5 Wine Regions to Drink in Before You Die

Wine Tour Mendoza Argentina
View from my last wine tour in Mendoza, Argentina

Ever since my Bicycle Wine Tour in Mendoza, Argentina I’ve been addicted to the Malbec wine that’s produced in that Argentine wine region. I’ve never been a big wine connoisseur until that point and now I’m dying to checkout other wine producing regions and wineries around the world.

Here are the Top 5 wine regions and wineries I want to visit in the near future:

#5 – Napa Valley, California

Although America’s most famous wine region only produces 4% of California’s wine production, the scenery within Northern California’s grape oasis is second to none. Tourist-friendly family-owned vineyards, charming towns and lush mountains run along the miles and miles of beautiful grape vines. Cabernet Sauvignons, Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Merlots are all famously featured from this region.

#4 – Douro, Portugal

I’ve never been to Portugal but its tops on my list of places to visit in the near future. After I pick up Portuguese in Brazil that’s where I’ll hopefully head to next.  Once in Portugal, tracing the origins of Port wine in the Douro wine region will be my first order of business. The style of wines produced in the Douro range from light, Bordeaux style claret to rich Burgundian style wines aged in new oak. I just hope I can find a few beautiful Portuguese women to share in the adventure.

#3 – Tuscany, Italy

Venice Italy
I would start in Venice, Italy and Motorcycle Down to Tuscany to Taste Wines

In my opinion, Tuscany is the sexiest winery region in the world based on all the beautiful landscape, people and language. One day, I’d love to ride a motorcycle across the Tuscan region tasting all the local wines and olives along the way. I think I would go back to Venice first and I’d Rent an apartment in Venice to fit in like an Italian local and then travel south from there. Best known for its Chianti wine, Tuscana, is one of the leading producers of both upscale and everyday reds and whites in the world.  In the district of Chianti, between Siena and Florence, there are over 10,000 acres of vineyards. I wouldn’t stop in Tuscany however, further north; nestled in the foothills of the Alps, there are a ton of great wineries as well. One in particular is the Franz Haas winery where they’ve been producing incredible wines for over 120 years.

#2 – Southeastern Australia

While I’m not a big fan of sweet dessert wines, I do love Australian Pinor Noir. Australia has an incredibly vast wine region that stretches well across the Continent’s Southern tip from Melbourne to Sydney and beyond. You’ll definitely need to catch domestic flights to cover the vast Australian wine region in a limited amount of time. The Australian Wine Industry is the fourth largest exporter of wine around the world, with the major varieties being predominantly Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Semillon, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. Next time I’m in Australia, I’m going to fill up on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Yarra Valley at the Innocent Bystander Wines estate.

#1 – Bordeaux, France

By many peoples’ standards, Bordeaux, France is home to the finest collection of vineyards in the world. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes produce incredible Pomerol, Graves and Malbec wines that I’d love to tour around tasting. Another prominent wine region in France is the Loire Valley, the area where 75% of France’s wines are produced. The area is known most for its white wines, including Sauvignon Blanc. An exceptional example of the greatness of French wine can be found at Domaine de Bel Air The Mauroy family who have been grape growers for over 10 generations has 14 hectares of Pouilly Fume vineyards, located on the south-facing slopes of Pouilly-sur-Loire and Saint-Andelain, the village originally made famous by Didier Dagueneau.

My name is Gareth Leonard, a Marketing Director turned World Traveler with a passion for slow, meaningful travel. I have been traveling the world full-time for the past 9+ years and document it all on Instagram and YouTube. Come join me!

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