There is no other place in Earth that reflects the culture of the people and flavours of the land through the wine, like Europe. As one of the biggest wine producing region in the world, Europe is a favourite destination for every wine lover.
European wine tours are spread among incredible wine regions which are producing some of the world’s best wine. From the well-known areas like Burgundy and Tuscany to beautiful small regions like Douro Valley or Jerez, you will enjoy an authentic experience of what Europe has to offer.
Whether you are looking for luxurious wine escapade, budget wine tours or corporate event- we created a guide that will help you plan your vacation to some of the best wine destinations in Europe.
Tuscany Wine Tour: Authentic Tuscan Experience
Tuscany is the land of tradition, wine and authentic regional food. This landscape of incredible views is home to some of the most famous wines like Chianti, Brunello di Montepulciano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Super Tuscans such as Sassicaia.
If you are a wine enthusiast and love the countryside, Tuscany is a must-visit destination in your Italy wine tour. You will have the opportunity to try some of the world’s best wines and discover endless expanses of vineyards. Not only you will get to try some of the finest wines that Italy has to offer, but you will also get to enjoy the countryside, castles, impressive architecture and antique farmhouses along the way.
If you are out to explore all of Tuscany’s most prominent wine regions, take a look at some of our suggested wine tours.
Chianti Tour
If you enjoy Italian wines than you’ve probably heard about the Chianti, the region famous for tradition and quality of its wines. This wine area lies between the provinces of Florence, Arezzo and Siena and its speckled with hamlets, towers and castles. Numerous castles and fortresses that lie on top of the hills are witnessing historic battles during the Middle Ages.
If you want to do a wine tasting, there are numerous wine bars called „enotecas”. You can also enjoy the experience of organized wine tasting at a restaurant combined with a full-course meal. Don’t miss out the opportunity to go directly to the wineries. There you will have the chance to taste wines that include Chianti Classico, Riserva and IGT Super Tuscans.
Some wineries to visit in Chianti:
- Azienda Agricola Montefioralle Winery
- Castello di Verrazzano
- Antinori nel Chianti Classico
- Fattoria Viticcio
San Gimigiano Tour
San Gimignano is town famous for its medieval towers. It also happens to be the perfect place to experience Tuscan gastronomy and wine. San Gimignano is linked to the production of the Vernaccia-locally produced white wine-first one to receive the DOC status back in 1966.
In San Gimignano, you will also be offered with Tuscan kitchen know for bruschetta, prosciutto, salami, home-made pasta. Save some room for dessert, because in San Gimignano you can find the best ice cream in the world!
For sipping a glass of San Gimigiano wines you can go to:
Brunello Tour
Brunello should definitely be on your wine tour itinerary. Here you will have the chance to taste one of the most refined Tuscan wine -Brunello di Montalcino. The position of the area permits ideal exposure to the sun, which together with other aspects make the grapes suited for long periods of ageing creating a wine of prestige and superior quality.
Excellent wine, homemade pasta and breathtaking landscape make the Brunello a destination that you cannot miss! Here are some of the cellars that you can visit:
Burgundy Wine Tour: Holiday of a lifetime
Burgundy is one of France’s most prestigious wine regions which boasts some of the most acclaimed and luxurious wines in the world. Here you will have the opportunity to discover lovely French villages with incredible landscapes, meet locals and learn about their passion for nature and wine making.
Vineyards stretching across the landscape, rich cultural heritage and most acclaimed wines in the world will make you fall in love with Burgundy.
Pommard
Pommard is a village located in Cote-de Beaune department of Burgundy. In Cote-de Beaune region that is famous for its white wines, Pommard is an exception with producing exclusiverly Pinot Noir wines. Soils with high proportions of iron-rich clays produce deep coloured and richly flavoured Pinot Noir wines that became a reference wine to other appellations. With world-class wines and pleasant surroundings, Pommard offers an unforgettable wine experience to enjoy with your loved ones.
If you want to take a deep breath of Burgundy than visit Chateau de Pommard an elegant 18th-century residence surrounded by enclosed vineyards. Here you can learn about vineyards, winemaking, discover the wonders of matching wine with food and discover the journey of harvest experience.
Beaune
Beaune is the largest village appellation in Burgundy that produces both the red and white wine. Don’t miss a chance to explore the villages such as Côte de Beaune and taste some of the best wines from this region.
One of the most picturesque parts of Beaune is the Corton hill. The hill itself is a large outcrop of limestone set slightly apart from the main Côte d’Or escarpment.
Almost every tour in Beaune includes many of these amazing sights with incredible landscapes.
For wine tasting you can visit:
Chablis
Chablis wine tour will introduce you to the Chardonnay you never had before. Cooler climate of this wine region results in the purest Chardonnay in the world. In Chablis, you will meet local winemakers, learn about the tradition and history of this wine region and enjoy tasting their wine. During your trip to Chablis, you will discover an authentic and unspoiled wine-growing area, timeless villages and taste worlds first ranked Chardonnay.
Some of the best ranked cellars to visit in Chablis include:
Andalucia Wine Tour- Exploring the Land of Sherry
This wine tour will take you to one of the most beautiful regions of the Spain-Andalucia. This region has a long tradition in winemaking and thanks to its unique soil and humidity, only Andalucia can produce wine with such an aromatic profile as Sherry.
Here you will not only try some of the worlds best wine and food, but visiting Andalucia you will have the opportunity to see some of the top tourist attractions such as Plaza de España in Seville, Great Mosque of Cordoba or Alhambra in Granada.
As there are many wineries to choose from, it can be challenging to choose which ones to include in your wine tour.
Jerez
Jerez de la Frontera is located in the Cadiz province of Andalucia, and it’s famous for flamenco, horses and of course sherry wine. In fact, Jerez is the only place on Earth where the authentic sherry can be made.
The optimum time for a wine tour in Jerez is the afternoon. After exploring the city and taking your siesta, visit one of the cellars and try some of the sherry that Jerez is famous for. Here is our pick of the best wineries in Jerez:
• Lustau
• Tio Pepe
• Luis Pérez
You also visit one of the numerous Sherry bars that are located in the heart of old Jerez. You can choose from the trendy, modern bar such as Tabanco Plateros or Tabanco El Pasaje, a spot where you can enjoy live flamenco.
Don’t leave without trying the sherry pairing menu. In La Carbona, formerly an old winery, you can eat local delicacies between old wine barrels and under wooden beams.
Douro Valley Wine Tour: Breath-taking Rolling Landscape
Duoro Valley in one of the most ancient wine regions in the world located in northern Portugal. Whether you are visiting this historic wine region for a whole week or just a few days, you will fulfill your itinerary with wine, food and views that will last a lifetime. Mesmerizing Duoro Valley is located just 100 kilometers from the city of Porto. Terraced vineyards and rolling hillsides on the each side of the curvy Douro river will take your breath away.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is worlds oldest demarcated wine region and home of the famous Port wine. Even though Port wine alone is a good reason to add Douro Valley to your wine tour, there is so much more to see and experience.
Most Porto cellars are located in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other side of the Douro River. While crossing the river you can admire breathtaking landscapes over the river and visit vineyard. On the other side there is Vila Nova de Gaia, region that is producing Port wines for centuries. Here you will get the opportunity to know a little bit more about the Port wine and its ageing process. If you are traveling to Porto in September, you can participate in harvesting and production of the wine.
Some of the Porto’s most famous wineries are:
If you are planning romantic trip, you can take the boat trip along the river. Portuguese menu includes a lot of meat and fish so don’t visit Portugal without trying the famous Portuguese cod and octopus salad.
