What if your next vacation could be holding a glass of freshly prepared wine with the backdrop of expansive vineyards and amazing vistas? Let us tell you 5 of the best places to wine and dine:
Duoro Valley
Duoro Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Quite rightly so as it sports some of the most awe-inspiring wine estates and vineyards in the world, which have been there since the 18th and 19th-century. This place has some of the finest port wine you’ll ever taste but besides that, it also produces the popular Vinho Verde or white wine. Wine aficionados can go for guided tours and tasting sessions at historic wineries like Quinta da Pacheca, Quinta de La Rosa and Quinta das Carvalhas. You can even get on a wine cruise to explore the stunning locales on water. Best time to visit: Late September or early October.
Bordeaux
Along with Burgundy, Bordeaux is the hub for some of the finest wines in the world. The wines from this region have a unique ruby-red color. One of the best towns to get a look and feel of these wines is Saint Émilion in the Bordeaux region. The major tourist attractions here are Les Cordeliers – an earthy winery that operates amidst the ruins of a 14th-century Franciscan monastery. This place has been producing sparkling wine for over a century. Other great hubs for wineries are Château Coutet and Château Troplong Mondot. Attend wine tasting sessions at the Maison du Vin of Saint-Emilion Wine SchoolBest time to visit: April and May.
Barossa Valley
This wine hub lies down under in Australia near the city of Adelaide. It is a stunning valley with plenty in store for wine lovers. It produces some of the Shiraz wines as well as the smoothest rieslings from the Eden Valley. The wine complements the heart-warming Australian hospitality as you get to sip several wines with free tours and luscious noshes. You can start by experiencing history at Yalumba, which is Australia’s oldest family-run winery. From there you could take the exotic palm tree-lined drive to Seppeltsfield Winery. This place will up your experience down under.
Napa Valley
If you’re new to the whole wine-tasting genre, you must make your way down to Napa Valley. This place is a haven for wineries like Alpha Omega, O’Brien Estate Winery, Black Stallion and Chateau Montelena. With plenty of wine tours on offer, you will learn the intricate process of winemaking and flavor profiling.
Another great place to be is The Cairdean Estate in St. Helena, which houses more than 20 varieties of wine. Just the place for any wine enthusiast. You can also explore the area in a memorable train ride called the Napa Valley Wine Train, which takes you through the best spots of this region. Best time to visit: Late August to October.
Hawke’s Bay New Zealand
With over 100 vineyards and 80 wineries, Hawke’s Bay is a powerhouse in winemaking. It mainly produces reds like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah along with some exceptional whites. Some of the best wineries that you should visit – the award-winning Craggy Range Black Barn, Elephant Hill, Trinity Hill, and Mission Estate – the oldest winery in the country. Best time to visit: Harvest season in late May.
If you’re planning to visit any of these locations, make sure to book your trip on Cheapfareguru, which offers the best deals on flights and accommodations. Cheers!
