10 Off The Beaten Path Wine Regions (PHOTOS)

It's hard to imagine that as recently as 30 years ago, most wine snobs dismissed Napa vino as swill, and just a couple of decades ago Australia and Chile barely blipped on the wine connoisseur's radar.

Today, increasingly sophisticated vinification techniques have fostered a promising new generation of winemakers across the globe, from India to Tasmania. This is great news on two fronts: First, there's more fantastic wine to drink and more values to be found. Second, with places like Napa and Bordeaux becoming overrun with tourists at times, ShermansTravel.com's off-the-path wine regions offer all the charm, flavor, and beautiful scenery of classic vineyard exploring.

Text and captions courtesy of ShermanTravel.com, adapted from "Top 10 Off-the-Path Wine Regions"

 

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British Columbia: Okanagan Valley

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The land: Like France’s Champagne region, British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley (4 hours northwest of Spokane) nuzzles the 50th parallel. The 155-mile valley is home to large, deep lakes that cool the summer sun, and a rich volcanic soil ideal for winemaking. The crisp, dry winter also makes it an ideal spot for high-caliber ice wine. Why it’s hot: There’s the wine, of course, but visitors enjoy this off-the-path wine region's fantastic four-season recreation – from hiking to skiing – and incredible mountain scenery while savoring white Rieslings and deep-red Pinot Noirs. Wineries to watch: Cedar Creek, Kettle Valley and Sandhill

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The land: Like France’s Champagne region, British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley (4 hours northwest of Spokane) nuzzles the 50th parallel. The 155-mile valley is home to large, deep lakes that cool the summer sun, and a rich volcanic soil ideal for winemaking. The crisp, dry winter also makes it an ideal spot for high-caliber ice wine.

Why it’s hot: There’s the wine, of course, but visitors enjoy this off-the-path wine region's fantastic four-season recreation – from hiking to skiing – and incredible mountain scenery while savoring white Rieslings and deep-red Pinot Noirs.

Wineries to watch: Cedar Creek, Kettle Valley and Sandhill

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Comments

[Alok chandra]

11:53 PM on 10/04/2010

Regarding Nasik, India: Chateau Indage has almost closed, and is certainly NOT a winery to watch. Instead, suggest Vintage Wines, York Wines, and/or Valee de Vin (Zampa). There are now 34 wineries near Nasik, 73 in the state of Maharashtra, and nearly 100 in the whole country! Anyone interested can email me on [e-mail]

[Chicagowill]

03:36 PM on 10/03/2010

Here are two others:

Moravia in the southern Czech Republic. Good Rieslings and Gruner Veltleiners.

The Jordan Valley in Jordan. North of Amman toward the Syrian border, they have started planting grapes since the early 1990's. Even though the vines are young, the wines are quite pleasant.

[Julian L Bueno]

01:46 AM on 10/03/2010

Ummm, this picture is of the cathedral in Guadalupe, Spain, NOT Mexico...

[dwill123]

12:02 AM on 10/03/2010

The Delaware Valley in Pennsylvania

[ChangingTimes]

08:59 PM on 10/02/2010

Add to the list

Brazil
http://www.miolo.com.br/empresa/miolo_wine_group/

Maui
http://www.mauiwine.com/tasting.html

Arizona
http://www.charronvineyards.com/

Nova Scotia
http://www.winesofnovascotia.ca/wineries/index.php

[mrstaylor]

03:53 PM on 10/02/2010

Texas, but not listing New Mexico? Wine is a big part of New Mexico...hmmmm.

[ydrittmann]

10:47 AM on 10/02/2010

Yes, everyone knows now is the time to travel to Mexico. This borders on the irresponsible.

[Raymond Strand]

03:32 AM on 10/02/2010

White wines made from Scuppernong Grapes from Eastern North Carolina are excellent. They're not the most famous variety but definitely worth it. My favorite is made from a cutting from "The Mother Vine" the oldest cultivated grapevine in the World. Not sure how New York ended up as "Off the Beaten Path".

[KIVPossum]

03:57 AM on 10/02/2010

Ah, Duplin County Scuppernong.

For a short time after the revolutionary war scuppernong had a state established value as a medium of exchange.

[ydrittmann]

10:47 AM on 10/02/2010

We're headed back to those days.

[Tom Ewasiuk]

11:55 PM on 10/01/2010

The Okanagan Valley boast several great wineries. That photo is from See Ya Later Ranch which makes several very good red and white blends. The fees from the wine tasting goes to the local SPCA. Nearby is my favourite winery in the region named Blasted Church. You will not be disappointed with any bottle you pick up, but their Gewurztraminer is a treat. Closer to Kelowna you will find Quail's Gate which boasts the best Pinot Noir and Old Vines Foch in the region. I recommend a meal at the restaurant which will provide fine dining matched with their best wines to enhance the flavour of both.

[Vivian Alicia Evans]

09:19 PM on 10/02/2010

Tom do you live in the Valley? I do live in Kelowna and love the wine being produced here. I have been to Blasted Church. They have a funny story about why they named their winery.

http://www.blastedchurch.com/our_name

"On a cool spring morning in 1929, a small crew from Okanagan Falls set off to a deserted mining camp some 16 miles away from home. Their mission: to dismantle an old wooden church and bring it back to Okanagan Falls.

The plan called for a controlled blast of four dynamite sticks inside the church in order to "loosen the nails". Odd as it may seem, the explosion spared the wood from damage during dismantling.

Save for losing the steeple, the plan succeeded. Now, the 108 year old wooden church stands proudly in its second home of Okanagan Falls.

In naming our VQA wines "Blasted Church", we celebrate the ingenuity of this initiative, and honour these pioneers for their vision, steadfastness and craftsmanship."

I too love the Gewurztraminer here. Another couple of wineries to look into are Mission Hill and Cedar Creek. Don't forget the small family run ones. Icewine was first produced in the Valley in 1972 but not for public consumption. Now we have a local Orchard producing Icecider.

I welcome all visitor as it we are now celebrating Wine Season in the Valley.

[Tom Ewasiuk]

01:19 AM on 10/03/2010

I live in Vancouver, but have a place in the region. I go up on a regular basis. I have read the Blasted Church story, Very funny indeed. Thanks for the f&f :)

[Vivian Alicia Evans]

09:20 PM on 10/02/2010

f&f!

[KIVPossum]

11:26 PM on 10/01/2010

Now this chaps me off. OK if you don't mention Moldova with your best wine tours article. But not including it in Unusual / Off the Beaten Track wine areas is a mistake.

1. Although some people contend Moldova does not exist, it is easily accessible via a number of air carriers
2. Wine is a major part of the economy
3. The two largest wine cellars in the world are located within 30 kilometers of the capital
4. There is evidence the wine grape hails from this area
5. Wine has been produced here for over 5000 years, and exported for almost 3000 years
6. Many of the wines are world class
7. Wine production is almost a requirement of citizenship - every village produces a vintage and many homes have a vin casa. 1/4 of the land in vinyards is for private production
8 Above wine, you have the opportunity to see a beautiful land and interesting culture (in the villages, the city isn't that much)

The wine festival is next weekend, so if you hurry you can make reservations.


http://www.md4ever.com/explore/events/winefestival.html

[wishfulslinking]

08:58 PM on 10/01/2010

Tasmania is delightful, it was like exiting a time machine in the 50's, however, I didn't visit any vineyards.

Thanks, I have reason to return. Is this a person?