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Red, white, or rosé?
Europe pops first in mind whenever you think of wines. Its countries take the top spots in wine production—Italy, France, and Spain are the world’s biggest wine producers, accounting for almost half of the world’s vino. But it’s not just the premium bottles that make visitors heady. The lush carpets of vineyards, the beautiful food pairings, the charming villages, the family-owned wineries, and the quaint vineyard stays are pearls of the same string of experience.
But where do you start from? There are 3.2 million hectares of vineyards in the European Union, a massive variety of wines, and all sorts of wine tasting holidays. So, for the fans of merlot or barolo, we bring the top 10 regions in Europe.
This is a research conducted by Holidu, a search engine for holiday rentals. It explains, “For this study, the average price of a bottle of wine (average range), number of wine producers in the country, litres of wine consumed per capita, number of wine-growing regions (more than 120) and number of master’s degrees in oenology in the country were considered. A weight was assigned to each of these data points and a final ranking of the best regions in Europe for wine lovers was then created.”
Unsurprisingly, Italy dominates this list with five regions, and Spain and France tie with two regions each. The only outlier is Portugal’s Setúbal region.
1 OF 10
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
WHERE: France
In the southwest of France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the largest region in France with more than 11,000 vineyards. From Bordeaux wines to cognac and armagnac (brandy), it has soothed the palate of wine connoisseurs with premium spirits. The average price of a wine in Bordeaux is €5. Fishing villages offer succulent seafood dishes, fortified towns tell stories of their history, and all around the vineyards the vistas catch you by surprise every time you look up.
2 OF 10
Sicily
WHERE: Italy
Sicily champions vinitourism. It is Spain’s largest wine producer with 98,000 hectares of vineyards. The Mediterranean island has a long history of wine-making and its native grape varieties have their distinct flavor tones. You should especially try the wines of Mount Etna. The volcanic terrain on the slopes of this active volcano adds minerality and acidity to the wines and makes them unique.
Related: Stanley Tucci Tells Us His Favorite Spots in Italy
3 OF 10
Castilla la Mancha
WHERE: Spain
Spain makes its debut on this list with the region in the country that has the most vineyards. Castilla la Mancha, the setting of Don Quixote, is located in the heart of the country, close to the capital of Madrid. The bucolic inland is peppered with windmills, castles, and cathedrals, and the grape vines set the mood of this pensive area for visitors. Tomelloso city has many famous wineries, and Valdepeñas is considered the wine capital of Castilla la Mancha. When in La Mancha, step out of the wineries to see the Alcázar fortress in Toledo and “casas colgadas” (hanging houses) perched on cliff edges in Cuenca.
4 OF 10
Campania
WHERE: Italy
Campania is one of the oldest wine regions in Italy. Over centuries, it has perfected the art of wine-making. Tourasi (red), Fenile (white), and Falanghina (white) are the most popular wines from this region. If you’re looking for a well-rounded gastronomical experience, fly to the Amalfi Coast and pair your wine tastings and vineyard tours with cooking classes. In fact, you can also jet set to Mount Vesuvius to sample wines produced on its slopes and see the ruins of Pompeii.
5 OF 10
Umbria
WHERE: Italy
Known as Italy’s “green heart,” Umbria promises a magical stay to visitors. Tuscany is a crowd favorite, but its neighbor bewitches with its medieval architecture, Renaissance art, and dramatic sceneries painted by its hills, lakes, and valleys. Your refined palates will love the indulgence of its local black truffle, grown with much pride. The Sagrantino grapes have been grown in Montefalco for 400 years and the full-bodied red wine they produce is a gift you’d want to buy for yourself.
6 OF 10
Pays de la Loire
WHERE: France
The western French region of Pays de la Loire has taken the sixth place thanks to its 4,625 wine producers. The famous Loire Valley, along River Loire, is a mecca for dry wines such as Chenin Blanc, Muscadet, and Sancerre. Once you’ve had a nice taste of it, there are more attractions in the valley: it’s more than 300 chateaux that are centuries old.
7 OF 10
Comunidad Valenciana
WHERE: Spain
Spain makes another appearance on this list with the region of Valencia. There are a smorgasbord of grape varieties grown in this region and the provinces of Castellón, Valencia, and Alicante are top picks for wine lovers. Wineries in idyllic settings—along the coast and in the mountains—introduce you to the Spanish way of life. Get ready for a gastronomy journey as traditional dishes make it to the table along with the wine glasses.
8 OF 10
Tuscany
WHERE: Italy
It is no surprise that the region of Tuscany has made it to the list. It’s a centre for food, art, and culture, and every kind of traveler will find something to satisfy their soul here. If you want to further your knowledge on wine and wine making, there are many options in Tuscany to professionally learn from the masters. Join wine tasting and cooking classes, stay in a rustic farm in the gentle hills, and make your time in Tuscany all about self-indulgence. Chianti is the region that’s most popular for its lush fields of vineyards and olive groves—this should definitely be on your list when you plan a trip.
9 OF 10
Setúbal
WHERE: Portugal
Amidst all the bigwigs, Setúbal flies under radar, but it has a long history of wine making. The wines aren’t just locally appreciated, but also recognized as some of the finest internationally. Its Moscatel de Setúbal is a sweet wine that’s particularly famous.
10 OF 10
Piedmont
WHERE: Italy
And Italy takes another spot in this top 10! According to the study, a bottle of wine in Piedmont isn’t as cheap as the other regions. But there are reasons to pay a pretty buck to be here: the region at the foothills of the Alps has impressive restaurants serving excellent food (think creamy, rich pastas) and wines. Gourmet travelers will have a merry time indulging on red bottles of Barolo (one of the country’s best) and white truffles of Alba.