FX.co ★ Top five countries for wine tourism

Portugal

Portugal is a paradise for wine lovers, famous not only for its legendary port wine but also for a wide variety of other wines produced and consumed in large quantities. With ideal climate conditions and a rich winemaking history, Portugal has created perfect conditions for wine tourism. Visitors can enjoy unique routes, like the renowned Douro Valley and the Alentejo region, offering tastings, vineyard tours, harvest activities, and even wine spa treatments.

Moldova

In Moldova, vineyards cover nearly 4% of the country’s land, making it a leader in this regard in Europe. The country is home to over 170 wineries, offering tastings and tours. Particularly popular among tourists are the vast underground wine cellars, such as "Cricova" and "Mileștii Mici," where millions of bottles are stored. These cellars resemble underground wine cities with extensive tunnels and a unique atmosphere. Travelers can also follow Moldova’s wine route, which typically includes visits to historical sites, monasteries, and traditional villages.

Italy

Italy leads the world in wine production, with an average of 84 liters of wine produced per person annually. However, the popularity of wine tourism in Italy goes beyond these figures. Italy is a winemaking mecca with ancient traditions, a unique landscape, and a variety of grape types. Here, tourists enjoy more than tastings. They experience comprehensive wine tours that include vineyard visits, harvest participation, and opportunities to engage with the culture and cuisine of each region.

Spain

Spain has the largest vineyard area in the world, with more than 4,000 wineries spread across 130 official wine regions. The country’s wine tourism is popular not only due to the diversity of grape varieties but also the chance to combine tastings with cultural experiences. Tourists can enjoy excellent wines like Rioja, Cava, and Sherry, while also visiting historical castles, monasteries, and museums, and even participating in grape harvests and wine festivals.

Georgia

Known as the birthplace of winemaking, Georgia has a tradition that spans around 8,000 years. The country is famous for its unique winemaking method using qvevri—large clay vessels buried in the ground for fermentation and storage. Wine tourism in Georgia goes far beyond traditional tastings. Visitors can explore famous wine regions like Kakheti, taste rare wine varieties, participate in grape harvesting, and visit wine cellars known as marani.