Most people would first think of areas like the Napa Valley region of California or the Burgundy region of France as ideal locations for wine tours, and that's with good reason, as those are outstanding locations. However, there are vineyards the world-over. For the majority of United States travelers, wine regions are within a few hours driving distance of their homes or an easy weekend fly-drive retreat, provding plenty of options. And if you are looking for a truly great epicurean vacation, you'll pleasantly discover that the experience ends up being about much more than the wine.
Our travel agency has access to tours of wine regions throughout the world, offering a variety of accommodations from luxurious villas to centrally located hotels. In many wine regions, wineries have formed "wine trails" to make it easy for visitors to find the participating wineries and to sample the wines. Along with a good travel consultant, you are sure to create experiences that would be hard to find on your own. |
Italy Wine RegionItaly Wine Region Tuscany is Italy's most famous wine region with over 157,000 acres of vineyards throughout its picturesque countryside. The Italians have been making wine for thousands of years, and Italy boasts the largest output of wine in the world. Its climate and soil are ideal for growing grapes, and nowhere is the setting more ideal than Tuscany. The region is most famous for producing Chianti, a wine that pairs naturally with most Italian foods. |
FranceAlsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone, France - France has many wine growing regions, and each is worth a visit. The Burgundy region is especially popular because it is legendary for producing both excellent red and white wines. The rich history of wine making dates back to when the Romans first invaded the area. Visitors can tour old and new wineries that produce several well-known wines like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Beaujolais. |
AustraliaIn the past few decades, Australia has emerged as one of the fastest growing wine regions in the world. Although many wineries have been around for over a hundred years, the public has only recently taken a serious interest in this region. More than 70 wineries in the New South Wales region are located just a few hours drive from Sydney. Wineries here are best known for producing excellent Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc. |
United StatesIn the United States, the most popular region is certainly California"s Napa Valley, which is also one of the world"s newer wine regions. Its wine making history dates back less than 200 years, but those years have seen the birth of more than 260 wineries famous for producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Not to be outdone, however, Oregon, Washington State and New York all boast thriving wine industries and vineyards. Smaller regions include the Texas Hill Country, as well as areas in Connecticut, Michigan and Pennsylvania. |
GermanyGerman wines have historically been mostly white, made from Riesling grapes more suited to the northern climate. German wines are produced around the Rhine and its tributaries, and the vineyards are sheltered by mountains so steep that while they catch the most sunlight, they are difficult to harvest mechanically. Germany's 13 regions include Ahr, Baden, Franken, Hessische Bergstrasse, Mittelrhein, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Nahe, Pfalz, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Saale-Unstrut, Sächsische Weinstrasse and Württemberg. |
South AfricaCape Town is the trailhead of the South African vineyards. The local wine industry has become a global force, producing approximately 3% of the world"s wine production, ranking as 9th largest producer in the world. New wineries are opening at a fast clip. Pinot Noir and Reisling varietals are predominant. |
Remember, too, that you can travel a little more creatively. Hike or bike your way through wine country, and have an experience you could never get from a car or bus!
Prepare for your journey by reading about the region and its wines. We as your travel consultant will obtain any materials from the tour operator to assist your studies, including maps, itineraries or brochures. If you're going to a region where you don't speak the language, learn a few choice phrases in the language before you go as a courtesy to your hosts. If you are planning to purchase a lot of wine while you are on your trip and want to ship it back home, research your home's laws concerning importing alcohol from outside the country. Your wine could sit in customs for days or weeks before delivery, and in the heat of summer, wines could go bad while they are waiting to be delivered. |