Taste the World: The Best Wine Tours Across the World

“I love everything that is old; old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines.”

Wine tours are a great way to broaden your horizons, have fun, and enjoy tasting some excellent wine along the way. With a history dating back thousands of years, however, even the most ardent wine lover would be hard pressed to visit all of the great wine-making regions of the world. If it were possible, though, there would be some can’t-miss stops from California all the way to the land down under. Here are some of the richest, wine-producing regions in the world.

Napa Valley

Of course, any recommendation of wine tours would be incomplete if it didn’t include America’s unofficial wine capital of the world. Napa Valley, CA is home to some of the best grape-growing conditions in the world. As such, the region has literally hundreds of wineries, along with dozens of quaint villages that make winery tours all the more enjoyable. One cool thing about Napa Valley is that it is subdivided into 14 sub-regions, where each region features a particular type of grape. Knowing this ahead of time, you can map out your trip based on your tasting preferences.

Tuscany, Italy

A historic wine mecca, Tuscany offers beautiful villas, and for the real connoisseur, there are even opportunities to lodge onsite at a working winery to learn the ins and outs of wine production. No wine tour of Tuscany would be complete without making stops in San Gimignano, the producer of Vernaccia, one of Italy’s famous white wine; Montalcino, which is the origin of the ever-popular Brunello; and Montepulciano, which is famous for its red Vino Nobile, or Noble Wine.

Loire Valley, France

Along with this region’s decadent wines, the Loire Valley offers gorgeous countrysides and authentic, French chateaus. While wine selections of the area vary depending on the area of the Loire River that a certain winery is situated, for the most part, the Loire Valley is regarded as a white wine producing area. Sauvignon blanc, Chenin blanc, and Muscadet are some of the most popular options from this region.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

This South American paradise is home to some of the most delicious red wine offerings in the world. Also, unlike most of the other regions on this list, Buenos Aires even offers a hip nightlife where you can enjoy ample supply of your favorite red wine after your wine tour concludes.

Sterea Ellada, Greece

The region where Dionysus supposedly first introduced Athenians to wine has experienced a great rebirth as technology has swept through the ancient wineries. As a result, full-bodied Greek varieties of red and white wine are once again being enjoyed. With Athens itself located right in the heart of Sterea Ellada, this tasting trip would be sure to impress and entertain.

Yarra Valley, Australia

Surrounded by the panoramic mountains of the great dividing mountain ranges, the Yarra Valley is just an hour east of Melbourne and home to Australia’s famous, cool weather wineries. A worldwide producer of chardonnay, pinot noir, and a variety of sparkling wines, the region is also a traveler’s dream with countless shops, art galleries, and cafes to distract you between wine tours.