The World’s Best Wine Destinations

With the passion for wine being a global phenomenon, visiting wine producing regions has long been popular with travelers all over the world. There is a plethora of these areas available with many wonderful holiday options and packages structured for the wine enthusiast.  Here are just a few of the many wonderful wine destinations that are on offer, from South America and the USA, to Europe and South Africa!

Australia

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 Though a relative newcomer to the age-old world of wine, nowadays Australia offers some of the best wine destinations in the world. These include McLaren Vale, Margaret River, Barossa Valley and the Yarra Valley. Australia is known not only for its famous Shiraz, but also for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Many options regarding accommodation in Australia’s wine regions are available, some on the wine estates themselves. There are beautiful hotels literally set amongst the vineyards, and many choices await the traveler with wine tours that might even include dinner with the winemaker themselves!

Campania, Italy

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 The Campania region in Southern Italy stretches along the beautiful Tyrrhenian Sea. Its mild climate, the stunning beauty of its coasts like the famous Amalfi Coast, rich cultural heritage, and passion for food and wine make Campania a fantastic destination for holiday makers. After all, who doesn’t want to see the ruins of Pompeii in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, and explore Sorrento and Naples?

This region is famous for their wines made from indigenous grape varietals like the red Aglianico, and white varieties like Falanghina, Greco, and Fiano. The region is also justly famous for their limoncello liqueurs. A wide variety of excellent accommodation options await the visitor.

Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa

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Just 40 minutes from Cape Town, Stellenbosch is the heart of the South African wine industry. It’s also a prominent university town, so offers a unique vibe and culture – with trendy cafes and student hangouts side by side with ancient oak trees and centuries-old architecture!

With over 200 wine farms and countless gourmet restaurants to choose from, it’s a wine lover’s and foodie’s paradise. More than this, it’s a destination which genuinely offers something for everyone – surrounded by magnificent mountains, nature reserves and stunning hiking and horseback trails, and steeped in history and culture.

Main attractions:

• More than 200 world class wine farms
• Some of South Africa’s oldest buildings and most fascinating architecture
• Museums and art galleries
• World class restaurants
• Farmers markets and kiddie’s entertainment galore
• Spectacular scenery and natural beauty
• Perfect base to explore all the attractions of Cape Town without being in the city center

Wines and accommodation:

The region is most famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon wines, although excellent Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc wines are also produced. Staying at one of the many luxury guest houses in Stellenbosch is a popular choice, as options are available for every taste and budget.

Tenerife, Spain

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If you want to find out more about the exciting winemaking renaissance that is currently happening in Spain, Tenerife, the largest of the 7 Canary Islands, is very much the place to go. Apart from wonderful wines and wineries, it very much offers the beauties of sun, sea and sand with a wealth of holiday options on offer.

Tenerife has a very well-established wine route with the majority of its situated wineries (bodegas) situated in the vicinity of the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna. Some of the famous wines of the area include the delicate Listán Blanco, as well as the more robust reds, Baboso Negro and Listán Negro. Wines made from Listán Prieto, an ancient variety of red grapes, is very much in the forefront Spain’s wine renaissance.

Napa Valley, USA

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The beautiful Napa Valley in California has become virtually synonymous with wine. Some of the superb wines that the region is justly famous for include their Merlots and Pinot Noirs, as well as varieties of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc. And here is a completely different tack on exploring the beautiful Napa Valley and its superb wines and holiday opportunities.

Why not indulge yourself with a train ride on an elegantly restyled Vintage Pullman rail car in the spirit of luxury train travel through the very heart of the iconic Napa Valley? Included will be specially organized tours and wine tastings and gourmet food that you will share with other wine enthusiasts to make the experience even more memorable as you experience the very best the Napa Valley has to offer.

Mendoza, Argentina

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Argentina has of recent years established itself as a top wine producing region, and is in fact the biggest producer of wine in South America. It is already justly famous for its truly exceptional Malbec, its Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec blends and Conjuro/Bordeaux blends.

Many winery tours are offered in Mendoza which include expert-led tastings and superb food. Get some insights into the techniques of traditional winemaking, as well as the art involved in producing and serving wine.