Imagine sipping a glass of wine on a sun-kissed terrace overlooking a breathtaking landscape. If that sounds like paradise, read on to discover the world’s most beautiful wine regions.
For connoisseurs of wine and travel, visiting the world’s most beautiful wine regions is an excellent way to combine those two passions into one memorable trip. You don’t have to search hard to find these places, either. From Europe to Oceania, there are dozens of gorgeous global destinations famous for their proud viniculture traditions.
These locations are as varied as the wines they produce, but they’re united by their breathtaking landscapes and picturesque settings. From sitting on sun-kissed Tuscan terraces to cycling between wineries in New Zealand or cruising between them along the river Rhine in Germany, here are 15 of the most stunning wine regions on Earth.
1. Tuscany, Italy
With winemaking traditions dating to the Romans and beyond, this region in central Italy is practically synonymous with the practice. In Tuscany, undulating hills lined with vineyards stretch to the horizon. Each one takes advantage of the well-drained fertile soils and Mediterranean climate that make it a prime grape-growing location.
A few wineries of note include Castello di Ama, Capezzana, and Antinori, but the list of those worth visiting is nearly endless.
2. Provence, France
In a country full of famed wine regions, Provence stands out for its lavender fields, Mediterranean coast, and blissful climate.
Winemaking has been part of life ever since the Greeks imported vines to the area over 2,500 years ago. Nowadays, the region is best known for producing rosé. The wine's light tones and subtle hints of citrus perfectly match Provence's hot, sunny, pastel-tinted days.
3. Napa Valley, United States
California’s Napa Valley offers a luxurious escape ideal for lovers of wine and the great outdoors. Its dry, Mediterranean climate and varied topography have turned it into a winemaking Mecca. From major producers to smaller, family-owned estates, you’ll find hundreds of world-class wineries. While you’re there, consider doing a sunrise hot air balloon ride. It’s the best way to appreciate Napa Valley’s spectacular scenery.
4. Stellenbosch, South Africa
Stellenbosch is a South African town located on the banks of the Eerste River, just a stone’s throw from Cape Town. Its nickname in Afrikaans means the “City of Oaks” after the oak trees that line its streets. Adding to the aesthetic appeal are the old colonial buildings – not to mention the striking mountain peaks looming in the background.
Yet Stellenbosch’s main claim to fame is its wine. Thanks to its 600-million-year-old soil, this place is synonymous with South African viniculture. The region has so many producers you’ll feel spoilt for choice.
5. Rioja, Spain
Rioja is an iconic wine region in northern Spain. Set amongst a landscape with diverse topography, soil types, and climate, its vineyards have produced world-class wines for centuries – so much so that it’s considered Spain’s fine wine capital.
Hundreds of wineries make it easy to avail of the region’s wares, and most offer glorious views. Depending on where you are, you might be overlooking mountain vistas, sweeping valleys, and colorful rolling hills dotted with ancient towns.
6. Douro Valley, Portugal
Douro Valley is one of Europe’s most beautiful, beloved, and best-known wine regions. Countless grape-yielding terraces have been etched over eons into the rolling green hills of this verdant valley in northern Portugal.
The “Alto Douro Wine Region” became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. It produces an outstanding array of wines, from fortified ports to refreshing whites. There’s an abundance of wineries here, but three of note are Quinta da Pacheca, Quinta do Vallado, and Quinta do Tedo.
7. Barossa Valley, Australia
Approximately 40 miles east of Adelaide, Southern Australia, is one of the Land Down Under’s best-known wine regions. The Barossa Valley is an exquisite expanse of national parks, plains, and rolling hills home to some of the oldest continually producing vines on Earth.
Shiraz is the region’s signature grape, but the perfect climate and terroir ensure the Barossa Valley’s Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Semillon (among many others) are top-quality, too.
8. Central Otago, New Zealand
This region of New Zealand’s South Island is renowned for its jaw-dropping scenery. Glacial lakes glimmer beneath towering mountains that are snow-capped in winter and sun-drenched in summer. Rivers run between them, often with steep canyon walls rising above either bank.
At the heart of this glorious part of the country is a thriving wine scene. Wineries, often connected via popular cycle trails, offer outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, among others. Don’t miss Cloudy Bay, Mt. Difficulty Wines, and the Carrick Winery.
9. Margeret River, Australia
Surrounded by ocean in southwest Australia, Margeret River is a stunning yet isolated region that produces some of the world’s finest Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Although it’s new to the winemaking scene, the land here comprises some of the planet’s oldest soils. In combination with the maritime climate, Margeret River quickly rose to prominence on the global stage. Vasse Felix, Leeuwin Estate, and Voyager Estate are a few notable wineries to visit.
10. Finger Lakes, United States
In Finger Lakes, upstate New York, the quality of the wine is second only to the beauty of the surroundings. Stunning all year round, you’ll find 11 enormous, pristine lakes that give the region its name. When you aren’t fishing, swimming, or hiking, you’ll be sipping world-renowned Rieslings, Chardonnays, and Pinot Noirs.
There are close to 150 wineries to visit in Finger Lakes. Chief among them are the Atwater Vineyards, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, and the Pleasant Valley Wine Company, which is the region’s oldest winery, dating to 1860.
11. Mittelrehin, Germany
The Mittelrhein (literally, Middle Rhine) comprises a popular stretch of the River Rhine. Running between the towns of Bingen and Bonn, it’s one of Europe’s most romantic wine regions. Scenic cruises ferry contented passengers past steep riverbanks lined with terraced vineyards, quaint German villages, and Medieval castles. White wines dominate the region, with Riesling being particularly common.
12. Sicily, Italy
Sicily is a sun-soaked island off the coast of southwest Italy that’s known for its pristine coastline and ancient attractions. However, thanks to its Mediterranean climate, volcanic landscape, and thousands of years of wine production, the vineyards there are world-class, too.
Italy’s largest wine region, Sicily is home to hundreds of wineries, almost all of which boast spectacular locations. Prime examples include Alta Mora and Gambino Winery – just two of the many wineries on the side of Mount Etna (Europe’s largest active volcano).
13. Bordeaux, France
With proud viniculture traditions dating to Roman times, this region (and city) in southwest France is recognized worldwide for its production of fine wines. When you aren’t visiting Bordeaux’s 6000 wineries, you can explore age-old chateaus, hike up mighty sand dunes on the Atlantic Coast, and hit the surf beaches on Cap Ferret.
14. Maipo Valley, Chile
Speaking of Bordeaux, this region in Chile is sometimes referred to as the “Bordeaux of South America.” Situated close to the capital, Santiago, Maipo Valley is one of the country’s most prominent wine regions.
It’s where Spanish conquistadors first planted vines in the 16th century, making it the birthplace of Chilean wine. Famous for its incredible Cabernet Sauvignon and surrounded by rugged mountain peaks, Maipo Valley deserves a spot on any wine lover’s bucket list.
15. Mendoza, Argentina
On the other side of the Andes Mountains is another proud South American wine-producing destination. Home to 75% of Argentina’s vineyards, Mendoza is officially the largest wine region in Argentina. Most wines produced here are red, with Malbec being particularly dominant. Looking up from your glass, you’ll see vineyards extending in all directions, with the imposing Andes providing a dramatic skyline beyond them.
