13 Best wine regions

Originally settled by German Lutherans in the 1830s, the influence of their wine knowledge is still in evidence across Australia’s most famous wine region. Many of the 80-plus wineries in the region have ‘cellar doors’ which are open for tastings. Household names include Jacob’s Creek, Penfolds and Wolf Blass.

The hugely well-known wines of the Beaujolais region are produced northwest of Lyon. The vineyards are set in 14,500 hectares of beautiful hills west of the Saone, in 12 appellations. Many of the wine villages are stunning and well worth a visit alongside the wineries themselves.

The best-known wine areas, such as Fleury, Brouilly or Morgon lie in the north, but the vine-growing areas to the south almost surpass them in beauty. The vineyards are utterly stunning and the area blissfully unspoiled, despite Beaujolais’s famous name.

The official website documents a 140km circular wine route, through the main wine region’s attractions, and a number of lovely routes for walking and cycling.

A must-see for wine lovers from around the world, Bordeaux’s fabled wine estates are fascinating to explore.

There’s plenty to discover (and taste): the region is divided into 57 appellations, with over 8,500 wineries (or châteaux) producing some 800 million bottles a year.

Some 89 percent of these are red wines, including the legendary, stratospherically priced Grands Crus or ‘First Growths’ of the Médoc, Graves and Saint-Emilion. Meanwhile, the sweet, golden Sauternes rules the whites.

South Africa’s oldest wine route is home to more than 150 wineries, many of them still family owned, and the estates around Stellenbosch continue to produce wines that are internationally recognised for their excellent quality.

With a mild Mediterranean climate, proximity to cooling sea breezes and good clay soils, this region is becoming increasingly known for red wines – cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, Bordeaux-style blends, and pinotage.

With gourmet restaurants, gorgeous Cape Dutch architecture and superb art galleries, the route offers so much more than just wine tasting. And it’s not just for adults. Some of the wine estates have good facilities to keep the kids entertained, such as the outdoor playparks at Tokara and Warwick.

The Loire Valley is a remarkable and vast wine region, including several wine regions situated along the Loire River.

It encompasses a mind-boggling 63 appellations (47 in the core Tours, Saumur, Anjou area) and more than 7,000 wine growers, producing all types of wine from sweet white Coteaux de Layon, dry white Savennières and sparkling Vouvray, to hearty red Borgueil, Saumur and Chinon. Loire wines tend to exhibit a characteristic fruitiness with fresh, crisp flavours.

Vineyards dominate the landscape, troglodyte wine cellars are dug into the soft tufa rock, and there are signposted routes and welcome signs to help you, making this a fascinating – and easy – wine region to explore.

The vast Maipo Valley offers an unusual diversity of wines, from the sought-after Cabernet Sauvignons of Alto Maipo to the emerging Carmenere wines of Central Maipo. Framed by the snow-capped Andes, this is a stunning location in its own right, with hot springs and rafting activities on the Maipo River.

The Marlborough wine region (which includes Wairau River) is New Zealand’s largest and most internationally celebrated wine-growing district, famous for its Sauvignon Blanc.

Despite its modest size, the region now offers a wide range of wine styles (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are gaining in popularity), over 80 small wineries and a ravishing rural landscape.

Many of the vineyards offer excellent cellar doors and conduct wine tastings; some have relaxed vineyard restaurants, but everything is wonderfully small-scale and intimate.

As well as wine, the region is also known for superb green-lipped mussels and venison.

The heartland of Argentina’s wine industry, producing 80% if its wine, is just south of Mendoza city.  World-renowned for its exceptional Malbecs, it also grows Cabernet, Sauvignon and Chardonnay grape varieties. Wineries offer tours and tastings, plus there’s a horse-riding, hiking, biking, rafting and skiing all within striking distance of the vineyards.

Bound by mountains on either side, the gem among California’s outstanding wine regions is best known for Cabernet Sauvignon, though the warm, temperate conditions favour many grape varieties. It’s also one of America’s gourmet heartlands, with world-class restaurants, top-notch spas and a range of outdoor activities to sooth and excite more than your pallet.

Sunny Provence has been making wine ever since grapes were introduced by the Ancient Greeks, circa 600 BC. Provence grows some of the most prestigious Cotes du Rhone wines, including the reds of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Beaumes-de-Venise, all located north of Avignon (more details below).

Famous for its quaffable roses, there are also notable AOC areas along the coasts (Bandol, with its Mourvedre wines, Cassis with its whites), while Les Baux-en-Provence is known for organic wines.

The steep, south-facing slopes of the Rhine are home to the best of Germany’s 13 wine regions, famous for the world’s finest Riesling wines. This picturesque, vineyard-filled region is also home to Rhineland castles, traditional wine taverns and many hiking and cycling trails that criss-cross the region.

Rioja’s people have been making wine for over 2,000 years, and in recent decades it has become one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world. Rolling hills and lovely landscapes make an ideal setting for winery-hopping, and estates welcome visitors for tours and tastings.

Recently, estate owners have started to commission some of the world’s greatest architects to build new bodegas (wineries), and the region has become renowned for its striking avant-garde architecture. Look out for the spectacular Bodegas Ysios in Laguardia by Santiago Calatrava, Tondonia in Haro, with a pavilion by Zaha Hadid, and Frank Gehry’s undulating Hotel Marques de Riscal in Elciego.

Stop by the Vivanco family’s wine museum for an insight into the history of winemaking in the region.

Some of Italy’s best wines are produced in the DOCG Chianti Classico, 177,500 acres of undulating, vine-striped land stretching between Florence and Siena. Dozens of wine estates share this fertile terroir, many of which offer tastings and vineyard tours and an opportunity to buy wines from source. Some also have very good restaurants and accommodation.

The history of wine-making in the region dates back hundreds of years. Early Chiantis were a blend of Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Malvasia Bianca grapes; today, a DOC Chianti must be made with at least 80% Sangiovese.

The main Chianti growing area is divided into eight sub-zones. The most famous is Chianti Classico, located between Florence and Siena, which produces some 25 million bottles a year, including some of the region’s greatest wines. Most bottles sport the image of a black rooster on a gold background, a guarantee of quality.

The Niagara Peninsula is home to some of Canada’s oldest and most famous vineyards in what has become a world-class wine-producing region. It’s a landscape of rolling vineyards, charming wineries, and heart-stopping views of Lake Ontario – is just a short hop from Niagara Falls and easy to visit in a day trip, if not longer.

It primarily cultivates cool-climate grape varieties, such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc. These grapes thrive in the region’s moderate temperatures and mineral-rich soils, resulting in exceptional wines. Visitors can sample a wide range of wines, including crisp whites, elegant reds, and ice wines, known for their intense sweetness.

The charming towns of Niagara-on-the-Lake or St Catherines are the ideal bases for exploring it, touring the vineyards and, of course, tasting the wines.