You don’t have to be a wine expert to enjoy a good wine tour in a new destination. Wine tours are great activities for both couples, friends, and solo travelers. If you’re looking for an educational (and boozy) experience on your next trip, check out my top 9 destinations for a great wine day tour.
Why Go on a Wine Day Tour?
Wine tours are a great daytime activity to incorporate into your next trip for a few reasons:
- Of course, the best part of a wine tour is trying all the amazing wines native to the region. Wine tours offer you the opportunity to try a variety of wines and allow you to figure out which ones you enjoy the most. Many wine tours also offer the option for food and small bites to keep your stomach happy the entire time!
- By trying so many different varieties, you’ll know exactly what you like. Bring a backpack or some sort of carrier for the bottles you’re going to purchase.😁
- Wine tours allow you to check out different wineries with transportation included. No need to worry about having to drive back later!
- The process of making wine is super exciting and differs for each winery. On a wine tour, you’ll be able to appreciate better the wine you’re drinking because you’ll learn the process of making it. By the end of the wine tour, you’ll feel like a total wine expert–even if it’s your first time at a vineyard!
My 9 Top Wine Tour Destinations:
Napa and Sonoma, California
You can’t talk wine without mentioning Napa and Sonoma in California! If you’re a wine newbie, California is the perfect place to dip your toes into the world of wine-making. Across Napa and Sonoma, there are more than 600 wineries; you may even be able to visit the vineyards that make some of your favorite wines. There are many excellent wine tour options, including the famous Wine Train, and some will even take you to see the Old Faithful Geyser at the top of Napa Valley!
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town offers so much to see, from beaches to wildlife and even vineyards! Just outside of Cape Town, you’ll find Cape Winelands, which boasts a significant production of wine, as the name suggests. There are several wine trails in Cape Winelands, and there is even a wine tram where you can hop off and on to visit different wineries and architecture.
Santorini, Greece
If you’re traveling with your partner, Santorini is the ultimate destination for both romance and wine tasting! Santorini has one of the oldest wine-making histories dating back to 3500 BC.
The volcanic soil and warm, moist climate of Santorini make it the perfect place to grow grapes. You’ll fall in love with the white wines and breathtaking views.
Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany is a gorgeous city covered in beautiful hills and picturesque vineyards. I’m partial to the San Gimignano region. And most vineyards in the region offer tours and tastings where a wine expert comes in to teach you how to taste the notes of wine and the best wine and food pairings. Many of these wine tours will allow you to try not only the famous wine but also the world-class food and olive oil (which is to die for!)
Rioja, Spain
Rioja is the wine capital of Spain, and it’s not hard to understand why! Rioja is home to over 500 vineyards and is the name of a red wine that the region produces. Don’t sleep on Spain! The area has been making wine for more than 2,000 years, dating back to Roman times. Today, there are many self-guided and private wine tours where you can enjoy learning about Spanish wine-making history.
Bordeaux, France
Did you know that Bordeaux is considered the world’s wine capital? With over 6,000 wine estates, Bordeaux is the ultimate wine-lover’s dream. The city is home to many wine chateaus, which frequently have castles on the property!
Bordeaux has so many vineyards because the soil has the best nutrients and moisture for growing grapes. Much of the wine produced in Bordeaux is red, but the region is also known for its white dessert wine! If you consider yourself a lover of wine, you can’t miss a trip to Bordeaux.
Yarra Valley, Australia
Located outside of Melbourne, Australia, Yarra Valley is known for its vineyards and wine-making. The area is most famous for its Pinot Noir, sparkling wine, and Chardonnay. With just 80 wineries, it is on the smaller side compared to other wine regions in Australia, but don’t let that fool you! Paired with fresh, local food and stunning views, you shouldn’t skip a visit to Yarra Valley if you are in the Melbourne area. In fact, it’s one of Australia’s favorite summer getaways!
Mendoza, Argentina
Are you heading to South America? Make sure to check out the largest wine region in Argentina, Mendoza! The heart-stopping views of the vineyards situated on the edge of the Andes Mountains make this trip worth it! Not to mention their famous Malbec wine. If you’re looking to explore several of the city’s vineyards, try renting a bike with your group! The area is relatively flat, making it easy to get around on a bike without missing any of the stunning views.
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Waiheke Island is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. It’s known for pristine beaches, stunning coastal headlands, and beautiful seaside villages. Add to that, olive groves and vineyards beyond your imagination, and you’ve got your own slice of heaven.
Catch that ferry from downtown Auckland – it’s just a 40-minute ride – then either ride on the hop-on hop-off bus to stop off at as as many wineries as you can handle around the island or take a private tour. I can guarantee you’ll never spend a better day on any island, ever.
Hey, It’s Wine O’clock Somewhere.
If you read my Europe: my top 4 favorite countries for wine travel blog post, you’d say I missed Portugal, more specifically Porto. It’s true, I could easily add that gorgeous city or Maipo Valley in Chile or so many other top wine tour destinations – especially some of my favorites in Australia and New Zealand – but haven’t found that one day tour that captured all my senses. Someday I’ll write about each of those magical tours…
Anyway, if you know it’s your destiny to become a wine connoisseur after reading this, contact me, and I’ll pair you up with the perfect wine tour on your next vacation. And when you’re ready to do more than a day tour, let SelfishMe Travel help you design your next best culinary vacation by booking a complimentary discovery call with me.
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CREDITS: This blog post was partially created by the Xclusively Yours and sold to SelfishMe Travel in 2022.
