The Best Wine Regions in Europe
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No matter where you go in Europe, you’re likely to find some amazing wine regions. From the rolling hills of Italy to the famed vineyards of France, each country has its own unique wine culture and landscape.
It’s not exactly a secret that some of the most famous wines come from Europe. While many people travel for food, sights, and experience, wine is definitely another great excuse to pack up your bags and hit the road.
Europe, of course, is an excellent place to go on a wine-tasting adventure, especially when you consider how many wine regions the continent boasts.
If you’re thinking of planning a trip to Europe in order to experience its unique wine-making scene, here are some of the best wine regions you should keep on your radar for your next destination.
The Best Wine Regions in Europe
Tuscany, Italy
Located in Italy, the Tuscany wine region stretches along the Lugiran coast bordering Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Umbria, Lazio, and Liguria.
All along the area, you’ll be treated to views of vineyards and olive groves across rolling hills, with farmhouses and several castles scattered all over to add to the magical mix.
Thanks to its climate, the wineries in Tuscany produce world-class wines, including several renowned names such as Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile, and Chianti.
Rioja, Spain
Rioja is a small region in the northern side of Spain that produces some of the best Tempranillo in the world.
Aside from touring all the vineyards, the magic of visiting this wine region in Europe is the fact that you can pair your tastings with delicious tapas (they’re known as pinchos here).
You’ll find several world-famous wineries here such as the Marqués de Riscal winery, but you’ll also be able to find plenty of smaller, family-owned ones in case you want a more local experience.
Bordeaux, France
Quite likely the most famous wine region in France and Europe, Bordeaux is one of the largest wine-producing areas in Europe.
Located on the Atlantic coast, the climate and setting of Bordeaux create the perfect recipe for high-quality wines. The area is divided into two main parts, the Left Bank and the Right Bank, both of which produce Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon mainly.
90% of the wine produced here is red, but you’ll find a few white Bordeaux blends as well created with grapes like Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.
A few can’t-miss estates during your visit to Bordeaux include Château Latour, Château Haut-Brion, Château Haut-Brion, and Château Mouton Rothschild.
Douro Valley, Portugal
Created by Porto and Douro, two of the most famous wine-producing regions in Portugal and the world, the Duoro Valley is responsible for the creation of Port wines. Even though many wineries around the world have tried to mimic Port wines, like champagne in France, REAL Port wines can only be produced here!
The wine region is also famous for its rich unfortified wines, with both red and white grape varieties available (Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cao, Viosinho, Rabigato, and more!). Must-visit wineries in the Duoro Valley include Quinta De Sequeira, Quinta De Sequeira, and Quinta Da Gaivosa.
Mosel, Germany
Mosel in Germany has been producing wine since the 15th century, making it a pretty old wine region in Europe and a wonderful place to learn about German wine-making.
The regional wine here is called Riesling, which has a very specific flavor that is easy to identify due to the deposit in the region’s soil. The region is known for its crisp white wines with a pretty low percentage of alcohol.
Aside from its excellent grapes, the Mosel region has plenty of terraced vineyards, charming villages, and several medieval castles, making road-tripping here an absolute delight.
Champagne, France
A place that needs no introduction – Champagne is the wine region in France where you go to taste sparkling bubbles! This area in northeastern France produces delicious sparkling wines that were named after the region (thus, if you want real champagne, it needs to have been produced here!)
Here, you’ll find some of the most renowned Champagne houses in the world as well as plenty of familñy-owned wine cellars. Whatever you do, make sure not to leave without opening a bottle of champagne the right way with the method used at Pol Couronne winery.
Moravia, Czechia
A little lesser known than other wine regions on this list, Moravia is a charming region in southeastern Czechia that produces over 90% of the wines from the country.
For avid wine lovers, Moravia may very well come to mind when they think of their favorite wine-producing regions, but if you’re not familiar (yet) – that’s totally okay!
This region is especially loved for its white wines and its extremely high-quality grapes (some of the best ones in Europe!) – Muller-Thurgau, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Gruner Veltliner, and Welschriesling are all produced here.
Reds are also made here, with Cabernet Moravia, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Blaufränkisch, and Zweigelt starting to gain popularity around the world.
Piedmont, Italy
Piedmont is one of the best wine regions to fully immerse yourself in the world of Italian wines. While the area is famous for Barolo and Barbaresco’s Nebbiolo-based wines, they actually only account for a very small percentage of the wine produced in the region!
Thanks to its location in the Italian Alps mixed with a Mediterranean climate, grapes such as Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Moscato Bianco, and Arneis thrive here. Food pairings are also huge here, so you can expect to eat aplenty as you tour the wine estates.
Tenuta La Marchesa, Manera Fratelli, Salvano, and Azienda Agricola Biodinamica La Raia are great spots to start getting acquainted with Piedmont and its wines.
Which of these are on your bucket list? Which one is your favorite and why? Let me know all about it in the comment section below!