Discover The Best Wine Routes Across The Globe
Discover The Best Wine Routes Across The Globe was originally published in January 2024
For those who love wine, finding the best wine destinations around the world is a surefire way of guaranteeing a dream vacation.
Whether you are after the perfect, full-body red or a light and crisp white wine, these legendary locations will give you scenic views and memorable wine tastings, creating lifelong memories.
With so much international travel on the cards, securing the best exchange rate for foreign currency will ensure you get to spend more and truly embark on your dream vacation.
Need Travel Insurance and Evacuation Services?
Start shopping for travel insurance plans over at IATI Insurance. Readers of the Adventures of Nicole get a 5% discount off your plan.
The Adventures of Nicole partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading medical evacuation and security advisory services. To travel with peace of mind, shop evacuation coverage at Global Rescue.
Cape Town Route 62
Travelling from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn, this South African road is considered one of the world’s longest and most varied wine routes.
You could easily spend a week exploring this historic route and taking in the sights, sounds and tastes of Route 62, but the heart of wine country is located closest to Cape Town.
With sprawling, lush and beautiful vineyards set to the backdrop of dramatic mountains, it is easily one of the most impressive wine areas you will see.
As you head out of the city, the environment becomes wilder, with plenty of wild baboons running into and alongside the road.
With many red, white and rose wines on offer, your biggest struggle will be deciding where to start.
Pfatz Wine Route
The Pfatz Wine Route is the oldest in Germany, with some historians believing it may be the first wine route in the world created for wine tourism.
After a record harvest in 1934, the route was established to connect vinter villages and boost the region’s wine sales. The local government went as far as to change the name of local roads to fit into this tourism district.
It begins at the French border and stretches through the middle of the Palatinate, running northwards to the house of the German Wine Route in Bockenheim.
Due to its location in the warmest region of Germany, it is a popular holiday destination during spring, when visitors will be treated to the famous almond blossoms found here, or during autumn when plenty of fresh produce is on sale at farm stands along the road.
Barossa Valley Wine Route
Barossa Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in Australia and boasts some of the country’s most famous vineyards, including Penfolds, Peter Lehmann and Orlando.
Initially established by German settlers, this picture-perfect region in South Australia is littered with old-world villages and hospitable residents.
The area is best known for its Cabernet and full-bodied Shiraz, but it also produces delicious Rieslings, an appropriate tribute to its German Origin.
Because Barossa is a region rather than a route, you have complete flexibility to create your own itinerary and visit the wineries that most appeal to your personal preferences.
White wine lovers will enjoy Eden Valley, while the east side is better suited for more complex Rieslings.
Napa Valley
Highway 29, located in California’s Napa Valley, is where you will find many of America’s best wines and the pioneers that sparked the nation’s modern wine boom.
It is a short and relatively straight stretch of road, running from Calistoga to Napa, taking you past some of the most well-known wineries in North America, including Beringer, Grgich Hills Estate and Robert Mondavi Winery.
Take a tram ride up the hill to Sterling Vineyards or try to catch a glimpse of the Medieval reproduction castle known as Castello di Amorosa for the complete experience.
Mendoza Wine Route
The scenic Mendoza Wine Route is in the heart of Argentina’s wine country, stretching along the base of the Andes Mountains.
The area comprises three wine regions: Luján de Cuyo, Uco Valley and Maipu, which cover a massive 350,000 acres.
Alongside these vineyards, you have more than 1,500 wineries from which to choose.
Because the wine area is so vast, planning your itinerary by region in advance is best to avoid missing your favourites.
Cuyo is known for is Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignonon, Chardonnay and Torrontes. Uco Valley is the newest of three, and aside from making delicious wine, you will be treated to postcard-worthy views.
Finally, Maipu has the smallest collection of wineries but also offers olive oil tastings and recreational activities.
Route de Châteaux
Route de Châteaux or Bordeaux’s Médoc Region is likely the most desired route of wine country in the world.
No other place will allow you the chance to pass more famous wineries and vineyards, and for wine lovers and enthusiastics, every moment will offer an unforgettable experience.
With eight legendary locations, the Médoc is the king of wine regions, with magnificent châteaux that give the route its name, leaving visitors in awe.
The properties built along the route feature many iconic names, including Mouton Rothschild, Margaux and Lafite.
The Rolling Hills of Tuscany
The rolling hills of Tuscany feel like a postcard image that has come to life.
With the perfect balance of sunshine and rain, the vineyards found here in Italy make it one of the best wine destinations in the world.
The vineyards and olive groves stretch as far as the eye can see, with an irresistible air of romance filling this historic wine region.
For the ideal vacation stay, opt for a cosy farmhouse, which will allow you to immerse yourself in the gastronomic heritage of the area.
As for wine, Chianti reigns supreme, but varieties including Brunello di Montalcino and Vin Santo are also available.