Wine Holidays – 10 Recommended Destinations For Wine Tasting Experiences in Europe
From the famous vineyards of Bordeaux and Rioja to Tuscany’s rustic wine estates, discover 10 fabulous wine holidays and wine tasting experiences in Europe.
Food and wine go hand in hand, and with the growing demand for food tours and culinary experiences when we travel, it is no surprise that wine tourism is also becoming increasingly popular. Whether you fancy a vineyard tour and wine tasting as part of your summer holiday, or are searching for a dedicated wine trip led by experts, there are so many superb destinations to choose from. From rolling hills of Tuscany and the of prestigious vineyards of Bordeaux to scenic wineries in Spain and Portugal, these are 10 of our favourite wine holidays to tempt you.
I am a self-confessed wine lover, which probably dates back 18 years ago when we enjoyed a month-long stay in a gorgeous home in Gaiole in Chianti. It was at the end of my maternity leave with our son Luke and it still remains one of my top travel experiences. We drove to Tuscany through France and were also fortunate to stay in a beautiful château outside Saint-Émilion. More recently I enjoyed wine tasting trips through Rioja and Castilla y León in Spain.
However, my wine tasting experiences in Europe were mostly limited to Spain, France and Italy, so I asked Sandra Skelton, AKA @travel_thehappymidlifer to help me put this piece together.
With two grown-up boys, Sandra takes every opportunity to pack a bag and discover somewhere new. Like me, she has enjoyed wine tasting trips in France and Spain, but she also has some fantastic recommendations in Portugal and Greece. Between us, we share some of our favourite wine tasting experiences and wine holidays in Europe below.
Wine Holidays and Wine Experiences in France
France is one of the world’s top wine destinations, with renowned wine regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Loire Valley. Champagne, Provence, Alsace and the Rhône Valley also attract visitors from all over the world, but the truth is that no matter where you visit, you are rarely far from a local vineyard or wine bar for wine tasting in France.
Whether you choose to stay in a luxury château in Saint-Émilion or enjoy a trip to a vineyard while on holiday in the South of France, we have a choice of wine tasting holidays in France to suit you.
1. Loire Valley, France
Last summer, we set out on a road trip through France. Mainly food and wine led I must admit, but we stayed in lovely hotels and a gorgeous château, soaked up plenty of culture and history, and still found time to slow down and enjoy some proper downtime too. ( Sandra Skelton )
There are many places to go wine tasting in the Loire Valley, but we chose the small but thriving town of Saumur. It is a real, working town, not overrun with tourists, just people getting on with their everyday life. There is beautiful architecture, a local market and charming pedestrian streets. There are walking and biking paths everywhere.
Our first stop in Saumur was a visit to Maison des Vins d’Anjou which is located right in the town of Saumur. This was a 30-minute tasting and was a good starting point for some explanation of the different wines of the region. One of the specialities of this region was Rose d’Anjou. Booking is advisable, especially as it offers free wine tasting.
The next stop was the cellar at the Chateau de Parnay. Depending on when you are visiting they hold events through the year – there’s a winemaker’s brunch on certain Sundays throughout the year (not when I was there, sadly). We purchased one of each of their whites, reds and rose here.
Things to do in the Loire Valley
We drove from Saumur to Chinon and there are lots of cellars/vineyards of all sizes along the route. There’s also lots of other interesting things to see in Saumur – the Chateau itself, the Cadre Noir (where the top horsemen in France are trained), and many unusual troglodytic sites.
I have linked some top things to do and wine tasting experiences in the Loire Valley below and if you want to see the vineyards from above, book a hot air balloon ride over Chenonceau Castle!
How to Get to the Loire Valley:
We sailed from Cork to Roscoff on this occasion, but it is also possible to sail from Dublin, Rosslare or from the UK. Alternatively fly into Tours which is at the heart of the Loire Valley, or Nantes and drive (1h 50 mins ) or take the train (1 hr 5 mins) to Saumur. Aer Lingus and Ryanair fly from Dublin to both Nantes and Tours. We stayed in Anne d’Anjou in Saumur.
Top Tip: Take advantage of the many ferry options so you can fill the car with plenty of wine to bring home!
2. Saint Emilion, Bordeaux
Saint Emilion is a very pretty medieval village located in the heart of the Bordeaux region. It is known as one of the greatest wine regions in the world and attracts millions of tourists every year. It is also listed as a heritage site by UNESCO. Wine shops are plentiful, as are restaurants, and it’s such a lovely way to spend a day combined with a trip to nearby Bordeaux. (Sandra Skelton)
Visiting in one day can be a little overwhelming but is very possible. You can take the train from Bordeaux, which only takes about 20 minutes and walk from the station. I did this and then booked a tuk-tuk tour of the vineyards which is fun and covers a general run of the whole area and some stops at the smaller cellars.
Read: Top things to do in Bordeaux and where to stay
We combined our Saint Emilion trip with a two night stay in the beautiful Chateau Hotel and Spa Grand Barrail. Sarah stayed here too many years ago and loved it. If you don’t want to drive, you can take bikes from there and explore the surrounding countryside.
We enjoyed some fabulous wines at the hotel and were able to find the vineyards that produced them locally and visit. We may have purchased a couple of boxes!
Things to do in Saint-Émilion and Nearby:
The vineyards of the Pomerol appellation are also close by. If you want to visit some of the more prestigious wineries, it is important to make a booking with them beforehand. A very pleasant day can be had going from one stop to another with some nibbles in between. I have linked some of the top rated wine tours and experiences in the area below:
Top Tip: One of the days we took a detour in search of The Naked Vigneron. I had previously read an article about a couple, David and Amanda Moore, who decided to move to France from Yorkshire in 2010. They bought an old neglected vineyard and farmhouse which they brought back to life and now produce a range of wines called, you guessed it, The Naked Vigneron.
We called to the vineyard on spec and David himself hosted a wine tasting for us. If you are more organised, we clearly were not, they do vineyard walks as well as lunch and dinner. And David was very entertaining and interesting, we Irish love a good story!
How to Get to Saint-Emilion Fly direct from Dublin to Bordeaux with Aer Lingus and take a 45 taxi / drive to Saint-Emilion, or take the 20 minute train ride from Bordeaux city centre. Alternatively travel by ferry to France and drive to Saint-Emilion. That way you will have lots of space to bring wine home!
3. Provence, South of France
There is nothing I like more in summer than a Provençal rosé, and rosé has certainly been having a moment over the last few years. If you like the thought of sipping a chilled Côtes de Provence while also enjoying great beaches, glamorous Riviera towns and plenty of joie de vivre, then it is time to book that trip to the South of France! (Sandra Skelton)
Explore iconic Riviera destinations such as Nice, Cannes and Monaco, as well as charming towns and villages including Antibes and Èze. But you can also fit in a trip to some of the wineries in the surrounding areas, or combine a wine tasting and perfume tour in Grasse.
Located 75 minutes from Nice and 30 minutes from St Tropez will bring you to the hotel and vineyards of Ultimate Provence. I have visited here on two occasions, and it is a very chic and modern take on the typical French vineyard.
There is a wine tasting room, a hotel, a restaurant and a rooftop bar. I think you could easily put in a whole day here, eating at the restaurant, using the spa, tasting their wines or better yet, stay at the hotel.
Similar to the Loire Valley area, once you are driving in the countryside you will come across many vineyards and cellars. An excellent resource is the Rue de Vignerons website. Put in the area in France you are travelling in, and it will give you numerous choices to vineyard visits to book, courses, tours etc.
I have linked some of the top rated wine tours and experiences here:
How to get to Provence: Fly from Dublin to Nice with Aer Lingus and Ryanair and drive 75 minutes to Ultimate Provence.
Wine Holidays and Wine Experiences in Spain
Spain is another superb choice for wine holidays. Think full-bodied reds with tasty tapas and tell me a better combo! From the famous Rioja region and the vineyards of Ribera del Duero to the lesser known vineyards in Castilla y León, wine holidays in Spain will take you way beyond the traditional tourist resorts.
4. Rioja
La Rioja was the biggest surprise on my tour of Northern Spain. After spending 48 hours in Bilbao, we took the short 60 minute drive to La Rioja and it wasn’t long before the landscape changed. Although Rioja is one of Spain’s smallest regions, it is also one of the most diverse. We were surrounded by colourful vineyards, rolling hills, snow capped mountains and pretty villages. ( Sarah )
It was late October and the autumnal leaves were a kaleidoscope of colours. We stopped in the old towns of Haro, Cellórigo and Sajazarra and I was genuinely struck at how beautiful this region was. Sajazarra is home to a 14th century castle and a 12th century church, which we literally stumbled upon. The town is filled with ancient walls and quaint bodegas offering wine tasting.
We stayed in the fabulous Teatrisso Hotel in the pretty town of Cuzcurrita del Rio Tíron. Once a 16th century farmhouse, it was a theatre, a cinema, and a home to the Italian army during the war. It lay empty until 2011 when an enterprising couple, Laura and Jose decided to make it their home.
We enjoyed wine tasting in the local family-run bodega, Bohedal. I found myself smelling the chocolate, leather, and pepper aromas and by the end of our wine tasting I could tell the difference between Romanian, American and French oak barrels. I was seriously impressed!
La Rioja is known for its old towns, wineries and culinary delights, but it offers so much more. You can walk the Camino de Santigao, go skiing in Valdezcaray, play golf at Rioja Alta Golf Cub, or even try hot air ballooning over the vineyards! I have linked some of the best tours and wine experiences in Rioja below:
Read: Discovering there is more to Rioja than wine
How to get to Rioja: Aer Lingus fly to Bilbao. A 90 minute drive from the airport, or 60 minute drive from the city will bring to to La Rioja. Alternatively sail from Rosslare to Bilbao with Brittany Ferries.
5. Castilla y León, Spain
Not only is Castilla y León Spain’s largest region, it is also home to more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other region in the world. It is also one of Europe’s least populated regions, giving visitors vast open landscapes, historic towns and a wonderfully authentic atmosphere for wine tasting experiences. ( Sarah )
Ironically I didn’t visit any of the UNESCO World Heritage cities, but instead were taken to lesser known towns and villages to explore the Spanish wine routes of Toro and Arribes del Duero.
Our first stop was the city of Toro, which is about a two-hour drive from Madrid. We visited the Toro Wine Museum, which was a great introduction to the city that claims to have introduced wine to the New World in 1492.
Toro has mostly full bodied red wines made from the Tinta da Toro grape, or Tempranillo – 90% off all wine produced in Toro is red. A visit to the famous Pagos del Rey Wine Museum also includes wine tasting, and the price is superb value, just €12, which includes a guided tour with wine and tapas tasting.
We also had the pleasure of visiting Bodegas Farina – one of the oldest family wineries in Toro. We tasted so many great wines, and each one was better than the last. I usually opt for a Crianza when I am choosing a Spanish wine at home, and was fascinated to know that a Crianza in Toro has to be matured in barrels for 1 year, however, in Rioja or other parts of Spain, it is only 6 months.
Similarly with Reserva and Gran Reserva wines – it varies from region to region in Spain, and there is no overall standard throughout the world. I also learned a very important travel tip there too – a wine bottle weighs 1.25 kg. A vital piece of information if you are planning on bringing wine home on the plane with you!
Just when I thought our trip couldn’t get any better, our home for the night was a a 19th century castle with incredible views of Vega del Duero. Surrounded by vineyards and hiking trails, you can’t help but fall in love with Castillo de Monte la Reina.
We also visited the unspoilt region of Arribes del Duero. We were based in the medieval town of Fermoselle, otherwise known as the town with 1000 wine cellars. Its hill-top location offers panoramic views over the Arribes del Duero landscape and it felt almost like the Wild West of Spain.
Although beautifully situated with a quaint old town, it was its six-storey houses with preserved underground wine cellars that really impressed me. The 1200 year old wine cellars were extremely well preserved and it was wonderful to enjoy wine tastings inside some of them.
One of our most memorable experiences was at El Hato y el Garabato, a small family winery with 8 hectares of old vines (between 80 and 120 years old). I pressed grapes for the first time, and was able to hear the sugar fermenting.
On our last night we stayed in the 5-star Hacienda Zorita Natural Reserve, which is located 5 km from the town of Fermoselle, and just 8km from the Portuguese border. It is a stunning hotel, and one I would love to return to. Note there are two hotels with the same name, one in Salamanca and this one in Fermoselle – make sure you select the correct one if researching independently.
Before we returned home we drove to the Portuguese border and took a cruise along the Duero River through the incredible natural gorge. The spectacular vertical cliffs reach heights of 250 meters, with 50 meters below the surface. Put this stunning wine region in Spain on your bucket list – you won’t regret it!
Read: Spanish wine trip through Castilla y León
How to get to Castilla y León: Aer Lingus, Ryanair and Iberia Express fly daily to Madrid.
Drive time from Madrid to Toro is 2 hours 15 minutes. However, you can get a high speed train to Zamora ( 1 hour 13 minutes ) and then take a transfer / taxi to Toro – 35 minutes.
Drive time from Madrid to Fermoselle is 3 hours 30 minutes. You can also get a high speed train to Zamora ( 1 hour 13 minutes ) and then take a transfer / bus / taxi to Fermoselle – 55 minutes.
There are also an airport in nearby Salamanca, and with drive time to Toro 1 hour, or Fermoselle 1 hour 20 minutes.
4. Santiago de Compostela
Like many Irish tourists who head to Spain every year, we used to focus on the south of Spain where the weather is more guaranteed, but let me introduce you to Galicia. ( Sandra Skelton )
Whether you find yourself in Santiago de Compostela on a city break, or indeed as a pilgrim who has finished up the Camino de Santiago, this area in the north west of Spain offers a wealth of opportunity to taste wonderful food and wine.
One of the things you have to do if you are staying in the region is visit the Rias Baixas. Rias Baixas is known all over the world for being the home of Albarino. 99% of the wine made in Rias Baixas is white wine, and 96% is Albarino.
The capital of the region is Pontevedra and other main areas include Vigo, Cambados and O Grove. Pontevedra is about an hour from Santiago and you can travel by car, or take a tour from the city.
We headed for the Pazo de Rubianes, which has an impressive 25 hectares of vineyards and gardens which are listed as a Garden of International Excellence. They produce award winning albarinos on the Estate which you can taste at the end of the garden visit. Entrance fee to the gardens €9 or €11 including a glass of wine.
The town of Cambados celebrates the Albarino festival during the first week of August and we had the best fun at this. Over 5 days the festival welcomes over 150,000 people. It is lined with stalls where you can taste and buy the wine directly from the producers.
If you thought the days of €3 glasses of wine were a thing of the past, I can assure you that is definitely not the case. You pay €3 for the actual glass upon entrance (refundable as you leave), and can try any of the wines for around €3 too.
Galicia is also known for some of the best seafood restaurants in the world. The culinary scene as a whole is on another level and it has established itself as a premier culinary destination in Spain. As of writing it has 19 Michelin starred restaurants.
I have linked some of the top Rias Baixas wine tasting experiences and tours here:
How to get to Galicia
Aer Lingus and Ryanair fly to Santiago de Compostela.
Wine Holidays and Wine Experiences in Italy
From Tuscany’s rolling hills to Sicily’s sun-drenched villages, Italy is made for wine holidays. Centuries-old winemaking traditions are found right across the country, with Tuscany perhaps the most iconic wine region, famous worldwide for its Chianti wine.
Veneto is a famous wine tourism destination in Italy which I have not included below, simply because I have not experienced wine tasting there myself, but it certainly should not be overlooked. Not only is it home to Venice, it is also the birthplace of some of Italy’s most famous wines, including Valpolicella, Soave and Prosecco. You can visit elegant wineries, taste Amarone and Prosecco at the source and combine wine tasting with stays in Venice, Verona or Lake Garda.
I have included my two favourite wine destinations in Italy below, Tuscany and Puglia, but whether you fancy a beach holiday in Sicily with wine tasting, or a stay in a rustic farmhouse in Chianti, there is an Italian wine holiday to suit everyone.
7. Tuscany
Tuscany is one of my favourite holiday destinations and is one of the best places in Europe for wine holidays. Not only will you find wine experiences throughout the region but there are so many iconic cities and towns to visit, and getting from place to place almost always involves stunning scenery too. ( Sarah )
I recall visiting Villa Antinoiri in Chianti 18 years ago – and it is still one of my favourite wines! Although my love of wine began in Chianti, I have visited Tuscany on many occasions since, and enjoyed wine tasting experiences in San Gimignano, Volterra, Montepulciano and Lucca – all must visit destinations in their own right. The truth is any drive through its gorgeous countryside will lead to you a wine tasting experience.
You need to pre-book tasting and tours in many of the large and famous wineries but you will find enotecas ( wine bars ) offering wine tasting in most Tuscan towns and villages.
You can tour centuries-old wineries, stay in rustic agriturismos surrounded by vineyards or simply enjoy wine tastings overlooking Tuscany’s famous rolling hills.
I love nothing more than long lunches with Italian cheeses, Parma ham, bresaola and delicious pasta, usually paired perfectly with local wines. While France may be renowned for its cheese and wine culture, Italy is equally deserving – after all, Parmigiano Reggiano and burrata are both Italian!
For a seven-night wine holiday in Italy I suggest basing yourself in Chianti or San Gimignano, but making time to include visits or overnights in Siena, Montepulciano and Florence. You can read my guide visiting Tuscany here :
Read: Top things to do in Tuscany and where to stay
If you don’t have time to tour Tuscany independently, I have linked some of the top wine experiences and tours here:
How to get to Tuscany: Aer Lingus and Ryanair both fly to Pisa from Dublin and Ryanair fly to Pisa from Cork.
8. Puglia
While Puglia may not be regarded as a traditional wine tourism destination, it is another one of my favourite regions in Italy and a superb choice for anyone looking for a fabulous Italian holiday with plenty of sightseeing and local wine tasting experiences – Puglia is famous for bold reds such as Primitivo and Negroamaro.
Home to five UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as stunning beaches, whitewashed towns and beautiful baroque cities, I challenge you not to fall in love with Puglia. We stayed in the UNESCO-listed town of Alberobello, famous for its unique Trulli houses with conical roofs, and enjoyed trips to the White City of Ostuni and the seaside town of Polignano a Mare.
Read: Three places you must visit in Puglia
Wine tasting experiences were plentiful and, because you are not sampling globally famous wines such as Chianti Classico or Amarone, you will generally find much better value wine tasting experiences here too. Puglia is also the birthplace of Burrata!
Make sure you do not skip a visit to the ancient city of Matera, which is just under an hour’s drive from Bari. Our visit to Matera remains one of my most memorable travel experiences. I genuinely felt like I was stepping onto a movie set, with its dramatic stone caves, winding alleyways and historic sassi guaranteed to take your breath away.
The city has been inhabited for over 9,000 years and, fittingly, many of the enotecas ( wine bars ) are located inside atmospheric caves, making wine tasting here even more special. Matera is also an excellent place to sample local wines from neighbouring Basilicata, including the renowned Aglianico del Vulture, often regarded as one of southern Italy’s finest red wines.
If you can, stay overnight so you can experience the magic of Matera after dark, when the city glows beautifully under the evening lights. We stayed in the residences of the luxurious Sant’Angelo Luxury Resort and it was superb – I couldn’t recommend it highly enough!
Read: A magical weekend in Matera
I have many things to do in Puglia in my guides above but I have also linked some of the top tours and experiences here:
How to get to Puglia: Ryanair fly from Dublin to Bari and Brindisi. Aer Lingus fly from Dublin to Brindisi.
Wine Holidays in Europe
While France, Italy and Spain may dominate the wine tourism scene, there are plenty of other fantastic wine holidays to enjoy across Europe. Portugal is hugely popular, particularly the Douro Valley, where visitors can enjoy its famous port wines in Porto and visit the famous World of Wine museum.
Greece is another superb choice, with wineries scattered across islands such as Santorini, offering unique wines produced from volcanic soil, as well as the mainland. Wine lovers may also want to consider Slovenia, Croatia, Germany and Hungary, all of which offer excellent wine tasting experiences with historic towns and usually fewer crowds.
9. Portugal: Douro Valley
Even though the Duoro Valley is renowned as a famous port region, you will also find plenty of opportunities for wine tasting. This UNESCO-listed region has terraced vineyards lining the banks of the Douro River, and the scenery is spectacular. You can explore the tasting rooms, beautiful scenery, olive oil tastings and of course wine and port. ( Sandra Skelton )
Porto is also wonderful city for a weekend break, and you can do a boat trip down the river from here which stops at the towns along the Douro River. It is also one of Europe’s top river cruise destinations.
We stayed just outside one of the towns along the river called Peso da Regua. We stayed at Quinta de Travassinhos, an absolutely gorgeous manor house up in the hills. They offer breakfast and dinner, as well as a swimming pool after a busy day of wine tasting.
If you happen to be passing through the town, book a table at Aneto & Table. Travelling along the river is easy from there and you can also visit Pinhao in the heart of the wine region, and visit vineyards and wine estates. Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta das Carvalhas are recommended.
Top Tip: Make sure you try a Porto cocktail (tonic water and white or pink port), and and thank me later.
If you choose to only stay in Porto, make sure visit the World of Wine museum, as well as the Sandeman Port Wine Cellars. It located right on the water with lots of restaurants around it, and you can take the tour or do a tasting. The building also houses a hostel and boutique hotel, and in fact the beds are made into a barrel structure (yes, of course I asked to have a look!).
I have linked some of the top wine tours and experiences here, and you can also check out Sarah’s travel guides below:
Read: Why you need to choose Porto for your next city break
Read: 6 European river cruises to add to your bucket list
How to Get to Porto: Ryanair fly to Porto from Dublin
10. Greece: Thessaloniki / Halkidiki
On a recent trip to Halkidiki, we combined a couple of nights in Thessaloniki with a beach stay in Afitos. As Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki is often overlooked by tourists heading to Athens or the islands, but it is actually regarded as Greece’s culinary capital. ( Sandra Skelton )
With bustling markets, traditional tavernas, stylish rooftop bars and a thriving café culture, it is a fantastic destination for food lovers. It is also close to some of Greece’s best wine regions, making it an excellent choice for a food and wine break or, like us, the perfect add-on to a summer holiday in Halkidiki.
It’s a really walkable city, and has so many lovely bars and restaurants and the shopping was brilliant. We stayed at The Met Hotel and loved it. ( Sandra Skelton )
Top Tip: Make sure to book a table at Ble Vin
Having tasted some beautiful wines the night before both on our roof terrace and a local restaurant, we searched out a nearby vineyard called Ktima Gerovassilou. It was on our way to Afitos so we were happy to stop for lunch and a tasting. It is beautifully situated, and we had a wonderful lunch and wine tasting, I can highly recommend a visit.
I have linked some of the top rated wine tours and experiences here:
How to get to Thessaloniki: Ryanair fly from Dublin to Thessaloniki.
If you want to extend your stay with a luxury stay in Halkidiki, look no further than Sarah’s favourite luxury resort – Sani.
Read: The ultimate guide to Sani Resort
Read: Holiday deals to Sani Resort
I hope this post on wine holidays in Europe will help you plan a trip away soon. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, accommodation facilities and attractions are subject to change.
Note some of the links in this post contain affiliate links, where I receive a small commission if a booking is made, but at no additional cost to you.
