Wine tours are a fantastic way to enjoy high-quality wine in a relaxed setting while learning about the production and cultivation of wine grapes. Some wine tours focus on an in-depth look at a single winery, while others cover a large area and have stops along multiple wineries or wine bars.
Choosing the right wine tour is essential to a fantastic trip full of great wine, fantastic food pairings, and beautiful scenery.
In this article, we will look at the best wine tours around the world and what you can expect on your travels!
The Best Wine Tours You Need to Experience
France
France is considered by most wine enthusiasts to be the most important country in the world of wine. The majority of the world’s most famous wine grapes originated in France, and some of the most prominent wine producers in the world are French.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is viewed by many as the “king of all wine regions,” and some of the world’s most famous Château is located here. In past centuries, wines from the top Château of Bordeaux were served to royalty and kings.
The famous Bordeaux blend is a red wine blend made up of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Cabernet Franc is also used, and wine tasting in Bordeaux offers plenty of variety. White wine enthusiasts will enjoy Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon from Bordeaux.
The best options for wine tours in the Bordeaux region are offered by a company called Bordeaux Wine Trails. They offer a variety of different tour packages that cover different areas and allow for different methods of travel around the region.
Bordeaux wine tours have been in business for many years, and have tailored a variety of different tour packages to suit the needs of many different travelers. Half-day tours are available for those in a hurry, and full-day tours are the best way to get the full Bordeaux experience.
There are a variety of tours that cover the famous St. Emilion and Graves sub-regions, and there are also workshops focused on wine tasting fundamentals. More adventurous travelers will enjoy the full-day bike tour, allowing them to cycle through a world-famous wine trail.
Burgundy
Burgundy is one of the most historic and prolific wine regions in the entire world, and winemaking here dates back thousands of years to local monks who were first able to transcribe the wine growing process for future generations.
The most important grapes of the Burgundy region are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and the climate of the area produces “softer” and more delicate wines compared with Bordeaux. The delicate red wines of Burgundy are world renowned for having multiple layers of flavor.
The most trusted and established company providing wine tours of the Burgundy region is called Authentica Tours, and they have been in business since the year 2008. They offer a variety of different wine tours, including private tours and small group options.
There are a number of different tour packages that allow visitors the option to visit different combinations of both Premier Cru and Grand Cru estates. There are also high-end options that allow for tastings featuring a wide array of Grand Cru wines direct from the estates.
For travelers on a budget, small group tours are the best option. These allow for multiple small groups to tour at once, leading to a lower cost for all groups.
Private tours are also available for those who prefer a more personally tailored experience.
Italy
Italy is the second largest wine-producing country in the world and is home to the majority of the world’s most popular non-French wine grapes.
The Sangiovese grape is the most widely planted wine grape and is used in many of the country’s most famous wines.
Tuscany
Tuscany is one of the most famous and sought-after wine regions in the world, and the majority of wine produced there is red. The most famous sub-region of Tuscany is Chianti, which is known for producing Sangiovese-based red wines.
While the area has a long-established history of high-quality red wine production using the Sangiovese grape, recent innovations have brought a major resurgence to the local wine scene. The “Super Tuscan” blend emerged in the 1970s and took the wine world by storm.
Today, Super Tuscan blends account for some of the most expensive and sought-after bottles of wine in the world. One of the most famous of these is called Sassicaia, which is thought of by many as the standard for high-quality Super Tuscans.
One of the best tour companies in the Tuscany region with a long-established reputation for satisfied clients is called Tuscan Wine Tours with Angie. There are a wide variety of tours offered, from affordable day trips to week-long excursions.
The variety of different tour options is what makes this one of the best choices for wine tasting in Tuscany. Multi-day trips offer the ability to fully understand the region, and there are also unique wine pairings and tastings offered such as gelato and pistachios.
Piedmont
Piedmont is home to the world-famous Italian sub-regions of Barolo and Barbaresco. The majority of the top wines that come from the Piedmont region are red, and the Nebbiolo grape is the most widely planted and popular varietal.
Red wines produced in Barolo and Barbaresco using the Nebbiolo grape are unique, and easily distinguishable from other styles in blind tastings. These wines carry high levels of acid and are known for having a distinct brick red coloration, especially after aging.
One of the most popular and established wine tour companies in the Piedmont region is called The Grand Wine Tour, and they offer a large menu of different options that cover different sub-regions of Piedmont.
The majority of the tours offered by The Grand Wine Tour are considered to be “full day” tours and last approximately eight hours. There are both Barolo and Barbaresco options available, as well as a combination tour that covers both sub-regions.
The company also offers two different guided truffle tours, which allow tourists to sample some of the finest local truffles that the area has to offer. There are both white truffle and black truffle tour options available, and both also cover the Barolo area.
United States
The United States is a fairly young nation that has quickly established itself as one of the top wine-producing countries in the world.
Today, the US is the third largest producer of wine in the entire world, most of which is produced on the country’s west coast.
California
California is the most important wine-producing state in the US, both in terms of quantity and quality. The Napa and Sonoma sub-regions of California are world-renowned for producing high-quality bottles of bold Cabernet Sauvignon and oaky Chardonnay.
The warm growing climate in the state of California leads to bold wine grapes that are high in residual sugar. This generally leads to wines that contain high levels of alcohol, and the best growing areas in the state feature climate moderating influences.
The Napa Valley is considered by many wine enthusiasts to be the most important wine-growing region in the entire country, and one of the best companies offering tours of the valley is the Napa Valley Wine Trolley.
The beautifully decorated trolley offers a unique way to travel between some of the most famous wineries in all of California, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about wine culture as well as the history of the region.
The trolley is also available for rental to private parties, and there are a number of different routes and tour packages to choose from. The company also offers tours of the neighboring wine-producing region of Sonoma County.
Oregon
Oregon is the second largest wine-producing state in the United States, and the area’s northern location allows for cooler temperatures. There are also coastal climate moderating factors, as well as ample rainfall throughout the year.
The cooler conditions that Oregon provides allow for different styles of wine production compared to California. More delicate grapes thrive in Oregon’s climate, and the most important wine grape in the state is Pinot Noir.
The most famous and highly regarded wine-producing area in the state of Oregon is the Willamette Valley, where some of the most high-quality bottles of American Pinot Noir are produced today.
One of the most well-established and highly reviewed wine tour companies in the state is called A Great Oregon Wine Tour. As the name implies, the company and its employees go above and beyond to ensure a high-quality tour experience.
There are options available for private wine tours, as well as traditional large tours in a group setting. One of the unique offerings from A Great Oregon Wine Tour is the “Self Guided” tour option, allowing tourists to follow the route at their own pace.
Australia
Australia is a “New World” wine-producing country that has increased production dramatically over the past few decades.
Some of the most famous wines of Australia are made with the French Syrah grape, which is called “Shiraz” when produced locally.
South Australia
South Australia is by far the most important of the country’s six states when it comes to wine production. The warm weather region is known for producing “big and bold” red wines including Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The state is very expansive, making touring the entire region during a single tour impractical. Most tourists elect to take wine tours of one of the most famous sub-regions in all of Australia named the Barossa Valley.
One of the best options when it comes to wine tasting and touring in the famous Barossa Valley region is a company called Sightseeing Tours Australia. The company has a long-established record of providing efficient tours with exceptional care and service.
The company offers a variety of tour package options that are well known by locals to offer some of the best value in the region. There are wine and food pairing packages available as well, which are ideal for food lovers as well as wine enthusiasts.
South Eastern Australia
South Eastern Australia is home to a number of different important wine-producing areas, including Tasmania, Vitoria, and New South Wales. No single wine grape dominates the state, and both red and white wines are prevalent.
Chardonnay, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon are the most widely planted wine grapes in the state of South Eastern Australia, and the area is home to famous large-scale wine producers such as Yellow Tail and 19 Crimes.
One of the most trusted and most recommended tour companies in South Eastern Australia is called Urban Legends Tour Company. They offer a variety of relaxed and casual winery tours that cover a variety of areas around New South Wales.
The company is well known for providing some of the most affordable wine tours in the area, and there are over 100 five-star reviews on Google to attest to the high level of service provided while visiting some of the best wineries in the New South Wales region.
South America
South America is a major player when it comes to modern wine production. The country of Argentina has established itself as one of the foremost producers of Malbec in the entire world, and Chilean red blends are enjoyed all over the world.
Argentina
Argentina is a major producer of dry red wines made using the Malbec grape. The most famous wine-producing region in the country of Argentina is called Mendoza, and some of the most famous South American red wines are produced there.
Malbec wines produced in Mendoza are highly regarded for complex flavors that can include tobacco, baking spices, and even leather. The majority of the best wine tours in the country focus on the Mendoza region.
The most trusted and established wine tourism country in the area is called Trout and Wine. The company’s slogan is “So Much Wine, So Little Time” and they offer a variety of options to suit the varying needs of different travelers.
Traditional large tours are provided in a group setting for more budget-conscious travelers, and private tours are available for those who don’t mind spending a bit more for a more intimate and exclusive tasting experience.
Chile
The country of Chile is very thin, covering a large mountain range that runs north and south along the ocean. There are a number of different microclimates that change throughout the country, leading to a large variance in wine styles.
Some of the most popular wines that are produced in the country of Chile today are red wines made using traditional French red wine grapes from Bordeaux. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are the most widely planted white wine grapes.
One of the most famous and most used tourism services in Chile is called Wine Travel Chile. They offer luxury private tours that are fully customizable and offer tours of some of the most famous and important wineries in the country.
The company has been in business since 2002, and in that time has established itself as the top premier wine tourism country in all of Chile. They employ certified experts as tour guides, and the knowledgeable staff makes the tours extremely educational.
Best Wine Tours – Conclusion
Wine tours are a fantastic way to soak in some of the most beautiful local scenery of a given region while enjoying the best local wines that the area has to offer.
There are a number of different highly respected wine tourism countries around the world that have a successful record of providing quality wine tours in some of the world’s most important wine regions.
