Late summer and early autumn, when most wine producers begin harvesting the season's vintage, are some of the most exciting weeks of the year for oenophiles. It is a crucial time--grape ripeness and quality are determined and wineries are at their busiest. For vino enthusiasts eager to witness the action, vineyard estates offer luxury accommodations that allow guests to soak up the sights and smells of a vineyard running at full speed. (And, blissfully, a glass of wine is never far away.) The styles are varied. L'And Vineyards, located in Portugal's Alentejo region, opened last spring right around the time its very first vintage (a 2009 Reserve) hit the market. Situated just 15 minutes from the ancient Roman city of Évora (and less than an hour from Lisbon), the vineyard's stylish digs and simple, warmly appointed suites capitalize on the area's serenity. Retractable over-the-bed roofs offer stunning nighttime views of star-lit skies, and outdoor fireplace-equipped patios look out over greenery and patches of farmland.

"Wine is our anchor, but it works best when paired with everything else on the property," says Duarte Cunha, L'And's general manager. In Temecula, California, longtime small producer Ponte Winery takes a similar approach. It utilizes the vineyard´s natural surroundings to create a scenic, wine-driven space for guests to take advantage of wine tastings and see firsthand how the winemaking process works. The folks behind Ponte realized that their most ardent clients--the same people who pushed for the opening of the hotel--would appreciate a place to unwind from their busy city lives and indulge in their passion for wine right at the source. For the uninitiated, staying at a wine-focused resort can be the perfect opportunity to learn more. The months-old Loisium Wine & Spa Resort in Suedsteiermark, Austria, offers traveling revelers a glimpse into a burgeoning vino destination that is just beginning to gain international repute. The property doesn't make its own wine, but its proximity to some of the country's most exciting, undiscovered producers makes it an invaluable resource for those seeking future industry stars.

See More on Departures: -World's Most Bikeable Wine Regions -World's Most Opulent Villas We’re basically your best friend… with better taste.Each year, we ask our readers to vote for the best food and wine resorts around the world. From the exquisite Napa Valley to the grandeur of France’s Champagne country, enjoy the delicious results of Andrew Harper’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Walland, Tennessee — Country house hotel owned by the Beall family since 1976, set on a 9,200-acre estate bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 25 minutes south of Knoxville. Rutherford, California — Cosmopolitan resort terraced into a hillside overlooking Napa Valley vineyards in Rutherford, 90 minutes north of San Francisco. St. Helena, California — Distinctive resort on a 250-acre estate in the heart of the Napa Valley in St. Helena, 90 minutes north of San Francisco. Barnard, Vermont — Luxurious and intimate country retreat amid 300 acres of meadows and woodlands in an unspoiled valley, 15 minutes north of Woodstock.

Calistoga, California — Tranquil 157-acre resort of 50 cedar-clad freestanding guest lodges, sister property to Auberge du Soleil, in a wooded canyon at the northern edge of the Napa Valley. Christchurch, New Zealand — Evocative seven-suite Queen Anne manor amid century-old estate gardens, 20 minutes outside Christchurch. Magnificently appointed public areas include a richly paneled dining room, library and guest lounge.best type of wine for seafood Forestville, California — Sophisticated, family-owned country-style inn in the Russian River Valley, offering 18 rooms in an 1873 clapboard-sided farmhouse, adjacent farmworkers’ cottages and a barn.where to buy wine maryland The Inn at Little Washingtonbest time to visit france wine country

Washington, Virginia — This smartly appointed country inn and gourmet sanctuary occupies an unassuming white building on the main street of Washington, a rural village in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Carmel Valley, California — Refined resort in the peaceful Carmel Valley amid oak-covered hills with a backdrop of the Santa Lucia Mountains, 15 minutes from Carmel.good red wine for gift giving County Laois, Ireland — Restored 1826 Regency mansion, widely regarded as one of the architectural gems of Ireland.beer and wine online uk Lenox, Massachusetts — Tudor-style mansion set on 100 acres of grounds near Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.best wine bars australia Le Château Les Crayères

Reims, France — Grand château housing 20 exquisitely appointed guest accommodations and gracious public salons, surrounded by a pretty 17-acre English-style park on the fringe of Reims, 90 minutes northeast of Paris. Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat, France — Recently renovated palace- hotel surrounded by a 14-acre private park overlooking the Mediterranean at the very tip of Cap Ferrat, 20 minutes east of Nice. Big Sur, California — Unique coastal resort set along a bluff directly above the Pacific in Big Sur, 45 minutes south of Carmel. Relais Borgo Santo Pietro Chiusdino, Italy — Thirteenth-century stone manor house built as a resting place for pilgrims en route to Rome, converted to a lavish 15-room hotel. Bagnols, France — Magnificently restored medieval château set among vineyards in the quiet Beaujolais countryside, 45 minutes northwest of Lyon. The spectacular 13th-century structure displays conical towers, dry moats and a drawbridge entrance. Oakhurst, California —This Provençal-style manor sits on a knoll above the small Sierra town of Oakhurst, an hour north of Fresno near the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park.