10 Wine Regions Worth Exploring (PHOTOS)

The harvest season is here for many of the world's viticultural centers, tempting visitors to tastings of tried-and-true vintages and more innovative wines. ShermansTravel.com's favorite wine regions to visit at this time of year range from the classic castle country of France's scenic Loire Valley and the sun-kissed vineyards of Tuscany, to the Western U.S., where America's wine contributions emerge from soils stretching from California to Oregon. But they're also keen on lesser-known wine-producing areas, like Canada's Niagara region, which touts scenic wonders and ice wine, to boot, and European centers that specialize in sherry and port. Even if you're too late to catch this year's bounty, you can plan ahead for a visit to three top grape-growing destinations in the Southern Hemisphere, whose coveted harvest season will spring forth when our northerly winter ends. Text courtesy of ShermanTravel.com, adapted from "Top 10 Wine Regions." Text and captions courtesy of ShermansTravel.com.

 

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Andalucia, Spain

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Flamenco and tapas are best when accompanied by a savory glass of Andalucía’s own famous sherry. With Spain touting more vineyard acreage than anywhere in the world, this southwestern Spanish province accordingly produces an array of fine wines, but is most renowned for its dry to sweet amber sherry. Most tours in the region start off in Seville and head to Jerez de Frontera (the sherry capital of the world) where you’ll learn the ins and outs of winemaking and how varietals like vinegar and Jerez brandy are produced, and, of course, get to taste some quality selections. After exploring the vineyards, sample Spain’s finest at a traditional wine bar, better known as a bodega, where barrels of wine are stacked on multicolored tile floors and links of sausage and herbs hang from wooden beams.

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Flamenco and tapas are best when accompanied by a savory glass of Andalucía’s own famous sherry. With Spain touting more vineyard acreage than anywhere in the world, this southwestern Spanish province accordingly produces an array of fine wines, but is most renowned for its dry to sweet amber sherry. Most tours in the region start off in Seville and head to Jerez de Frontera (the sherry capital of the world) where you’ll learn the ins and outs of winemaking and how varietals like vinegar and Jerez brandy are produced, and, of course, get to taste some quality selections. After exploring the vineyards, sample Spain’s finest at a traditional wine bar, better known as a bodega, where barrels of wine are stacked on multicolored tile floors and links of sausage and herbs hang from wooden beams.

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Comments

[shellking]

05:55 PM on 11/21/2010

I'll partially forgive you for Windance Wineries in Western Australia - it was ok; a lot better ones along the Margret River basin - but please! to mention Hunter Valley, Australia is only because it's near Sydney (read tourist trap). Far far better wineries in South Australia - Coonawarra region and #1 Barossa Valley (and even in the Adelaide hills). Hunter's wines are just Ok.

[Badger84]

01:11 AM on 10/12/2010

Oregon's Rogue and Applegate valleys and the Walla Walla valley are superb.

[roselaw]

12:41 AM on 09/28/2010

Porto is just a beautiful town, and the Douro River Valley is amazing--the hillside vineyards are so steep that the rows are connected by ladders, just incredibly old and beautiful, along with the wineries themselves.

I stayed for a few days one September at the Quinta de la Rosa, where they still foot crush their very best ports, and after an amazing dinner on a patio overlooking the Douro, you can go down into the "lagars" where young men are crushing the grapes, and get right in. Just unforgettable.

[GerryS]

11:54 PM on 09/27/2010

been to most of them,

if you can go,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, GO---------------

[peithecelt]

08:36 PM on 09/27/2010

Glad someone gave the Finger Lakes the nod it deserves. :)

[Please-Play-Fair]

05:50 PM on 09/27/2010

So, they put "California" as if it's a single region.  Not even close.  Napa and Sonoma are actually 2 regions but often combined as "Napa Valley".  There are at least 6-8 regions in CA.  This article puts Paso Robles down and that is also California Central Coast which is a good 5 hours from Napa.

Misleading ... if they put "Napa Valley" it would have been #1 or #2 pretty easily. 

[Chaling]

02:22 PM on 09/27/2010

no Mosel Vally, (mostly)Germany but some in France and Luxembourg? shucks..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moselle_valley

[KennebunkportIndependent]

11:31 AM on 09/27/2010

Strange list.  I guess if the criteria is a list of wine regions producing the most wine, it works, but it fails to distiguish between wines that are made according to traditional means (for example, those from the Loire Valley) and those made by mass production means, such as many in California or Australia.  I am not saying the latter are not good, but they are different.  For me, a Saturday spent driving from chateau to chateau in the Chinon region  of the Loire valley to meet the owners, sample wines made right there, and buy a few bottles, is sheer bliss...it is hardly an elitist  thing to do...ask any ordinary Frenchman.

[peithecelt]

08:39 PM on 09/27/2010

Although I don't disagree that it sounds FAR more pleasant than touring big wineries that are more about moving bodies through, it IS an elitist thing..

For many Americans at least, it's easier to cross the continent than the ocean. :) (though my dream vacation is to basically ride a horse from the south of Italy through to the North of France, stopping at every vineyard with a cafe I pass. :) So I absolutely agree with your idea of a good wine tour :D)

[TravelOffRadar]

11:31 AM on 09/27/2010

The Douro Valley not only produces great wines but is absolutely breathtaking. This little article recommends a great itinerary to really get a feel for the landscape and the people who live there...

http://www.travelofftheradar.com/2010/09/driving-the-douro/

[Myles Davis]

11:15 AM on 09/27/2010

Strange list. I have to say from experience, though, if you're flying into Porto, watch your luggage.

[stopgeorge]

11:04 AM on 09/27/2010

I visited the Okanagan, B.C. region for the first time this year. I buy most of my wine from these wineries. Stunning region of the world that I would highly recommend!

[life-of-riley]

10:28 AM on 09/27/2010

What a rubbish picture for the Niagara Region. It doesn't do the area justice.

[viennawoods]

04:35 PM on 09/27/2010

Agreed. It could at least show the Niagara Escarpment, which is A) Beautiful and B) helps create the microclimate that allows the vinyards to thrive.

[FLX4Life]

10:15 AM on 09/27/2010

So, they "borrow" most of this article from Sherman's Travel, but leave off their #1 pick... the Finger Lakes region of NY State. I guess this is what happens when you do all your research through stock photo galleries rather than actually visiting the locations.

[peithecelt]

08:40 PM on 09/27/2010

Couldn't agree more.

[chaya]

10:03 AM on 09/27/2010

What, no Rhineland? Maybe they don't make the best wines on the entire planet, but the Rhine Valley is surely one of the wine regions most worth exploring...

[pogo]

09:07 AM on 09/27/2010

What region does Thunderbird wine come from? That's a mighty fine wine, especially with a little lemon juice.