best wine destinations in the world

We've received your email address, and soon you will start getting exclusive offers and news from Wine Enthusiast. Now you'll be the first to hear about: Exclusive discount offers on wine accessories and storage Food and cocktail recipes Wine event invitations...and more! 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations 2016 Wine’s transporting experience is one of the reasons we continually come back for more. Like sound and smell, taste is a sense that can vividly recall a moment, whether it’s sipping Cabernet in a lush Rutherford vineyard, swirling a glass of Malbec next to a roaring Argentinean asado, or just a great armchair voyage with a glass of Portuguese Vinho Verde. Tasting wine is a trip unto itself, but visiting the places in which wine is made truly adds to the magic. Each year, our editors traipse the globe in search of the world’s most exciting wine destinations. From the iconic Old World to surprising newcomers, the following list will shape your travel year to come.
Click below to jump to any of these destinations, or view the slideshow. Travel Destinations, Travel Guides World's 10 Best Trips for Wine Lovers There’s nothing quite as enchanting as a vacation in one of the world’s great wine regions, where stunningly beautiful vineyards serve as the perfect backdrop for tasting some of the best vintages available. And while more and more wine destinations seem to sprout up every year, some places will always set the standard for wine lovers. Whether you want to taste your way across Burgundy, Piedmont, Sonoma, or the Douro Valley, these 10 essential trips will inspire you to explore the wide world of winemaking. 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations of 2017 From the classic climes of Provence, London and the Rheingau to wild and dramatic vino-adventures in Salta, Sicily and Bulgaria, our roundup of top spots offers something for everyone with a passport and a will to explore beyond the glass. You’ve got the list, so get out and do some trailblazing before the crowds set in.
A high-altitude enclave in Argentina, Cafayate is home to some of the world’s most exciting Malbec, magical scenery, local crafts and unique gastronomy. Bounded by the Black Sea to the east and Greece to the south, Bulgaria’s Thracian Valley combines archaeological wonders with modern wines. A windswept volcanic archipelago off the coast of Africa, wine from the Canary Islands has been held in high esteem since at least the time of Shakespeare. The heartbeat of the region? Marlborough’s many cellar doors. Travel into the countryside and explore small corners of wineries to expansive restaurants. A sun-kissed region in Southeastern France, Provence conjures up visions of dry rosés, olive tree groves, lavender fields and the glistening sea. A vibrant center for art and culture, London is a city where you can find wine from every country. Don’t miss trying England’s sparkling wines, either. Healing hot springs, mud baths, world-class resorts, restaurants and wineries are all available in Napa Valley’s northern anchor, Calistoga.
Sitting just off the tip of the boot-shaped peninsula of Italy, Sicily offers beaches, volcanoes, ancient ruins and great wine and food.what is the best bottle of wine in the world Less than half an hour from Frankfurt, the villages of Rheingau dot the banks of the Rhine with historic vineyards, charming towns and wine discoveries.the best wine list in london Overlooking the Columbia River, Hood River is an adventure sport travel destination with access to wineries, brewpubs, cider houses and distilleries.top 50 wine labels See the Best 10 Wine Travel Destinations of 2016wine online australia gifts
The Hottest Wine Destinations of 2016 We asked some of the country’s top wine experts to tell us where they’re excited to go in the New Year. top wine destinations 2015What we got is the wine lover’s definitive list of regions to explore.name of wine server The Hottest Wine Destinations of 2016where to buy wine italy If you’ve had a wine from Switzerland, chances are it came from the Valais, the country’s southwestern Alpine region best known for its posh ski resorts and the Matterhorn peak. can you buy wine on amazonIt’s also home to the steep vineyards of the upper Rhône Valley. best red wine with baked ham
“The grapes and wines here are incredible, the people are wonderful, the food is great and the views up in the Swiss Alps are beyond compare,” says Paul Einbund, beverage director of Frances and Octavia in San Francisco. “Unlike anything I’ve seen anywhere else in the world.” Germany’s best-known wine region should be at the top of your list, not only because of its world-renowned rieslings, but also for its picture-perfect villages and sloping hills molded by the Mosel river’s sinuous path. “If you doubt the existence of God and the ability of plate tectonics to craft glorious pieces of land and the awesome power of glaciers, then get thee immediately to this southern corner of Germany and revel in pure, unadulterated beauty,” declares Paul Grieco, general manager of Terroir | Terroir on the High Line, NYC. “And the wines from here are frickin’ yummy!” Wine has been made here since biblical times, of course; but for much of its history, Israel’s been known for kosher wines of dubious quality.
A new breed of winemakers has set out to change that, by embracing modern, New World techniques and the principles of quality winemaking. Small, boutique wineries are sprouting everywhere, particularly in the Galilee/Golan Heights and Judean Hills regions. “It’s definitely on my list for 2016,” says Laura Maniec, master sommelier and owner of Corkbuzz Wine Studio, NYC. Recently, Sicily has begun to challenge Tuscany for the Italian wine region crown. And for breathtaking views matched by world-class wines (white and red), it’s hard to beat [Mount] Etna, where vineyards grow on dramatic, ash-soil volcano slopes abutting the Mediterranean sea. “I want to go for the food, the wine, the culture, the scenery. Everything,” says Michelle Biscieglia, sommelier and wine director of Blue Hill New York. With its 13 wine trails spanning dozens of grapes and appellations—from the Grenache-dominated Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône in the south to the Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage Syrah blends in the north—the Rhône Valley in southern France should be on your 2016 hit list.
It’s “all the amazing wineries, the great local cuisine, and the ability to experience two major climates so close to one another (northern Rhône is continental and southern Rhône is Mediterranean)” that make the Rhône Valley a top wine destination for Caleb Ganzer, head sommelier of La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, NYC. In the lesser-traveled Piemonte region, amazing wines come with the dreamlike scenery of hilly, patchwork vineyards and quaint medieval towns. The noble Barolo and Barbaresco wines are perfect with the local food, from ethereal fresh tajarin pasta to hearty braised meats. While Le Langhe is a must-see, it’s worth exploring the Monferrato and Canavese to taste lesser-known varietals. “There are also some very interesting sparkling wines coming from the region,” says Phillip Dunn, wine director of Spago Beverly Hills, L.A. Prince Edward County, Ontario A relative newcomer to the winemaking scene, Prince Edward County is one of Canada’s most exciting wine regions.
Located on the north side of Lake Ontario, its limestone-rich soil and cool climate are perfect for growing classic Burgundy grapes like pinot noir and chardonnay. But winemakers are also experimenting with other varietals, including riesling and syrah. “From what I understand, winegrowers there have this hibernation system of burying the vines underground to protect them from frost,” says Ashley Ragovin, of Pour This, L.A. “They then emerge in the springtime, along with the sugar snap peas and hydrangea.” Besides pristine waters and iconic blue-and-white houses, there’s another reason to visit this stunning Mediterranean island: the wine. Volcanic soils lend the local Assyrtiko whites a distinctive minerality that makes them especially great with grilled squid and octopus, whole baked fish, and other classic Greek island foods. “I love Assyrtiko,” says Thomas Pastuszak, wine director of The NoMad, NYC, “and Santorini is the perfect wine destination: a great combination of beautiful place and fantastic wines.”