More than a passion, a true religion: wine is undoubtedly one of life's pleasures, especially for Italians. This is thanks to a country blessed with extraordinary wine regions, where some of the world's top wines are produced - Chianti, Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino... the list is endless. Tasting local wines is one of the highlights of any holiday: enjoying them in their place of origin makes them even more delightful and allows travelers to meet the people who produce them, perhaps visiting the wineries where they are made and the vineyards where they grow. A walking trip immerses us even more in the landscape, letting us appreciate every detail. And what a pleasure it is to taste the sweet fruits of the vineyards we have walked through all day!
In this article, we introduce five perfect destinations for wine lovers. While we are Italian and proud of our wine heritage, we also recognize the merits of other countries. Thus, we challenge ourselves with just two trips within Italy; the remaining three will take you to other European countries to discover how exceptional and unique their wines can be, cultivated on cliffs or volcanic terrain. Where exactly? Let's find out.
Tenerife - Canary Islands
Starting a list of wine destinations with Spain may seem unexpected, but Tenerife - beyond its lush nature, perfect trekking routes for nature lovers, and all the Spanish charm - offers a delicious and incredibly unique wine, made distinctly mineral by the volcanic terrain around Mount Teide. The most well-known and appreciated wines? The two Malvasias (volcanic and aromatic), the white Listán, the Vijariego, and Marmajuelo among the white grapes; and the Listán Negro, Negramoll, Vijariego, and Baboso Negro among the red grapes.
Piedmont: Barolo and Barbaresco
Back to Italy and to a region that needs no introduction for wine lovers: the vineyards covering the orderly rolling hills of Langhe produce some of Italy’s best wines, with Barbaresco and Barolo at the pinnacle. Our walking trips take you here, allowing you to explore the iconic landscape of Langhe on foot, enjoy the stunning views, and taste the wines and other delicacies of this region - with harvest time often being the best season. From truffles to chocolate, from meat to egg tajarin pasta, the culinary delights are endless.
Menalon Trail, Greece
Here is the second wine destination we suggest exploring outside Italy (only if you promise to come back next year!): following the Menalon Trail means immersing yourself in the landscape of the Peloponnese, one of Greece’s main wine regions, with its 60,000 hectares of vineyards and great diversity of natural conditions. This is the perfect opportunity to taste Greek wines - especially the fruity reds of Nemea and the sparkling whites of Mantineia - while walking along a beautiful route that includes monasteries built on rocks, forests, villages, rivers, black marble quarries, castles, and amphitheater-shaped villages.
Camino Sanabrès, Galicia
Returning to Spain and the Camino de Santiago: the Camino Sanabrès, connecting southern Spain to Galicia, is less traveled than the French Camino and offers great rewards for those seeking the Camino experience without the crowds found on the more popular sections. This trip starts in the thermal city of Ourense and ends at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the much-coveted destination of thousands of pilgrims each year. Most importantly, it passes through the Ribeira Sacra - a region entirely devoted to wine, where vineyards are heroically cultivated on terraces overlooking the rugged coastal cliffs.
Cycling in Umbria, between Assisi and Spoleto
Spello, Assisi, Spoleto - some of the most beloved places in Umbria, can be discovered on this cycling trip offered by Italian Bike Tours, our twin website dedicated to cycling tours. It will be a wonderful adventure through the most beautiful spots of this enchanting region, traversing medieval towns, hills covered in vineyards, and along the Tiber River. And the wines? The Montefalco wines are outstanding and highly appreciated - best enjoyed after a day of cycling, to savor them fully without the risk of falling!
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