It's Not All About France: Underrated Wine Routes from Around the World
While tourists are rushing off to Bordeaux, Champagne, and bustling Tuscany to savor and explore the newest wine crops, in-the-know oenophiles head to more obscure regions where the roots of wine and culture dig just as deep. Gayot’s alternative list of the best wine routes spans the entire globe and represents more exotic regions on four continents. They may not be the most popular vino hotspots, but these regions are certainly some of the most stunning and intimate – and the best way to beat the crowds.
Classic New Zealand Wine Trail
Vineyards in Marlborough. (Photo: Richard Herbert/Flickr)
Spanning the distance from Hawke’s Bay to Marlborough, the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail may be the world’s only wine road to travel over a major body of water. Encompassing both the North Island and South Island, this route takes visitors through 80 percent of New Zealand’s Wine Country. There’s a custom section of the route that appeals to every wine drinker’s taste: Hawke’s Bay is for Cabernet and Merlot lovers, Wairarapa is gaining attention for its Pinot Noir and Marlborough makes some of the world’s greatest Sauvignon Blanc.
The German Wine Route
The Eugen Muller estate on the German Wine Road. (Photo: dpotera/Flickr)
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The oldest wine route in all of Germany, the Deutsche Weinstrasse (translation: German Wine Road) through the Pfalz (Palatinate) is considered by some historians the world’s first route for today’s modern wine tourism. The wine trail begins at the French-German border city of Schweigen, adjacent to the French city of Wissembourg, and then winds northward through Rhineland-Pfalz until it reaches the House of German Wine in Bockenheim.
La Route des Vins: Quebec, Canada
(Photo: Viaje a Canada/Flickr)
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Although Ontario’s Wine Country boasts a more dense population of famous wineries, we prefer Quebec’s historic and picturesque La Route des Vins, a world-class destination for lovers of all culinary delights. In addition to 18 vineyards that dot this idyllic rural route through eastern Quebec, visitors may encounter dozens of gastronomic-related marvels including a museum of fine chocolate and dozens of local artisanal farms.
Port Wine Route: Douro Valley, Portugal
(Photo: mat’s eye/Flickr)
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A lush valley road deeply carved into the carefully terraced landscape, this vineyard route is among the most breathtaking wine roads on the planet. (Not surprisingly, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.) It begins in the historic city of Porto and continues east, following the banks of the twisting Douro River. In addition to photo-worthy views at every turn, this particular route offers visitors the chance to taste from each of the famed Port houses, as well as experiencing Portuguese wine varietals along the way.
Western Cape, South Africa: Route 62
(Photo: bartlinssen1968/Flickr)
Meandering from Cape Town to Oudtshoorn, this exotic South African road is one of the longest and most varied wine routes in the world. Although visitors could easily spend up to a week exploring the entire trail, the heart of wine country truly lies at the end closest to Cape Town. Beginning in Cape Town, the captivating trails veer east through Oudtshoom and along the “Garden Route,” before coming to stop at Port Elizabeth.
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