Europe is, by far, the best wine destination in the world. Even if you lack expertise and only enjoy the occasional glass, there are plenty of places here that will turn you into a full-time enthusiast and, if not, will at least introduce you to new flavors, experiences, and history.
You may be looking for the best wine tasting in Europe for education or for just enjoying a glass of red prepared by the locals. No matter your reasons, Europe is the place to be for wine-lovers. You only have to choose a region! Italian corners, the French scene – all await you with a drink and a story.
Read on to learn more about some of the best wine-tasting regions in Europe.
The Best Wine-Tasting Regions in Europe
Tuscany, Italy
Known for landscapes, history, and artistic legacy, Tuscany is a great region to include in your Italy trip and one of the best places for wine tasting in Europe.
Big names like Chianti, Vino Nobile de Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vernaccia di San Gimignano stand at the front of Tuscany’s cultural scene, where tasting wine and learning the essentials is a huge thing!
The main tourist spots and most popular cities are Florence, Castiglione della Pescaia, Pisa, San Gimignano, Lucca, Grosseto, and Siena, and these are precisely the places where you should start your journey to becoming a real connoisseur. There are around a hundred wineries in Tuscany, most offering a tour, a lesson, and a wine tasting.
So, try out new flavors, spices, and types. Once you really get into it and start paying attention to what you are drinking, Italian wine, for example, can alter your whole palette and turn you into an expert!
Like with any country, speaking a some Italian will open doors, smiles and very likely more wine bottles! With that in mind, you may want to learn some useful Italian expressions to help you on your trip.
Read Also: Best Wine Tours in California
Catalonia, Spain
It probably comes as no surprise that the Mediterranean is the one place dominating this list; with their love and appreciation for the most flavorful things in life, excellent food pairing, and a little buzz in the afternoon, you can trust that you have come in the right place to learn.
And Catalonians are here to convert you into the amateur turned wine-lover. You just have to know where to go!
All jokes aside, the Catalan climate and soil are both very convenient for growing and establishing wineries. There are plenty of outcast little cities that produce some of the best flavors, and you can probably find most in Barcelona.
Even though not a wine region, the capital city of Catalonia is still a focal point of Catalan wine and Spanish cuisine. So, if you are still wandering about the capital city trying to choose the best store-bought wine, take the train from Madrid to Barcelona, and let’s have a real tasting!
Whatever you do, make sure to try out Cava, a sparkling wine that has become a tradition here in Catalonia after being born and perfected in the early 1870s. Just pair it with your food – most restaurants here have it.
Bordeaux, France
Where does your mind go when you think about a French snack or a typical dinner? Let’s be honest, you are probably thinking of a baguette, a little cheese, and a glass of the best wine in the place. You are not exactly far off, and you are definitely right about the best wine!
Even for an average drinker who does not necessarily carry any further knowledge of the beverage, names of the most famous wines in Bordeaux ring a bell. If you have always been aware of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, this gorgeous French region is your go-to destination.
Over 86% of the wine in Bordeaux is red, with red wine production outnumbering white wine six to one. So, you will probably have more chances of trying out wines of great fruit concentration, tannic, and long fermentation.
Even if the names of the Red Bordeaux, the Red Libourne, or the “Left Bank” wines do not mean anything to you, you will find out soon enough; just ask any local, a waiter, your neighbor, or a tour guide!
Eger, Hungary
This one is probably a bit surprising! While we all know the big guys of the wine scene, like France, Spain, and Italy, Hungary is your humble, unassuming leader in Central Europe, ready to introduce you to the world of absolute deliciousness.
One of the most renowned historical wine regions in the country, Eger lies in the northeast of Hungary, casually producing the most flavorful reds and whites, excellent in technique and tang.
Mostly, Eger wins for its climate and soil, which makes for the perfect conditions for grapes to ripen fully. Their wines are perfectly elegant and balanced – fruity, yet carry fresh acidity.
While Hungary is not a country of endless landscapes and greenery, you can still have a taste in any cafe, restaurant, or even street food vendor. For a real lesson, sign up for a local wine tasting, but you are here for the flavor only, do a little research and buy the bottle!
The Douro Valley, Portugal
Lastly, let’s visit the valley of the most beautiful surroundings, picturesque corners, and stunning, widely-acclaimed wine. Portugal is famous for its wine, among other things.
The engine room of fortified, sweet Port wines, the Douro Valley is a place of terraced vineyards, historic wine recipes, and the best menus to pair the wines with.
There are more than 80 different types of grapes used in the making of both still and fortified beverages in the Douro Valley, giving it a vast variety of flavors and keeping you on your toes!
Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewurztraminer are all big names in the wine community, and you can have the best of it here in Portugal. But big names and rich taste are not all you get.
The Douro Valley is actually one of the oldest wine regions in the world, declared as such as early as the 18th century, so make sure you order a history lesson next to that tall glass.
Enjoy these delicious wines and make sure to learn something as well. Even the most basic wine tastings introduce you to the making, traditions, and general principles regarding the drink, so keep that all in mind if you want to look like a real connoisseur.
To wrap up your experience, locals will appreciate it if you say thank you in Portuguese!
Now, have a great Eurotrip, and enjoy every drop of it. Remember – it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!