The Best Wine Tours in Europe: Regions, Day Trips & Tastings
The best wine tours in Europe: Bordeaux, Champagne, Tuscany, Piedmont, the Douro, Rioja, Jerez and more, with day trips from the nearest city and how to book.
The short version: the best wine tours in Europe are in Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, Champagne, Burgundy and the Loire in France; Tuscany (Chianti and Montalcino), Piedmont (Barolo) and Valpolicella in Italy; Rioja, Jerez and Ribera del Duero in Spain; and the Douro Valley in Portugal. Most can be done as a day trip from a city, so you can taste without driving. Here is how the regions compare and how to book.
The best wine regions at a glance
| Region | Famous for | Day trip from | Read the guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bordeaux | Cabernet and Merlot blends, châteaux | Bordeaux | Bordeaux wine tours |
| Champagne | Champagne cellars in Reims and Épernay | Paris | Champagne from Paris |
| Tuscany | Chianti Classico, Brunello | Florence, Siena | Chianti wine tours |
| Douro Valley | Port and Douro reds, river terraces | Porto | Douro from Porto |
| Valpolicella | Amarone, Ripasso | Verona | Amarone vs Ripasso |
| Loire Valley | Chenin Blanc, chateaux | Paris, Tours | Loire Valley wine tours |
| Provence | Rosé, Châteauneuf-du-Pape | Avignon, Aix | Provence wine tours |
| Jerez | Sherry bodegas | Seville | Sherry explained |
France
France has the most famous names. Bordeaux tours visit the Médoc châteaux and Saint-Émilion; Champagne is an easy day from Paris; Burgundy is all about Pinot Noir and Chardonnay along the Côte d’Or. The Loire pairs wine with chateaux, and in Vouvray you taste in limestone caves. In the south, see Provence and Saint-Tropez’s rosé estates.
Italy
Tuscany is the classic: Chianti from Florence and Brunello di Montalcino. In Piedmont, Barolo and Barbaresco tours are best in autumn, truffle season. Near Verona, taste Amarone in Valpolicella and Lake Garda’s Bardolino and Lugana. Smaller gems include Umbria’s Sagrantino, Alto Adige, Puglia’s Primitivo, Etna and Franciacorta near Milan.
Spain, Portugal and Central Europe
In Spain, go to Rioja for Tempranillo, Jerez for sherry, Ribera del Duero and Málaga and Ronda. In Portugal, the Douro Valley, Porto’s port lodges and Madeira. Further east: the Wachau and Styria in Austria, the Mosel and Baden in Germany, Slovenia, Dalmatia and Tokaj.
How to choose a wine tour
Decide between a day trip with transport (no driving, two or three wineries, often lunch) and a single estate visit (deeper, cheaper, but you need a car). Small groups get better access to family producers. The harvest, from September to October, is the most atmospheric time to go.
Our pick: the Bordeaux: Saint-Émilion and Pomerol Full-Day Wine Tour is the classic first European wine day, with château tastings and time in Saint-Émilion’s medieval village.
Booking guides for the big regions: Barolo, Burgundy, Reims and Épernay, Rioja, Jerez sherry and Valpolicella.
Closer to home turf: Istria, Hvar, Pelješac, Vipava Valley and Goriška Brda.
More day trips from cities: Prosecco from Venice, Frascati from Rome, cava from Barcelona, Setúbal from Lisbon, Etna from Taormina and Budapest and Tokaj.
Country by country: Italy, France, Spain and Portugal.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best wine region to visit in Europe?
For first-timers, Tuscany, Bordeaux and Champagne are the easiest and most rewarding; the Douro Valley is the most scenic.
Can you do a wine tour without a car?
Yes. Most wine tours include transport from the nearest city, so you can taste freely.
When is the best time for a European wine tour?
September and October for the harvest; May and June for good weather with fewer crowds.
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Compare wine tours and tastings in Europe’s best regions.
