Your Guide to Europe’s Best Wine Regions

Europe’s storied vineyards person been producing exceptional wines for centuries, and each vessel tells an absorbing communicative astir its terroirs and traditions. From the sun-drenched hills of the Loire Valley to the slopes of Rioja, the continent offers an unparalleled diverseness of delights for vino lovers. In this guide, we uncork six fantastic European vino destinations, and item their astir celebrated regions and signature vintages. We are definite that the sixth state volition astonishment you!

As you traverse the champion vino regions successful Europe, we’ve besides recommended immoderate handpicked experiences and ideas that blend vineyard visits with taste explorations for a memorable European vacation.

Pictured above: Our adept Derek Krantz and the Enchanting Travels squad astatine a French vineyard during their exploration of Europe.

1. Portugal

Best for: Port, Madeira, Vinho Verde

Our guests Miki and Mikhal connected a winery circuit successful Portugal

The Douro Valley is considered 1 of the oldest wine-producing regions successful the world. The terraced vale by the Douro stream grows much than 80 grape varieties. In the acold north, the Vinho Verde portion stretches to the Atlantic Coast, with Porto being 1 of its cardinal cities. The historical stream metropolis of Porto is regarded arsenic the birthplace of larboard wine! Discover spectacular vineyards, castles, and humanities sites connected a vino circuit successful this country.

Must-do: Douro Valley Wine Tour

Discover the celebrated wines of Portugal’s Douro Valley connected an immersive circuit done 3 sprawling estates: Quinta bash Origen, Quinta de Roeda, and Quinta bash Vallado. Learn astir the process of crafting good wines from the adept vintners, and bask splendid views of the lush vineyards. Afterwards, illustration the antithetic varieties of wines produced astatine each winery, portion your usher tells you astir their distinguishing features, specified arsenic aroma and flavor.

2. France

Best for: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Shiraz

France is easy 1 of the champion vino regions successful Europe. Bordeaux continues to nutrient immoderate of the world’s champion reds, portion Burgundy is Chardonnay central. Provence, known for its roseate wines, is breathtakingly beauteous with its lavender fields and olive groves, portion the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley, flanked by the Loire river, offers the cleanable premix of vino and history.

Must-do: Loire Valley Sidecar Tour

Experience the rolling hills and majestic castles of the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley vino portion from the unsocial vantage constituent of a motorcycle sidecar! The circuit winds its mode done charming villages similar Lussault-sur-Loire and Montlouis-sur-Loire, the gastronomic metropolis of Tours, and the vino appellations of Rochecorbon and Vouvray. The portion produces world-renowned varieties including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc. You volition besides get to halt astatine a section winery, wherever you’ll delve into the winemaking process, circuit the cellar, and illustration exceptional section wines.

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3. Italy

Best for: Barolo, Barbaresco, Chianti, Brunello, Pinot Grigio

Tuscany is Italy’s oldest wine-producing portion and besides among its astir scenic. Piedmont, perched successful the frosty Alps up north, is celebrated for its reddish wines, and the picturesque land of Sicily, known for its Marsala (fortified wine), has the astir fig of vineyards, making it a large halt if you are a vino lover.

Must-do: Wine and Lunch astatine Avignonesi Vineyard

Journey into the Tuscan hills to research the renowned Avignonesi vineyard. Savor a solid of Prosecco earlier touring the iconic La Stella and La Tonda vineyards. As you walk the distinctive circular Vigna Tonda planting formation, your adept usher volition archer you astir the estate’s biodynamic farming and integrated winemaking methods. Step into the historical aging cellars, and illustration 4 of the region’s finest wines. Round disconnected your acquisition with a scenic lunch, which is prepared utilizing seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, galore of which are from the estate’s gardens.

4. Germany

Best for: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir

Vineyards successful the Rhine

While Germany takes pridefulness successful its beer, it besides has astir 13 sprawling vino regions, from the steep slopes of Mosel-Saar-Ruwer to the 2,000-year-old past of viticulture successful Rheinhessen. The Mittelrhein region, with its towering castles and rolling hills swathed successful greenish vines, is among Germany’s astir picturesque vino regions.

Must-do: Rhine Valley Villages and Wine Tasting

Explore the picturesque Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, connected this full-day German vino experience. Drive betwixt forested hillsides and towering cliffs arsenic you walk near-vertical terraced vineyards and quaint villages with Gothic churches. The item of this circuit is visiting the renowned Kloster Eberbach, a humanities monastery with centuries of winemaking tradition, and Schloss Johannisberg, the world’s archetypal Riesling winery. While successful the charming colony of Oberwesel, bask a tasting league that showcases the wines that person made this portion famous.

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5. Spain

Best for: Airen, Tempranillo, and Grenache

Vineyards of Rioja against the backdrop of the San Lorenzo mountain

Rioja, 1 of the astir fashionable vino regions successful Spain, comprising the towns of Haro, Logroño, Laguardia and Elciego, is marked by sparkling rivers and snow-capped mountains. In Andalusia, the sprawling Jerez region, including Seville, is known for its fantabulous sherry. The wineries astir Madrid—part of the Ribera del Duero region—are besides worthy a visit.

Must-do: Vintage Winery Tour and Lunch

Immerse yourself successful Marqués de Riscal, 1 of the oldest wineries successful Spain’s Rioja region. This fifth-generation, family-owned property is renowned for exceptional reds and whites crafted from Tempranillo and Rueda grapes. Sample Cabernet Sauvignon grapes straight from the vines earlier exploring the awesome cellars, which location an unthinkable 8 cardinal bottles, immoderate of which day backmost to 1862. After a guided tasting session, circular disconnected your time with an exceptional eating acquisition astatine the Michelin-starred Restaurante Marqués de Riscal.

6. Greece

Best for: Assyrtiko, Xinomavro, Agiorgitiko, Moschofilero

Enjoying immoderate achromatic vino successful Santorini

Greece is often overlooked successful favour of its much celebrated European neighbors, but the state besides boasts a affluent winemaking practice dating backmost thousands of years. Santorini’s volcanic ungraded produces the acclaimed Assyrtiko – crisp achromatic wines with agleam acidity and mineral notes. Around Athens, the vineyards of Attica specialize successful Savatiano and the saccharine reddish Mandilaria. Paros is renowned for its Monemvasia whites and accepted reds, while Naxos crafts its distinctive wines from indigenous grapes similar Fokiano.

Must-do: Personalized Paros Wine Tour

Get a sensation of land beingness and delve into the past winemaking traditions of Paros connected a guided circuit of the island’s oldest winery. Discover viticulture practices dating backmost to 3,000 BC, and larn however Paros’ microclimate and terroir nurtures indigenous grape varieties similar Monemvasia and Assyrtiko. These grapes are utilized successful the accumulation of wines with the EU’s coveted Protected Designation of Origin stamp. Admire accepted factual fermentation vessels and Grecian vino presses successful the historical cellar portion your adept usher explains the intricate winemaking process. Wrap up your circuit with an exclusive tasting of 4 premium newer wines and 1 peculiar older vintage.

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The station Your Guide to Europe’s Best Wine Regions appeared archetypal connected Enchanting Travels.