Europe’s Top 6 Wine Regions to Visit
20 Sep 2022
Photo by Armando Castillejos on Unsplash
Whether we seek truth in it or we simply enjoy drinking it, wine can be one of the best reasons to tour Europe. Wine has been made in Europe for thousands of years which means that most European regions have their own wine-making history. And discovering history through wine might just be one of the best ways to learn something new.
If you love travelling and drinking wine, what better way to combine the two than by exploring the old continent and its wine routes? Here are Europe’s top 6 wine regions that are worth visiting.
Tuscany
As a wine lover, there is no way that you haven’t heard of this Italian region and its wine. The geographic location and favourable climate make Tuscany perfect for growing the best grapes.
The winemaking in Tuscany dates back to the 8th century BC. So, as you can see, Italians had a lot of time to perfect their winemaking which is why Tuscan wines are some of the most popular worldwide.
In addition to trying the perfect wine, you will get to enjoy the most beautiful Tuscan landscapes – golden hills, medieval hilltop villages with outstanding views, lush gardens and vineyards, and other historical delights.
Bordeaux
France is one of many European countries with at least 10 wine regions. And one of the most famous wine regions is inarguably Bordeaux. Like Tuscany, Bordeaux’s environmental conditions make it perfect for grape growing and winemaking.
If you’re planning to follow the wine route, Bordeaux is one wine region you mustn’t skip. Numerous wine tasting tours and winery visits, picturesque villages surrounded by a sea of vineyards, and many river cruises.
Also, don’t forget to visit Saint-Emilion – a medieval town about an hour of car drive from Bordeaux. We will just tell you that this town was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 and for a good reason!
Champagne
While you’re still in France, you should visit the Champagne-Ardenne region. You can already guess why this region is so popular and why it should not be passed over. Some of the world’s best champagnes are produced in this particular region.
While there and while sipping the best bubbly in the whole world, make sure you enjoy this region’s cultural heritage. Many museums in Champagne are dedicated precisely to champagne.
Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash
The Douro Valley
From France to Portugal following the trail of wine. If you want to experience something out of this world, you will not forget the Douro Valley in the north of Portugal. The Douro Valley is home to the Douro Rio, the third largest river in the Iberian Peninsula.
What wine is the Douro Valley famous for? Well, you might have heard of it, it’s called Port wine. In addition to great wine and some of the greatest wineries, be prepared to be enchanted by the landscapes this valley has to offer.
Catalonia
We can’t talk about wine regions without mentioning Catalonia. Catalonia in Spain counts on a moderate climate, many sunny days, and just the right amount of rainfall which, of course, makes it perfect for grape growing and thus, winemaking.
Catalonia offers many different types of wines such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, among others. If you don’t get to try all of them, don’t worry – you can always order all European wines online.
In addition to wine tastings, Catalonia has a lot more to offer. A large number of festivals, wine therapy treatments in wellness centres, vineyard visits, and other non-wine-related touristic attractions.
Istria
Believe it or not, there are other countries in Europe besides Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal that offer equally delicious wines. At the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, there is a small country called Croatia that has a wine region – Istria.
Istria is a peninsula within the Adriatic Sea which means that the climate, soil, and overall position of the region make it perfect for grape growing. You can expect several top-notch wineries all across the Istrian peninsula and their very popular Malvazija Istarska grapes.
In addition to delicious wine, you can expect many picturesque medieval towns, enjoy swimming on Istrian beaches, explore the Roman Amphitheater in Pula and so much more.
With these 6 European wine regions, we have barely just scratched the surface of all Europe has to offer. However, we hope that at least these 6 will be enough to inspire you to take the European wine route and discover history through wine.
Jasmine Anderson
Jasmine Anderson is a Sydney based lifestyle blogger and a toddler mom, with a Fine Arts Bachelor’s degree. Expressing herself through different mediums is what keeps her spirit bright. She loves to spend quality time with her family, go thrifting, and spend just a little bit too much time on the internet.
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