Top 10 Wine Destinations

Source: Cheapflights.com

It’s harvest season, and the best way to celebrate is to raise your glass to the delicious wines made from all over the world.

From North America to South America over to Europe, Africa, and Oceania, some of the best grapes fulfill their destinies in bottles, and we’re quite thankful. Check out our Top 10 picks for wine destinations around the globe.

Santiago, Chile
Existing between the Andes Mountains and the coastline, Santiago shares similarities in geography with Casablanca Valley, the Maipo Valley and San Antonio. Winemaking here dates back to the 16th century, and is now the fifth-largest exporter of wines in the world, and the ninth-largest producer.

Jerez, Spain
Though not especially versatile, we like Jerez for its dedication to what it does best: Sherry. Simultaneously dry and smooth, Sherry made in this region goes well as an aperitif with rich flavors, like olives or cheese.

Central Otago, New Zealand
New Zealand is constantly recognized for its sense of adventure, and the fun continues into its winemaking. Superlative by nature, New Zealand owns the title for the most southerly wine-producing regions in the world, some even hail from the floor of glacial valleys. The highly-respected Central Otago area boasts a lavish mix of stunning scenery and love for Pinot Noir.

Adelaide, Australia
Once you get your wine in Adelaide, the fun part is bringing it to one of the many “BYO” restaurants nearby. The Adelaide Hills, Lenswood, and Picadilly Valley are well-respected in the industry.

Mendoza, Argentina
Equally celebrated for its party atmosphere as its wine culture, Mendoza is surrounded by vineyards and accounts for almost two-thirds of the entire country’s wine production. Some vineyards near the Andes and Mount Aconcagua are planted at some of the highest altitudes in the world. Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Chardonnay are highlighted here.

Tuscany, Italy
Located in central Italy and reaching as far as the Mediterranean coast, Tuscany is notable for its Chianti, Brunello and Sangiovese grapes. It also serves up delicious desert wine, Vio Santo, which is a blend of grapes from different parts of the region.

Bordeaux, France
We could have written an entire Top 10 on France alone, but Bordeaux makes our top pick. While it’s sometimes ushered into the expensive genre of viticulture, there are in fact deals to be found on Bordeaux that can be enjoyed with casual fare. White Bordeaux, made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are more subtle, clean, and mineral driven.

Mosel Valley, Germany
Known mostly for its sweet-tasting Riesling, Mosel produces what some consider to be the world’s’ best white grape. Surrounded by steep slopes of slate soil, the vines grow without much exposure to direct sunlight.

Cape Town, South Africa
Chenin Blanc is the star player here, as the Cape Fold Mountains provide the perfect soil for grape growth and wine making. Stellenboch is just outside of Cape Town, and is world-renowned for its variety of soils and is developing a character for its reds. Other parts of the region that beckon wine lovers include Franschhoek, Wellington, Constantia and Paarl.

Douro Valley, Portugal
Its steeply-terraced vineyards make Douro Valley one of Portugal’s premium wine regions. The area used to be known for harshly-tasting table wine, but ever since leaders in the industry have worked hard to develop its specialty, the region has flourished and is gaining momentum in its vintage Port.