By Editorial Staff / The harvest season is here for many of the world’s viticultural centers, tempting visitors to tastings of tried-and-true vintages and more innovative wines. Our favorite wine regions to visit at this time of year range from the classic castle-country of France’s scenic Loire Valley and the sun-kissed vineyards of Tuscany, to the Western US, where America’s marvelous wines emerge from soils stretching from California to Oregon. But we're also keen on lesser-known wine-producing areas, like Canada’s Niagara region, which touts scenic wonders and icewine to boot, and European centers that specialize in sherry and port. Even if you're too late to catch this year's bounty, you can plan ahead for a visit to three top grape-growing destinations in the Southern Hemisphere, whose coveted harvest season will spring forth when our northerly winter ends.
By Editorial Staff / The harvest season is here for many of the world’s viticultural centers, tempting visitors to tastings of tried-and-true vintages and mo... more
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1
Andalucía
Flamenco and tapas are best when accompanied by a savory glass of Andalucía’s own famous sherry. With Spain touting more vineyard acreage than anywhere in the world, this southwestern Spanish province accordingly produces an array of fine wines but is most renowned for its dry to sweet amber sherry. Most tours in the region start off in Seville and head to Jerez de Frontera (the sherry capital of the world) where you’ll learn the ins and outs of wine making and how varietals like vinegar and Jerez brandy are produced, and, of course, get to taste some quality selections. After exploring the vineyards, sample Spain’s finest at a traditional wine bar, better known as a bodega, where barrels of wine are stacked on multicolored tile floors and links of sausage and herbs hang from wooden beams. Here, you can spend afternoons nibbling on salty olives, snacking on delicious tapas, all the while sampling glass after glass of fragrant sherry.
2
Cape Winelands
The Cape’s striking wine country, just 45 minutes northeast of Cape Town, in South Africa (the seventh-largest wine-producing country in the world), comprises some 417 square miles of vineyards. In addition to world-class wineries such as the Bergkelder, famous for its subterranean “cellar in the mountain,” you can indulge your palate at world-class restaurants like Bosman’s at the Grand Roche Hotel, in Paarl. Tour organizers can plan day trips from Cape Town into the heart of the area, taking in craggy mountain ranges, lush vineyards, and Cape Dutch homesteads, and perhaps a visit to the historic town of Stellenbosch, the second-oldest European settlement in South Africa. Go in the summer to witness the wine harvest – and note that South Africa’s seasons are opposite those in North America.
3
California
Northern California’s neighboring Napa and Sonoma valleys, situated just north of San Francisco, have astounded in-the-know grape tasters the world over with the consistent quality and diverse appellations turned out by the more than 200 wineries that operate in each of these two wine country regions. The largest wine-producing area in the U.S., wine-tasting tourism in Napa and Sonoma has exploded in recent years, having been particularly bolstered by the release of the popular film Sideways (2004), which showcased California's Santa Barbara Wine Country. The appeal is obvious – small, family-owned, boutique wineries are neatly tucked away in the scenic rolling vineyards – discovered only by curious visitors who come for sampling of their sublimely flavored vintages. A series of quaint towns feature eclectic shops, haute-cuisine restaurants, superb spas, and charming inns, providing welcomed diversions for travelers in between grape tastes. Don’t miss out on the quintessential local activity of hot-air ballooning – offering an opportunity to appreciate the valleys’ fresh country air, romantic lifestyle, and extraordinary scenery in all of its glory.
4
Hunter Valley
As harvest season unfolds in the northern hemisphere, spring is in full swing Down Under – marking the start of a new winemaking season in these spectacular rolling vineyards just two-hours north of Sydney. Thriving with first-rate vintages and over 100 wineries, this South Wales valley offers an incredible variety of shops and restaurants, many of them overlooking verdant vineyards, to make it one of the most attractive and visited wine regions in Australia. Many tours depart from Sydney and include horse-drawn carriage rides, boutique wine tastings, and a picnic lunch, making for the perfect country interlude after an urban escape. You can also sample local cheeses churned out by valley cheese makers and frothier beverages, like popular ginger beer, also produced by local breweries.
5
Loire Valley
A fairytale vin-tasting adventure awaits in the vineyard-bordered castle country of France’s Loire Valley – arguably the most beautiful wine region in the world. For lovers of fine wine and all finer things in life, one would be hard-pressed to uncover a setting as exquisite as the famed, fertile valley of the sinuous Loire River, a place seeped in rich history from regal chateaux to its long viticultural tradition. Situated just on the western boundaries of Paris, the area is blessed with a gentle climate and rich soil, allowing for the production of diverse appellations with vast degrees of character. While the Loire’s numerous vineyards are most famous for their production of white wine (accounting for 75% of the wine produced here) such as Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet, and Chenin Blanc, some delightful, fruity and pleasant reds such as Cabernet Franc can be enjoyed here, as well. The excitement of the senses stretches far beyond the palate, too, as wine tours can be combined with hiking, bicycling, or hot air ballooning through the scenic countryside, and visits to some of the area’s most awe-inspiring chateaux, of which two particular jaw-droppers are Chambord and Chenonceau.
6
Mendoza
As Argentina’s wines increase in popularity, so does travel to the country’s wine-producing provinces, and particularly that of Mendoza, where, in addition to flourishing vineyards nestled in the foothills of the snow-capped Andes (the highest peak on the continent), this northwestern region also touts nature reserves, alpine ski resorts, and a picturesque city. Surprisingly, the sweet grapes that grow here come from harsh desert land that flourishes thanks to extensive, centuries-old irrigation canals created by the Incas. Various bodegas are scattered throughout and offer free tours and tastings (open weekdays only). Visit during Vendimia, the annual harvest festival, which kicks off in January and boasts folkloric celebrations, grape-blessing ceremonies, and plenty of other merry events – all of which culminate on the first Saturday in March. Wine aficionados should follow the Ruta de los Vinos (Route of the Wines) where you can vineyard hop, visit ancient cellars, museums, and sip excellent selections.
7
Niagara
The Niagara Region (in Ontario) and the Niagara Frontier (in New York) together compose a picturesque wine-producing area whose geologic features from the Great Lakes of Ontario and Erie to the Niagara Escarpment (a 1675-ft high ridge) make not only for wondrous scenery, but have helped foster superb conditions for year-round grape-growing. Moderate temperatures and rich soils allow dozens of wineries to turn out an excellent variety of vinefera grape harvests each year, from Chardonnay to Riesling to Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. The region’s biggest claim to fame, however, is its icewine, a delicious, intensely flavored wine created from grapes harvested after the first winter frost – the region is one of the only wine-producing regions in the world to produce the coveted product with such consistency and quality. Ontario’s Wine Route on the Canadian side of the region, or the Niagara Wine Trail, on the US side, each offer an excellent opportunity to tour the vineyards and taste the region’s award-winning wines. We recommend basing a Niagara wine country trip in the quaint town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, where charming bed & breakfasts, boutiques, restaurants, and shops will keep you happily occupied when not tasting the grapes – plus, it’s only a half-hour drive from Niagara Falls.
8
Oregon
While Oregon’s southerly California neighbor may get all of the glory when it comes to wine-making, that’s not to say that Oregon doesn’t produce equally glorious wines in its own right. In fact, many speculate that, if it weren’t for the state’s more longstanding stint with Prohibition, the region today would be the de facto forerunner in the US industry! All the same, Oregon presently lays claim to close to 320 wineries, which turn out more than 40 varieties including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, Syrah, and many others. The Willamette Valley is the state’s thriving center (and the largest region), luring connoisseurs with its internationally acclaimed Pinot Noir and plethora of charming wineries that occupy some 100 scenic miles between Portland and Eugene. This picturesque valley is a great place to ponder the pioneers who were lured this way via the Oregon Trail while enjoying some fantastic local wine on an impromptu picnic lunch or a hot-air balloon ride. We recommend basing your stay in Dundee or McMinnville, where good restaurants and quality inns abound.
9
Porto
Portugal’s newest must-visit destination, Porto’s biggest claim to fame is the sweet fortified wine that bears its name and gave it an international reputation (and lasting export). The stuff has been aged here for centuries, in nearby Vila Nova de Gaia – an area easily reachable by a ten-minute walk across Ponte Dom Luis I – where some 50 traditional port lodges offer intoxicating samplings and tours. Set aside an afternoon for some sampling of the renowned Sandeman label’s wares – the distillery was founded back in 1790 and housed in a former convent – or, for a less touristy experience, head to Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman, a wonderfully atmospheric lodge that’s been around since 1692 and features some top-notch vintage brands. If you still want to know more about Port, and have the time to spare, you can also take a day-long cruise to the Douro Valley – Porto’s equivalent of Napa – where the vineyards that produce Porto grapes are found.
10
Tuscany
Rolling hillsides swathed in rows upon rows of emerald vines, idyllic farmhouses flanked by tall cypress trees, and hilltop medieval castles – the Tuscan countryside is always a spectacular sight, never mind the source of plenty of premium vino! For a romantic rendezvous or an enlightening vineyard tour, Italy’s best known wine region is divine, especially during the autumn harvest season when you can really get in on the grape-stomping action and taste the fruits of your labor. The highlight of the area is no doubt Chianti, Italy’s most famous and arguably most beautiful wine district. Bordered by the suburbs of Florence to the north and by the city of Siena to the south, Chianti is decked out in gothic bastions, olive groves, and 10,000 acres of sprawling vineyards, all in the shadow of protective mountains.
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