Wow! Amazing Wine Travel Destinations

“Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.” – Ray Bradbury

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The phrase “Wine Travel” encapsulates two very important elements of good living. When I hear or read the word “wine” I think of vineyards in autumn, ruby red wine by a cozy fire, crispy white wine in summer, and a general feeling of well-being. The “travel” aspect of “wine travel” is not only the physical travel to a destination but the journey taking you to postcard picture-perfect vineyards, cellars, quaint Tuscan villages, Spanish fiestas, sundrenched vines in South Africa, and the beauty of the Douro valley in Portugal. Explore the wine world and enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

TRAVEL TO SPAIN AND TASTE THE BEST CAVA, EVER!

DISCOVER THE NAPA WINE VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

FRANCE IS MORE THAN CHAMPAGNE

DISCOVER ITALY AND ITS AWESOME FOOD AND WINE

WHY I LOVE PORTUGAL AND THE DOURO VALLEY

GREECE, THE ANCIENT LAND OF CHEESE AND WINE

AMAZING MALTA

TRAVEL TO THE SUNNY SOUTH AFRICAN WINELANDS

AUSTRALIA, DOWNUNDER AND STUNNING WINES

Travel to Spain and taste the best Cava

Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine and is also produced with in-bottle fermentation. The name, Cava, comes from the Spanish word for “cave,” referring to the cellars where the wines age. To be called Cava, the wine must come from the Cava Denominación de Origen (DO) area and must be carbonated with secondary fermentation in the bottle, among other appellation rules. Here you will discover fascinating wine tours of Spain which offer a wide range of different experiences that let you discover the “real” Spain and the best Spanish red wines and white wines.  Whether you are looking for guided wine tours to Spain´s wine regions, a private tour, or ideas for a road trip, honeymoon, or vacation in wine country, you will find something special to suit your needs. We will help you to enjoy the real taste of Spain.

Discover the Napa Valley, California

Enjoy intimate wine tastings, expansive outdoor spaces, and behind-the-scenes private tours of wine cellars and caves. Most of the wineries in Napa Valley are family-owned and operated, which means nearly every spot will feel like home.

With hundreds of wineries to explore, each with its own unique style, setting, and history, planning your Napa Valley wine-tasting excursion may seem overwhelming. But whether you are visiting just for fun or to delve into that library collection and stock the cellar, there is an experience and price point for everyone.

Take a look at the information below to find the right wineries for your getaway.

Up from San Francisco, California wine country is home to tens of thousands of acres of vineyards (growing more Chardonnay grapes than anywhere else in the world) and, over 250 wineries. The oldest winery, Sinoma’s Bueno Vista, opened in 1857, while others are less than a decade old. Displaying a marvelous mix of architecture (Bordeaux-inspired chateaux, rustic ranches, and innovative, industrial-style setups,) they craft a mouth-watering range of wines—from the region’s signature smoky Cabernet Sauvignon to spritz rosé wines. Discover the wines of the Napa Valley, California, USA!

France is more than Champagne

Burgundy wine is made in the Burgundy region of eastern France, in the valleys and slopes west of the Saône, a tributary of the Rhône. The most famous wines produced here—those commonly referred to as “Burgundies”—are dry red wines made from pinot noir grapes and white wines made from chardonnay grapes.

French wine is undoubtedly one of the most acclaimed in the world. Wine tourism in France is vibrant and popular. Unlike other countries, France has managed, through centuries of maintained quality and savoir-faire, to successfully transform their most renowned wine regions into international household names, so much so that one of them (Champagne) has become the global name for sparkling wines, although it cannot be legally used outside of the limits of the namesake region in northern France.

Now, with so many regions, mouth-watering names, and appellations to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which wine route to explore first during a visit to the country. Take a look below for some inspiring ideas and proposals for your next wine trip to France.

Discover Italy and its awesome food and wine

Tuscan wine (Italian Toscana) is Italian wine from the Tuscany region. Located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Wine Chat and Travel invites you on a journey of discovery to one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, Italy. Explore the diversity of the territories, dive into Italy’s rich traditions, taste the authenticity of its products and wines, and … transport yourself to Italy!

Wine, travel, Italy – three words that belong together. Imagine this; you’ve checked into your hotel and you head out for apero time in a crumbling old pizzeria. The sun is setting, children are playing around the fountain in the middle of the square. Their parents are watching their children and the world go by, with a bottle of wine and a snack or two. Friends join them. More snacks arrive along with more wine and more conversation. This is Italy’s wine culture. Visiting a winery is surely the best way to learn about wine travel in Italy. Therefore, we have several Italian wine-tasting tours that allow you to do just that. You’ll learn not only about the history but also how wine has weaved its way into every Italian household, into Italian culture itself.

Why I love Portugal

Douro is a Portuguese wine region centered on the Douro River in the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro region. It is sometimes referred to as the Alto Douro (upper Douro), as it is located some distance upstream from Porto, sheltered by mountain ranges from coastal influence.

We have travelled to Portugal by air and flights from all over the world land daily in Lisbon and Porto. Trains and luxury coaches run regularly between the towns and cities and most wine estates can be be reached on foot from train- and bus stations.

Portugal is a country with a strong wine tradition, and the excellent quality of its wines is recognized across the world, with numerous awards and distinctions won in international competitions. Visit the wine regions and learn more about the Portuguese history, heritage, culture and how this ties in with the wine and cork industry in Portugal.

It’s not just about knowing the vines and tasting the wines, but also the natural beauty of the Douro Valley. Picture-perfect villages and ancient vines and olive trees dot the landscape and, even in winter, there is much to experience in Portugal. Wineries, restaurants, wine bars, wine routes, and modern wine spas with grape-based beauty treatments are just some of the temptations you will encounter on the wine routes. Vineyards cover the hillsides and plains from the Minho to Faro. Getting to know Portugal through its wines is an enjoyable and different kind of contact with the culture of the country.

Greece, the land of Cheese and Wine

Greece is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world and among the first wine-producing territories in Europe. The earliest evidence of Greek wine has been dated to 6,500 years ago when wine was produced on a household or communal basis. In ancient times, as trade in wine became extensive, it was transported from end to end of the Mediterranean; Greek wine had especially high prestige in Italy under the Roman Empire. In the medieval period, wines exported from Crete, Macedonia, and other Greek ports fetched high prices in northern Europe.

Greece’s wine country enriches the international wine range with rare white and full-bodied red wines that are produced from indigenous grape varieties. The history of the viticulture of Greece’s wine country goes back to the Mycenaean era. Wine played an important role in Greek culture. Wines together with vines and grapes were considered not only a gift from the god but the symbolic interaction of gods with the earth. They even had the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, and fertility, Dionysus. Even if Greece’s wine country is not the cradle of wine, the Greeks are among the very first who traded wine as a valuable commodity. The famous port city of Monemvasia on the Peloponnese peninsula in the late Middle Ages under the rule of Venice was a widely used hub for sweet wines from the Aegean, which were shipped from here to many European countries.

Amazing Malta

Visit Malta to taste the superior wines of Malta. Malta is a small island in the central Mediterranean Ocean just 80km south of Sicily. Malta is certainly one of the smallest wine-producing countries in the world. Wine has been present in Malta for thousands of years. The Phoenicians were the first to plant vines here, in around 800 BC. Later, the Greeks, followed by the Romans, continued the art of winemaking. The island’s small modern-day wine production focuses mainly on red wines made from Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Red varieties are more concentrated in the island’s south where the soil types are predominately clay-based.

Whether it is a full-bodied red, a crisp white, or a ravishing rosé, tantalize your tastebuds, in Malta’s wineries and vineyards! Rich soil, light sea breeze, and 300 days of sun make for the perfect wine-making combo. Visit one of the many local wineries and vineyards to go on your own wine journey.

At just 122 square miles, Malta is one of the world’s smallest wine-making countries, with little more than 1,000 acres available for viticulture. Yet, it produces an incredible range of wines, including merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and chardonnay, as well as two indigenous grape varieties: ġellewża (a red) and Girgentina (a white). And despite a history of winemaking reportedly dating back to around 700 B.C., only in recent years has the country’s industry taken off, as small, family-run vineyards began to offer tours and cooking classes.

Travel to the South African Winelands

Winemaking in South Africa dates to the mid-17th century. Settlers creating a supply station in Cape Town for ships of the Dutch East India Company on the spice route to India began to plant vines. The original idea was that wine would help combat the effects of scurvy among the sailors, and the industry began to grow, but it was not until the end of the Apartheid era in the 1990s that South African wines really found a global market.

Most of South Africa’s winelands are concentrated on the southwestern cape. This in fact is one of the only parts of the entire continent that is really any good for vine growing. The climate is similar to that of California, cooled by air currents from the Atlantic and Antarctica, and there is a vast range of soil types in the mountains and valleys that make up the landscape.

Today the South African wine industry is among the largest in the world, and several wineries have garnered significant international prestige, most especially those in the Cape winelands. Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are popular grape varieties, while you’ll also encounter Pinotage here, unique to South Africa, a blend of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. If you’re in the mood to celebrate then look out also for sparkling wines made using the French method, known as Methode Cap Classiques – all of champagne’s quality and fizz but not the price tag.

Self-drive holidays are very popular in South Africa which is naturally convenient for wine tasting as you can move around at your own pace and choose your own vineyards – being sure to abide by the country’s strict drink-drive laws of course. Appointments for tasting are largely unnecessary but operators on tailormade tours can assist with organization if there is anywhere, in particular, you want to visit, as well as arranging wine guides or tasting sessions led by professional sommeliers. As with touring any wine region the most popular restaurants do often require reservations.

Another reason to love wine tasting in South Africa is that it can easily be tied in with cruising the iconic Garden Route, whale-watching in Hermanus, safaris in Kruger National Park, or Cape Town, which is just 45 minutes from the Winelands.

The Western Cape is home to the vast majority of the South African wine industry, and the country’s two most famous wine regions, Stellenbosch and Paarl. The city of Cape Town serves as the epicenter of the Cape Winelands, a mountainous, biologically diverse area in the south-western corner of the African continent. A wide variety of wines are produced here. Wines from the Shiraz and Pinotage grape varieties can be fresh and juicy or full-bodied and gutsy.

Discover Australian Wine Tasting and Travel

Did you know Australia has more than 2,460 wineries in 65 wine regions throughout the country? From coastal vineyards and cool-climate estates to charming cellar doors cocooned in verdant valleys, each region produces a style and vintage you’re sure to love.

The best places to go wine tasting in Australia include Barossa Valley, Yarra Valley, McLaren Vale, and Margaret River. You can go wine tasting on a day trip from Sydney or Melbourne, or stay a few nights at a beautiful hotel set amongst the vineyards. These wine regions offer everything from behind-the-scenes tours to private dinners with the winemaker.

Australia may be known for its Shiraz, but the country is filled with a multitude of wine regions and varietals to try on your next trip! Shiraz and Chardonnay make up 44% of Australia’s total wine production, but other varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc are becoming increasingly popular.