Wine Travels For The Wandering Wine Lover

Where do you go when you want to expand your wine knowledge and also see some lovely sights?

Let’s chat about where you can go, why you should go there, and what you should or might want to drink. Firstly, it’s important to realize that wine traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. I think most of us have read of the incredibly high prices at some Napa-based wineries – well thankfully some of these prices are coming down, as the wine industry is going through a somewhat turbulent time. Very elevated prices, a glut of wine, and general market opposition are making certain wineries re-think their approach which is of course a good thing for those of us who want to visit and sample their wares!

When you go traveling, my first piece of advice is to think outside of your box and consider visiting wine areas that you know little about, or that you wish to surprise yourself with. No matter where you go, you’re surely bound to find something that pleases your palate and expands your oenological awareness. I love to go places and find wines that I was not previously aware of, or had never tasted in their native environment.

The wondrous thing about wine and wine makers is that these days there is an extraordinary panoply of styles and experimentations. To be more creative, or experiment with unique varietals and manifest something new, wine makers are putting together blends that have never been seen or tasted before. In addition, partly due to global climate change, certain grape varietals are being shifted from their traditional regions. Is this a good thing? For wine makers, there are certainly challenges, yet it also offers the opportunity to mix things up a little bit.

There are well over 10,000 wine grape varietals in the world today. Of course, many of these have been developed through grafting to create new hybrids, though in Italy there are over 350 unique varietals, and in Spain over 400, of which only about 20 or so are used on a larger scale. Here in sunny California, we boast about 100 different varietals, the preponderance being red. But fear not, with an ever-growing desire for uniqueness, there will surely be some new and rather fascinating wines you’ve never heard of being brought into the fold.

But let’s get back to travel! With European prices still relatively appealing, you have a world of exploration ahead of you. France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Germany, Greece, and even the UK (well, England and Wales, but definitely NOT Scotland – go there for whisky!) are all wine destinations that offer so many wonderful choices and excitement.

In France, you have Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire, the Rhone, Alsace and even relatively undiscovered areas around the Languedoc-Roussillon region. As for me, I adore Champagne, so that is a wonderful region to bop around for a few days – just make sure that if you book a couple or three dégustations in one day that you ensure they do not fill your glass each and every time! The French have a different perspective on wine tasting – we found recently that each house will give you more than ample pours, so ask for small portions. There’s nothing worse than showing up at your final destination that day completely blotto from generosity!

Spain – oh Spain! With so many varietals, and so many options, you cannot go wrong – ever. In the north, near Basque country, there are the magnificent Rioja growing regions, Andalucia, Catalonia, Valencia in the south, Ribera del Duero, and Galicia – each with their own level of pride and exceptional qualities. Most of the wineries across Spain derived from the simple aspect of home-made wines for community or family consumption that blossomed into commercially produced wines that still hold fast to their heritage. Plus, the regional food in Spain is something to behold and savor. I’d recommend staying in three different areas for about four days in each so that you can fully immerse yourself into the culture and vinous delights.

Basque Country is certainly most appealing – Bilbao and San Sebastian are cultural and food and wine meccas. For the price of just one glass of wine in California, you can indulge in two glasses of rich Rioja, a couple or three tapas and bingo! Plus, the seafood in that region is sublime, and every single restaurant is a newfound delight in culinary expertise it seems.

Italy – what can one say? Well, it’s full of Italians to start with – vibrant and ecstatic people who probably have more hand gestures than actual words. And their wines are wildly different from the north to the south (whatever you do, never, ever say that Sicily is Italy!), with a little bit of everything for everyone. Trentino-Alto-Adige, Umbria, Puglia, Tuscany, Marche, Campagnia, Calabria, Piedmont, Lombardy, Friuli, the list goes on and on. And what’s great about Italy is that you can see some of the most exquisite landscapes on the planet, all while enjoying delicious juice! The Italians/Romans are renowned for having spread grapes all over Europe in about 1600BC, though history shows that ancient Armenia had the very first wine production around 6000BC, while the Phoenicians spread grapes around the Mediterranean, and the Greeks also played a critical part in travelling with vines.

Go play ALL over Italy – it’s a true wine-lover’s paradise, and there’s the added bonus of great regional food and exquisite locations. Italy is not just about pasta – you can delve into so many culinary discoveries it will make you head spin. And in this slender country surrounded by so much water, Mediterranean seafood is de rigueur!

Let’s jump to Greece briefly: one of the cradles of civilization, but they also were right there at the beginning of winemaking. If you venture to Santorini, or some of the other nearby islands, you will see vineyards that look like almost nothing else you’ll ever encounter – low to the ground, and almost circular in shape. Over that section of the Mediterranean, the winds blow hard. Really hard. Standard trellising would stand little chance., so they grow the grapes very close to the ground, and almost plait the vines. Fascinating stuff. This means the pickers have to stoop low to harvest the grapes, that they later lay out on tarps to dry out in the sun. Try Assyrtiko white wine – truly lovely and rich and mineral-driven, it’s quite magical.

Germany? Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sylvaner, and a handful of others – very little red wine comes from mostly the regions of Mosel/Saar/Ruhe, Franken and Pfalz. Most of the wines are from the southern regions where it’s slightly warmer, and honestly Bavaria is among my favorite places to visit – think cuckoo clocks and vast mountain ranges! And with great white wines. And the food? Schnitzel, sausages, sauerkraut, and selections of cured meats that re unbelievable.

So here are some ideas for travel with wine. I’ll explore other regions that might be of interest in the next blog. Remember – always love what you drink, be willing to go beyond the boundaries you might have set for yourself – and that doesn’t apply to wine – eat what you hadn’t considered, and hang out with new friends, and importantly, always have a full glass of wine with you!