Top five destinations for wine

There’s something truly special about tasting wine in the very place it’s produced. It creates a unique connection to the land beneath your feet and often tastes its best when paired with local ingredients from the same region. One of the added joys of visiting wine-producing areas comes from the natural conditions that vines require to thrive: gently rolling hills, landscapes striped with vineyards, and a warm, pleasant climate with minimal rainfall. Some regions boast ancient vines and historic family-run wineries, while others are newer to the scene, bringing fresh energy and innovation to the world of winemaking. These five spots rank among the best wine destinations for travelers and enthusiasts alike. Cheers!

Top 5 destinations for wine

South Africa – Where ‘old’ and ‘new’ world winemaking meet

The Winelands of the Western Cape are historic, scenic, and incredibly productive. Enjoy a leisurely couple of days exploring some of South Africa‘s finest wine estates, the picturesque wine route, and elegant Cape Dutch architecture. Although it’s considered part of the ‘new world’ of winegrowing, South Africa is actually one of the oldest of the new world nations—the first vines were planted in the mid-17th century.

Expect rich, smooth reds with high alcohol content, thanks to sweet grapes and a warm climate. Popular grape varieties include Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah. For whites, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc shine with freshness and minerality. Cape Town is often seen as the gateway to South African wine, offering variety and a taste of regional favorites. With its blend of tradition, beauty, and innovation, the Western Cape easily ranks among the best wine destinations in the world, where sipping wine on the very land it was made is an experience like no other.

Stellenbosch, The Western Cape  

For vintage charm and sumptuous wines it has to be Stellenbosch. Located in the coastal region, the town itself is a little inland and renowned for its handsome Cape Dutch architecture. The area draws wine buffs from around the world, including to its renowned viniculture courses at the historic university. Sunny, lively and studiously wine-focused, it’s a fine place to base yourself for tours and tastings in the surrounding wine lands and has an excellent dining scene. Stellenbosch is particularly renowned for its excellent Pinotage, one of South Africa’s most emblematic grape varieties. 

Robertson, Breede River Valley 

Known as the Valley of Wine and Roses (sounds good, doesn’t it?), the Robertson Wine Route is one of the longest in the world with 36 wineries dotted along its meandering trail. The climate here is sunny and dry with temperatures dipping quite low at night. It’s another of South Africa’s oldest and most established wine regions, so has a deeply embedded wine culture and lifestyle. Wineries here specialise in creamy whites, such as Chardonnay and rich, fruity big-hitter reds, including Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet. 

Chile – French-inspired vintages in the foothills of the Andes

The central region of Chile is the major wine growing zone, which was expanded significantly in the late 20th century by an influx of French vintners who relocated to Chile and brought their expertise with them. There is an abundance of vines in the foothills of the Andes and along fertile valleys, all profiting from the sunny climate and the moisture drifting off the Pacific. Chile is now producing some great wine, and touring the winelands, which run in a band heading south from Santiago to Victoria, is a pleasurable way to explore this area.

The Maipo Valley, in the foothills of the Andes and just an hour from Santiago, is one of the main wine regions in Chile. This is the place for rich Cabernet Sauvignons and mountain views. Also an hour or so from the capital, but this time towards the coastal mountains and the attractive town of Valparaiso, the Casablanca Valley is known for its classic white wines – Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.  Red wine enthusiasts wanting more should set their sights on the Colchagua Valley and sup its aromatic Syrah and Carmenere.

Georgia – The Birthplace of Viticulture

Given that it’s the birthplace of wine, Georgia is one of the most unique destinations for wine. It’s almost impossible to visit Georgia and not experience its wine culture to some degree, as wine is firmly intertwined with Georgian history and national identity. This is a country with one of the oldest wine traditions in the world, and viticulture here is at least 8,000 years old. 

Traditional winemaking methods have been listed by UNESCO as a part of the global cultural heritage worth preserving, and so far the processes are still very simple and natural. Most producers are growing grapes on a relatively small scale, using methods that would elsewhere gain the label ‘natural wine’. The wine producing areas in Georgia cover most of the low altitude valleys and the land behind the coast. The mountainous fringes are too high to support vines.

Tbilisi 

Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, is the best place to begin your wine adventure. The excellent Tbilisi Wine Museum takes you through an astounding 8000 years of wine history in the region. As you can imagine, the city is a hub for gastronomy and wine, and there are many inviting wine bars and restaurants to tempt you. If natural wine piques your interest, then an evening spent in Vino Underground is a must. 

Kakheti 

Around an hour’s drive from the capital, Kakheti is the largest winemaking region in Georgia and specialises in the classic Georgian Saperavi and Rkatsiteli grape varieties. Many of its vineyards are on hillsides and backed by views of the Caucasus Mountains. The area is dotted with small villages where winding cobbled streets and terracotta tile roofs evoke an old-world charm. It’s a lovely place to stay a while and learn about the fascinating wine culture of Georgia. 

Argentina – It’s not all about the Malbec (just mostly)

Much like the country where they are grown, Argentinian wines tend to be bold and bursting with life. There has been a major overhaul in the winemaking industry in Argentina in the last quarter century and the resulting product is much improved, with some complex and refined wines now available. 

The major winegrowing region in Argentina centres on Mendoza, a delightfully scenic city on a plateau in the foothills of the Andes. As the crow flies, it is relatively near to Santiago, Chile, but the soaring Andean peaks lie in between. Mendoza wine is irrigated by the mountain meltwater, which has long been used by the population of the area to supply water to their crops. As the first region to be planted with vines by the conquistadors, Mendoza has a brilliant winemaking heritage which can be experienced in the atmospheric bodegas, accompanied by some of Argentina’s most fabulous food.

To switch things up, head north to the dry and rugged landscapes of Salta Province where you’ll find a sweet golden wine known as Torrentes. This highland climate also produces some excellent Malbecs (of course), but with a different flavour profile to those found further south. Way down south in Patagonia’s cooler, desert climes the Pinot Noir grape grows well around the greener river regions, such as the Rio Negro. The white wines produced here are dryer and more acidic than in the north. 

China – For an emerging wine industry finding its feet

The wine industry is still in its early stages in China. Research suggests that China is actually one of the oldest wine producing nations in the world, but it has never been a place where wine became a widespread and popular drink across all demographics. Viticulture on any significant scale is very new in winemaking terms, and the products are improving year on year, helped by the input from vintners of old world wine regions. 

Winemaking now takes place in several areas across China, with Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang being the most well-known. Touring these regions is a very different experience from visiting long-established wine countries, the methods are modern and often industrial, and in colder regions, vines must be buried in winter to survive the harsh climate. Still, wine is rapidly gaining traction in China, and exploring this emerging scene offers a unique glimpse into a wine industry in its infancy. For travelers seeking something off the beaten path, China is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing best wine destinations to watch.

Make it happen

If wine tops your travel wishlist, there’s no shortage of incredible places to explore. From the vineyards of China to the rolling hills of Georgia, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa, our local experts are ready to help you craft a tailor-made journey through some of the best wine destinations in the world. Let us help you sip, savor, and explore in style.