you’ll find some of the most famous wineries on the planet as well as some of the best full-bodied red wines anywhere. You’ll also find some incredible white wines and rose’s in Bordeaux which has been producing wine as far back as the Roman era.
In addition to the many wineries and tasting rooms, you’ll find wine museums, wine schools, and even incredible wine festivals. You’ll be able to pair these amazing wines with the delicious food of the region to help round out your French wine experience.
4. Rioja, Spain
If you’re looking for high quality wines, then Rioja, Spain is where you want to go. You’ll find a variety of different red, white and rose style wines throughout the region. Red wines made from the Tempranillo grapes will provide a high quality, full-bodied red wine that is hard to duplicate.
Wine tours, tasting rooms, festivals and more are all part of the Rioja region’s wine experience. You’ll also find some incredible restaurants and food offerings that pair extremely well with the locally produced wines.
Between the historic towns, beautiful scenery, and seemingly endless vineyards, Rioja, Spain is a great place to visit if you’re traveling to Europe for wine.
5. Douro Valley, Portugal
Port wine coming out of Portugal has become extremely popular over the years, and so has visiting this area if you’re looking for some great wineries to explore. And while port wine isn’t the only wine that comes out of this area, it is one of the most popular.
If you’re looking for something a little outside of the norm from all those other places you hear about, we definitely recommend Douro Valley in Portugal. Douro Valley is a picturesque region with rolling hills, scenic vineyards, and charming towns and villages. The region’s architecture, which includes historic Quintas (wine estates), adds to the charm and beauty of the area.
You’ll find a variety of wineries that offer tastings, tours, as well as opportunities to learn about the history of wine making in Portugal and the techniques used to make the wine.
This unique wine region is full of history and beauty and is a great place for any wine lover to visit.
Favorite Wine Destinations
There are many wine regions and destinations around the world, many that we couldn’t include on this list, but the key to finding what you like is to explore.
Take some time to research the areas you’re thinking about visiting. Figure out what types of wines they offer, what activities are available outside of wine tasting, and the different types of restaurants in the area. You’re bound to find some place that blow you away with just the photos and reviews.
And while we believe that Paso Robles is one of the top wine destinations in the world, there are so many different regions to visit that we’re sure you’ll find somewhere that you love just as me as we love Paso.