Wine is all about exploring a new place. In a single sip, we can taste its history, culture, climate, and essence without ever leaving home. But there’s just one problem with that.
That first sip has a way of stirring our wanderlust. It prompts a deep desire to see the place in person, walk its streets, meet its people, taste its food. Because while two of our five senses can spark imagination, nothing beats engaging all five senses in real time.
That’s why we’re inviting you to embark on a journey through four of the world’s wine country destinations. Each offers something unique, but they all share an immersive allure for wine enthusiasts who prefer to explore new places on foot.
WANDER WILLAMETTE VALLEY FOR STATESIDE SIPS
It wouldn’t be AAA if we didn’t kick off our walking tour with one of the nation’s most popular wine destinations, Oregon’s Willamette Valley vineyards. Stretching from Portland to Eugene and easily from either airport via Amtrak, this scenic basin is home to more than 700 award-winning wineries whose backdrops are as distinctive as the varieties they create.
Best known for: Pinot Noir, Gris, and Blanc, while consistently reaping awards in the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc categories as well.
Home base: From vineyard resorts to quaint, countryside B&Bs, there’s no shortage of Willamette Valley lodgings. Charming Newberg, Oregon—the valley’s geographic center—offers six distinctive wineries all within walking distance of the downtown area.
AAA pro tip: When it’s time to let someone else do the chauffeuring, visitors can book wine tours with one of the region’s many expert-led wine tour companies.
TASTE THE FLAVORS OF TUSCANY FROM ICONIC VINO-CENTRIC VISTAS
Our next stop is just as geographically diverse, but Tuscany’s history as a global wine destination is much longer. Its near-geometric landscapes, hilltop towns, and breathtaking pastoral scenery have inspired countless songs and stories, but the region is perhaps most famous for its iconic food-and-wine pairings beloved the world over.
Best known for: Endless varieties of Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vindo Nobile di Montepulciano, each more complex and original than the last.
Home base: As starting points, it’s tough to beat Florence, the Renaissance masterpiece. Browse the city’s ancient wine markets before making your way through rolling vineyards, dense olive groves, and aptly monikered meccas like Chianti and Montepulciano.
AAA pro tip: Fans of Tuscany wine should look no further than Bolgheri, where artisans blend internationally acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
MINGLE WITH MONKS ON A MEDIEVAL GEORGIAN MEANDER
Wine and religion have been intricately connected for centuries, but few places exemplify that connection like the Kakheti region of Georgia in Eastern Europe. Known as the “Birthplace of Wine,” makers in this region have used an ancient technique known as amphora aging to produce amber-colored varieties of the highest complexity.
Best known for: Qvevri, a skin-contact wine named for the earthenware vessels producers use to ferment the whole grape (seeds and all) before removing the skins in production.
Home base: From Kakheti’s main transport center, Tbilisi, visitors can rent a car, book a multi-day tour, or use public transport to access the Kakheti Wine Route from Sighnaghi to Telavi.
AAA pro tip: Ready for a break from the wineries? Head to the outskirts of Sighnaghi or Telavi, where you’ll find opportunities for hiking and horseback riding through the Georgian countryside.
FLIP-FLOP THROUGH ARGENTINA’S FAMED WINE COUNTRY
If it’s 70 degrees in March and the leaves are bursting with autumn colors, don’t be alarmed. You’ve been sampling the world’s best Malbec, but that’s not why your circadian rhythm is moving to a tango beat. The real reason is simple. You’ve landed in the dazzling heart of Argentina wine country.
Best known for: Malbec, with this region producing approximately 80 percent of the country’s wine.
Home base: Spend a day or two exploring the colorful urban wineries of Buenos Aires, known as the “Paris of South America,” before embarking on a guided exploration of the country’s more remote regions.
AAA pro tip: Mendoza, Argentina, is the country’s best-known wine destination, but the La Rioja, San Juan, and Salta regions are equally fabulous—and often less crowded.
