As I began drafting this post, it dawned on me that I drink a lot of wine. Like, a lot. Especially while traveling. Whether I’m doing a wine tour, visiting a wine region, finding wine bars in cities, or simply deciding where to travel based on my desire to drink that country’s wine, wine is a central travel theme for me.
I’ve traveled to several wine regions around the world and believe there’s something magical about visiting the place of origin. From the moment I took my first sip of wine while on a tour in Tuscany, I immediately realized how much more enjoyable wine is when drinking it where it was born! And then there are the views… from the rows of vines to the bunches of grapes just waiting to be picked, visiting a vineyard truly is a special experience. There are many wine regions across the globe and I’m highlighting a few that I’ve visited to date (and one coming soon)!
Napa Valley, California
We’ll start our voyage in the U. S. of A. with one of the most famous wine regions, Napa Valley. While visiting friends in Sacramento, I took a day trip to Napa to sample some of the much loved (and very expensive) California wine. Sipping on everything from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and late harvest dessert wines from Far Niente and James Cole wineries, we enjoyed a full day of tastings around the valley. With over 400 wineries, it can be difficult to choose which ones to visit. I tend to prefer the smaller, boutique wineries to the larger and more well-known producers but regardless of where you sip, you’re sure to be impressed by the experience.
Porto, Portugal
Heading east from Cali, the next wine region I’m highlighting features the delicious port wines of Porto, Portugal. To be fair, the producers’ vines are actually located a little east of Porto in the Douro Valley, but they’ve all set up wine houses in Porto for your tasting delight and for this I was thankful because oh my goodness they were good! You can go it alone (reservations recommended) or book a tour like this tour for your visit. As I popped in to each wine house, I learned there are several styles of port including red, white, rosé and tawny. Prior to this visit, I only knew about tawny – and this is why you travel, friends! So much to learn (and taste)! Porto’s wine houses are clustered across the Douro River in Vila Nova de Gaia and offer something for everyone from rooftop views of the city to wine cellars housing thousands of bottles aged to perfection. If you have extra time, I’d also recommend considering a Douro Valley tour like this one to visit the wineries themselves. Overall, Porto is a must-visit when in Portugal, if it’s not on your list already.
Tuscany, Italy
Located in the heart of Italy, the Tuscan wine region is stunning with its rolling hills, medieval villages, countless vineyards, and seemingly endless olive groves. Love a good bottle of Chianti? Then this is your place! After taking a train from Rome to Florence, I jumped on a Chianti wine tour and learned about the rich family history (honestly I’d say it’s mostly family drama – ha!) surrounding several of the wineries and sampled several earthy Tuscan reds and learned about olive oil production, too. If you’re interested in art, history, family drama, and culinary traditions, make Tuscany a priority on your trip to Italy.
Santorini, Greece
Greece’s Santorini wine region is one of the country’s (and arguably the world’s) most unique wine-producing regions. Located on the island of Santorini in the Aegean Sea, this region is known for its volcanic soil, indigenous grape varieties, and traditional winemaking techniques. As our Wine Tasting & Sunset Tour took us to 3 wineries, I learned about the low-lying vines expertly woven into basket shapes to help protect the fruit from Santorini’s intense sun and strong winds and sampled dry white wines made from the Assyrtiko grapes as well as dessert wines from sun-dried grapes. Don’t miss this special region!
Wine Regions of Australia
I was lucky enough to spend 9 months traveling (and occasionally working) in Australia and made it a point to visit a smattering of the more than 60 (!!) wine regions across the country. Located mostly along the southern coasts and the island of Tasmania, Australia’s wine regions deserve to be recognized. In the same way that Australians do not drink Fosters, they also do not drink the terrible wines that we know of as “Australian” such as Yellow Tail (gag) or 19 Crimes (gross). Australian wines are creative with interesting notes and grape blends that I have not experienced anywhere else. The biggest issue with Australian wine? It’s hard to find any of the good stuff in the US! Here’s where I went:
Hunter Valley: Located approximately 2 hours north of Sydney, I selected a hot air balloon as my mode of travel throughout this wine region. The tour included a sunrise ride followed by breakfast and sparkling wine. This being my first hot air balloon adventure, I was a little nervous as I watched the ground move further and further away but as I started to look out across the vines, I settled in and enjoyed the views. It was incredibly peaceful! As we began to descend for our landing, we drifted down toward a field where two kangaroos were locked in a boxing match. It was a perfectly Australian moment.
Yarra Valley: Just outside of Melbourne, this is one of many wine regions that make up Australia’s largest cluster stretching from Melbourne to Adelaide. I opted for a Full-Day Gourmet Wine Tour with Go West Tours to 4 wineries around the region which was amazing. I think somewhere between 3-4 wineries in a day is the sweet spot for me and what I loved about this tour is that it mixes in a few gourmet treats as well. It really was an incredible day exploring Australia’s Yarra Valley, which you can read more about here.
Margaret River: Located 3 hours south of Perth in Western Australia is my favorite region. Margaret River features inventive wine blends and is an area that’s geographically like no other with a combination of vineyards, caves, and international surfing competitions in one compact area. Plan your own visit or book a day tour from Perth like this one.
Tasmania: The heart-shaped island south of Melbourne is one of the most pristine and unique places I visited in Australia. From its fresh seafood to its crisp wines, Tasmania is a destination not to be missed and is one in which many native Australians have not yet visited either! Tasmania is proud of their products and is least likely to export their wines so if you want a sip, you may have to plan a visit and book this half-day wine tour. Highly recommend!
Auckland, New Zealand
While Marlborough might be the most well-known, New Zealand actually has 10 distinct wine regions throughout its two islands. New Zealand is a cool-climate producer of varieties including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. I visited the Auckland wine region, taking a ferry from Auckland to Weiheke Island, to sample some wine. I’m not a huge white wine gal but was impressed by the whites I sipped for their crisp and flavorful taste. Also, the vineyard was a really cool space to spend some time with comfortable bean bag chairs facing the vines and games available for playing including archery. Wine + bow and arrows? Why not!
Champagne, France
Sparkling wine comes in many different varieties, such as cava from Spain and prosecco from Italy, but arguably the crown for the best sparkling wine in the world goes to champagne from France. Produced solely in the Champagne Region, these delicate bubbles are governed by a very strict and specific process that takes time and precision to get right. Located just a short 45-minute train ride from Paris, the town of Reims is the perfect headquarter for a visit to this beautiful wine region. I selected a small group sparkling wine tour to take me out into the countryside for tastings and tours, which you can read about here. It is an experience I highly recommend and can be paired with a visit to the famous champagne houses located in the town of Reims.
Mendoza, Argentina
Set against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains, this region produces some of South America’s most celebrated wines, including one of my favorites, Malbec. We traveled to Mendoza in February 2025 during Argentina’s peak summer months and just a few weeks before harvest. The wineries are spread across three smaller subregions, each of which receive a lot of sunshine and border the surrounding Andes mountain range. I’ve got a full post about the experience here – it did not disappoint.
Whether you’re a serious wino or just like drinking in beautiful settings, exploring the world’s wine regions is an adventure that’s sure to be memorable. So grab a glass (or two!). Cheers!
ALI IN OZ 