A wine connoisseur is ready to return to these five regions “even tomorrow”.
Wine tourism is attracting more and more tourists, as it allows them to combine two pleasures in one trip: tasting delicious drinks and admiring stunning landscapes.
Wine expert Kathleen Willcox, who has already visited 77 wine regions around the world, named five destinations that impressed her the most in her article for Business Insider.
“As part of my ‘research job’, I’ve hunted truffles in Barolo, landed at the only winery in the US with its own airport, and even explored a prison island in Italy, where viticulture is used to rehabilitate prisoners and teach them new skills, as well as to produce world-class wine. Although I have visited 77 wine regions, not every one of them is worth visiting again. There are only five places I would go back to tomorrow if I could,” she said.
The best wine regions in the world
1. Napa Valley, California, USA. According to Kathleen, this place is like a Disneyland for wine-loving adults.
“There’s nothing quite like the Napa Valley in California, with its stunning 75-kilometer bike route through the wine country and, of course, its amazing wines. The charm of this region lies in its small size, combined with its incredible diversity. It’s compact enough to drive around in less than an hour. However, I truly believe that you could spend a lifetime exploring Napa without getting thirsty or bored. There are more than 400 wineries and dozens of city tasting rooms, as well as some of the most famous Cabernet Sauvignons in the world,” the expert shared her impressions.
2. McLaren Vale, Australia. Kathleen says that in the vast expanses of Australia, wine lovers have access to 65 different wine-growing regions, processing more than a million tons of grapes per year. However, one of the most unique and stunning regions of the country is also one of the most accessible, and that is McLaren Vale.
Just a 45-minute drive south of Adelaide, this 168-square-mile region offers a peaceful atmosphere and is nestled between the pristine beaches of St. Vincent Bay and the Mount Lofty Ranges. One of the best ways to explore the McLaren Vale wine region is by bike. Consider taking a ride along the Shiraz Bike Trail, which passes by iconic wineries such as Hugh Hamilton, Serafino, and Oxenberry,” she advises.
3. Bordeaux, France. The expert reminds us that this French region is home to thousands of wineries located on both sides of the Gironde River.
“Traditionally, Bordeaux wines are blends: the wines of the left-bank region are usually dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, while the wines of the right-bank region are dominated by Merlot. In addition to its wine, the city boasts impressive museums, stunning neoclassical buildings, beautiful river walks, and a variety of bistros and wine bars that offer local cuisine. I spent days just walking around Bordeaux, stumbling upon architectural masterpieces and small wine shops with hundreds of coveted wines that can’t be found anywhere else. Plus, it’s only a two-hour train ride from Paris, making it an excellent stop-off for exploring the local wine culture on a trip to the City of Lights,” Catlin notes.
. Brid River Valley, South Africa. According to the expert, South Africa offers gourmets some of the most stunning and progressive wine regions in the world.
“I recommend visiting the Breed River Valley, one of the largest wine-producing regions in the Western Cape Province. This 130-kilometer valley, almost completely surrounded by mountain ranges, is home to numerous boutique wineries producing premium wines and extensive cooperatives producing affordable wines on a large scale,” she says.
5. Tuscany, Italy. As Kathleen says, this is one of those rare places that actually looks, feels, and tastes even better than it does in the movies.
“This is the spiritual birthplace of Italian wine, with its unadorned views of hills dotted with olive trees, vineyards, charming farmhouses, sunflowers, medieval castles and charming towns. While tasting fine wines (the region is famous for its red wines), you can also treat yourself to fresh olive oil, truffle shavings and homemade pasta,” she says.
