3 Charming Destinations For A European Wine Tour

When on vacation in Europe, wine lovers are spoiled for choice with a number of lovely destinations to enjoy.  Whether you have a preference for a particular country’s wine, here are three charming locations in Spain, Italy and Croatia for your next wine tour.

1. Vilafranca del Penedès, Catalonia, Spain

While Spain is renowned for its Rioja wines, a truly charming wine location can be found in Vilafranca del Penedès. An hour’s drive from Barcelona, Vilafranca, for short, is the capital of the Alt Penedès comarca of Catalonia.

Nestling on the banks of the Foix River, this lovely town is surrounded by scenic mountain views and lush vineyards. Dotted around the area are many charming rural hotels and bed and breakfasts.

Among the wines here Cava (bubbly wine) is famous on a worldwide level. However, Penedès also produces some stellar dry reds and whites and some truly delicious dessert wines. Some of the historic wine estates to visit include Can Feixes, Parés Baltà, Can Ràfols dels Caus and Mas Comtal. Take a wine tour of the Penedès area soon.

2. Tuscany, Italy

Heading to Italy, one of the most scenically beautiful areas is Tuscany. With its green, rolling hills, lines of cypress trees and charming historic cities and towns, Tuscany offers one of the best Italian wine country experiences.

Head out from Florence into the Chianti Classico, with medieval wine villages perched on the hills. Here wines from famous producers like Castello di Ama and Badia a Passignano can be sampled and enjoyed.

Travel to beautiful and historic Siena to enjoy a visit to Montepulciano, Montalcino and other classic wine producers. While there, sleep in a luxurious castle with scenic views over the valley before heading to Maremma. Maremma is known for the country’s “Super Tuscan Wines.” All along the way, dine on the best traditional Italian cuisine, while supping more of the delicious Tuscan wines.

3. Croatian wine experiences

Croatia is an upcoming European vacation destination, with its stunning scenery, unique historic towns and gorgeous beaches. This south-eastern European country also offers some excellent wines. The following are two of the best locations for a wine tour.

The Pelješac Peninsula offers a wine experience along with sun, sand and sea. The peninsula is famous for its seafood, including the famous Mali Ston oysters. Wash down your meal with the famous Plavac Mali wine from Dingač and Postup. The Plavac Mali variety is among the most potent red grape varieties in Croatia.

Next, we visit the Croatian island of Hvar, nestled in the Adriatic Sea. This popular summer resort offers history in the form of 13th-century walls, the Renaissance Hvar Cathedral and a hilltop fortress. There are also spectacular beaches here and pretty lavender fields.

This UNESCO heritage area of Croatia has been growing wines for 2,400 years, starting with the ancient Greeks. The Romans, the Venetians and the Socialists also produced excellent vintages in this area. Among the wineries, visit the vineyards of Stari Grad Plain, where wine production methods have changed very little over the centuries.

Experience the wines of Europe on your next wine tour, visiting Spain, Italy, Croatia or other world-class wine producing areas.

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