The Best Wine Regions You Can Cruise to
Cruise lines sail all around the world to beautiful and historic destinations, touching upon an array of cultures and ways of life. One type of place that encompasses a high degree of beauty and culture are wine regions. Luckily for wine-loving travelers, many wine regions around the world are visited on a variety of cruise itineraries, plus most cruise lines offer wine experiences on board.
Tuscany
This is the wine region dreams are made of, and many travelers daydream about visiting the vineyards of Tuscany some day. On select Mediterranean cruise itineraries, you can visit Tuscany’s wineries while in port in Livorno (the gateway to Pisa and Florence and other northern regions of Tuscany).
Take a shore excursion and you’ll be transported by green sun-dappled hills and Tuscan villas as you’re transported to vineyards and wineries that have been around for generations and where you’ll taste some of the region’s famous full-bodied reds and intricate whites.
Napa and Sonoma Valleys
The valleys of Napa and Sonoma are less than two hours from the port of San Francisco. What does this mean for cruisers on Pacific Coastal cruises? An easy getaway to the sprawling grape-dotted land of Napa and Sonoma.
Napa is known for its opulent estates and luxurious tasting rooms. There are hundreds of wineries in Napa Valley and at the myriad of tasting rooms, you can sample some of Napa’s most famous wines: Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay – but expect to see a number of other favorite and obscure varietals while tasting in the region.
Sonoma has a more laidback feel, which still turning out impeccable wine pours in tasting rooms that range from the rustic to the decadent.
Santa Ynez
Another wine region you can visit on a Pacific Coastal cruise is the Santa Ynez Valley, which the port city of Santa Barbara is nestled against. Santa Ynez Valley was made famous in the movie Sideways, though wine buffs in the know always coveted the region for its spicy Pinot Noirs and buttery Chardonnays.
Santorini
Santorini’s volcanic soil fosters a distinct earthy tasting wine. Though the wine region is small – after all, the Greek isle itself isn’t very big – it spreads out beautifully in the valley on the other side of the island from the caldera.
Several wineries with tasting rooms are on the island and offer many opportunities for tasting. During a cruise, you can choose to visit a winery while exploring the island with your own rental vehicle, or opt for a multi-winery shore excursion that makes it effortless to visit a few wineries in one day.
Barossa Valley
While visiting the capital of Adelaide in South Australia during a cruise, you can venture to Barossa Valley, known for its red grape varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz (the Australian spelling of Syrah) and white varietals of Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.
Shiraz is the highlight of the region. Taste the many different types of Shiraz (and other types of wine) at the many wineries that dot the landscape.
Marlborough
While in port in Picton on New Zealand’s picturesque South Island, you can visit the lovely wine region of Marlborough, which was a major player in putting New Zealand wine on the map. Country roads crisscross past laidback tasting rooms with rolling mountains in the background.
While partaking in a wine tasting shore excursion, you’ll be able to visit some of the best wineries in the region, while sipping the region’s famous Sauvignon Blanc. In addition to that varietal, Marlborough is known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Taste More Wines On the Ship
While sailing to these incredible wine regions, you can also sample wines from all around the world on most cruise ships. From wine tasting 101 classes to food and wine pairing experiences to expert sommeliers who can assist you with choosing the perfect wine for your dinner, there are many ways to experience wine while on the ship.
The easiest way to find the perfect wine-focused ship or itinerary is to speak with a local travel agent. Most cruise agents are paid a commission by the cruise lines and will help you book your cruise at no extra cost to you.
