It’s that time of the year when Spring brings with it the promise of sunshine, summer and spending our days outdoors. For those of you who can’t think of anything better than soaking up the sun with a glass of wine in your hand, we’ve put together a list of the best walking tours for wine lovers; from Austria’s aromatic vineyards across to the abundance of gorgeous grapes in France, through to Italy’s famous wine and white truffle region of Piedmont.
Following a route to where the river Danube is at its most beautiful, you can walk through one of Austria’s most exciting wine regions: The Wachau Valley. Here, you can explore the steep terraced vineyards surrounding the wine growing villages of Joching, Wösendorf, St. Michael and Weißenkirchen.
Together these villages form the biggest wine grower community of the Wachau region. The balanced and moderate climate allow for an extraordinary range of Grüner Veltliners and Rieslings which can be enjoyed in one of the many wine taverns along the beautiful walking trails.
Bordering Germany, Alsace has been part of political conflict between the two countries for centuries. However, nowadays Alsace is definitely better known for its gorgeous little villages, the pretty, half-timbered houses and, of course, the wine which is produced worldwide.
This region of France is enriched with medieval architecture, castles and vineyards boasting some of the most delicious white wines. The lovely pilgrim village of Niedermorschwihr is well known for its Pinot Gris whilst the town of Riquewihr, where you can stay overnight, is famous for its Riesling.
The complexity and diversity of the wines made in Burgundy have attracted wine lovers from all over the world. Discover the remarkable towns of Dijon, famous for its mustard and full bodied reds; the vineyards’ capital of Beaune, a Pinot Noir lover’s paradise; and the refreshing wines of Beaujolais.
With gothic and renaissance architectural sights, Burgundy’s wine trail will have you visiting chapels, châteaux, museums, old, glazed-roof villages and vineyards, one after another.
Begin your tour exploring the area of Saint-Émilion where the regions’ prestigious vineyards, atop the limestone slopes of the village, boast some of the finest wines in the world. an oenologist will teach you about the principles of developing wine and the technical and specific characteristics unique to the vineyards.
With such rich and quality vineyards, not to mention the remarkable scenic views from St Macaire to Sainte Croix, Bordeaux really is a wine lover’s heaven.
Arguably, Italy’s greatest red wines, made from the Nebbiolo grape, are represented at their finest at the Barolo vineyards that have made this region famous all over the world. Spend a day among the terraces of Nebbiolo vines or visiting Barolo’s magnificent medieval castle and its wine museum.
You can also explore the many landscapes and beautiful towns of Piedmont, including the Alta Langa, characterized by the cultivation of hazelnut trees and the deep Belbo valley.
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