9 Bucket-List-Worthy Destinations in the the World for Wine Lovers

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People who drink a glass of red wine at dinner are more likely to have lower levels of cholesterol, according to researchers in Israel.

While red wine has more antioxidants, there’s good news for white wine drinkers as well. The study discovered that both red and white wine drinkers slept better. But you already knew that a glass of wine can make you pleasantly drowsy.

For the majority of wine lovers, the health benefits are a bonus. They drink wine because they love the taste, the smell, and the feel of a wine glass in their hand.

If that description applies to you, read on. We’ve made a list of the best locales in the world for wine lovers.

1. Tuscany, Italy

The Tuscany region of Italy is home to some of the best wine in the world. It pulls this off in spite of some lackluster soil quality. Bad soil makes it harder to grow a lot of wine, so winemakers must focus instead on making smaller batches of high-quality stuff.

The biggest grape name here is the Sangiovese. This diverse grape can be both fruity and earthy. Red wine dominates the Tuscany landscape, including the wine produced using Sangiovese grapes.

2. Sonoma, California

The Sonoma wine region has a more relaxed vibe than its Napa Valley neighbor. The California regions have a similar number of wineries, but the Sonoma Valley American Viticultural Area, or AVA, is twice as big as Napa Valley.

In Sonoma, it’s easier to feel like you’re exploring the brand new territory, especially if you take a private wine tour similar to the ones offered by this company. You’ve got more time to stop and smell the grapes in a place like Sonoma.

Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are two of the most popular choices here.

3. Willamette Valley, Oregon

The Willamette Valley area is an up-and-coming wine region, but you probably didn’t know that unless you already lived in or around the Pacific Northwest. This region begins in the Mt. Hood area east of Portland and ends about 150 miles to the south near the college town of Eugene.

Oregon winemakers are proud of their Pinot Noir. There are approximately 22,000 vineyard acres in this region, and more than 15,000 of those acres grow Pinot Noir grapes.

4. Burgundy, France

When you sip a Burgundy wine, you’re drinking a variety from this wine region in Eastern France. There are five subregions here, all of which grow their grapes in a soil rich in limestone.

If you’re visiting the Chablis region in the far north, you’ll be drinking white wines crafted from Chardonnay grapes. The Cote de Nuits area has a strong association with Pinot Noir.

These wines aren’t cheap, though, especially if you want something well-aged. Some of the world’s best wine can cost thousands of dollars per bottle in Burgundy. There’s more expensive food and drink out there, but none quite like this.

5. Bordeaux, France

When you think of a French red, you’re probably picturing something from the legendary Bordeaux region in southwest France. It’s the biggest wine-growing region in the country.

Visitors to Bordeaux should hop between the left and right banks of the Gironde estuary to experience the fullest range of flavors. Wine made on the left bank contains more Cabernet Sauvignon and less Merlot. Wine made on the right bank goes heavier on the Merlot and lighter on the Cabernet Sauvignon.

6. Douro Valley, Portugal

A true wine connoisseur can’t afford to overlook Portugal. The sweet dessert wine known as port originated here. Port wine is high in both alcohol and sugar content.

The terrain here tends steep and winding, and it can be overwhelming for tourists. But it’s worth the trouble to navigate your way around one of the oldest and most distinguished wine regions on the planet.

7. Sherry Triangle, Spain

It doesn’t take a lot of guessing to figure out what type of wine dominates this region of southwestern Spain. It’s right there in the title.

The name comes from the three cities that form a triangle when you view them on a map. Tourists should prepare to make the city of Jerez de la Frontera their home base, as it’s the most populated city in the area.

Like port wine, sherry is a type of fortified wine, although it’s fortified after the wine is already fermented. By contrast, port wine gets fortified in the middle of the fermentation process.

8. Finger Lakes, New York

The term “Finger Lakes” might bring up images of a bunch of people sticking their fingers in wine bottles, but rest assured that the Finger Lakes Wine Region in central New York is much classier than the name suggests.

The Finger Lakes get their name because they’re long, narrow bodies of water. There are 11 Finger Lakes. Coincidentally, there are also 11,000 vineyard acres located inside the Finger Lakes AVA.

When traversing the Finger Lakes, you’ll hear locals compare it to the wine regions of Germany. Once you know that, the area’s high production of Riesling wines makes a lot more sense.

9. Barossa Valley, Australia

This portion of South Australia is the place to be if you’re a fan of Shiraz wines (also known as Syrah). Shiraz reds can have a distinctive jammy taste, but if you look keenly, you can find varieties with an understated, even spicy, flavor.

Barossa Valley is one of the warmest wine regions in the country, meaning the grapes ripen fast here. That makes Barossa Valley wines an ideal choice for wine lovers who prefer their beverage to be low in acidity. In fact, the grapes are often harvested at night to keep them from losing any more acidity than necessary.

The maceration process is shorter than usual for grapes in this region. That results in a smoother mouthfeel.

More for Wine Lovers and Travel Lovers

Wine lovers don’t have to be rich, but a good travel fund certainly helps when you’re visiting places like Europe and Australia.

You may need a staycation to give your credit cards time to recover from all that wine exploration. We can help with that.

Crack open a bottle of red, white, or rose, then head to our blog to read about other interesting places around the world.

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