You don’t have to be a wine aficionado or even desire to drink wine all day long to enjoy traveling to wine regions. In fact, we didn’t set out on our travel journey with the intention to travel to wine regions.

Our international travels together started on our honeymoon to Italy. Italy is a country where you can’t help but visit a wine region, wine is engrained in the culture, and every area has its uniqueness. The art and history of Florence so inspired us, but it was the Tuscan countryside that we kept dreaming about upon our return home.

We later traveled to France to explore Provence; if the masters of impressionism could find inspiration, surely so could we. We started in historic Avignon knowing we wanted to stop in Aix-en-Provence, with Cassis our final destination. In between, we stumbled upon the vineyards of Chateauneuf du Pape and spent a glorious day wine tasting. What stuck with us were the encounters with passionate people who enticed us to ship back a case of wine, wine we knew nothing about before our visit.

We examined these travels to uncover what it is about wine regions that give you the authentic experience of a country – that’s what we want to share – it started us on our Road to Wine.

Reason #1 - Serene Settings

Wine regions tend to have some pretty spectacular landscapes. Thinking about the twenty-plus regions we’ve traveled, although each is unique, they all will captivate and bring a form of inspiration from the tranquility. You won’t need an app to help you destress; the surroundings will bring forth a natural ability to unwind.

Reason #2 - A Slower Pace

As you escape the city and wind your way into the countryside, the atmosphere calls for you to take things slower. You can still uncover history, varied architecture and learn something new every day, but not feel rushed to get from one landmark to the next.

Reason #3 – The Food (and Wine, of course)

Usually, where there's excellent wine, there is also outstanding food, which adds to the list of reasons to choose to explore a wine country. Every area has something unique to offer in the way of food, whether it’s cheese, olive oil, or a distinctive regional dish. Wine regions are the essence of farm-to-table, and they say what grows together goes together. You will discover some of the most incredible food and wine pairings and the long history behind them.

Reason #4 - Idyllic towns

Rolling hills, dotted with hilltop villages, are just one wonderful picture of wine country. You can also uncover small hamlets frozen in medieval times or whitewashed towns with pedestrian-only centers. Many European wine regions include UNESCO World Heritage Sites, roman ruins, and a church or two worthy of a peek inside. Whether it's the old world or the new world, wine towns exude a special charm. Many with lovely squares surrounded by places that allow you to discover what makes their local area distinct.

Reason #5 - A Personal Experience

In many wine-growing countries or regions, it’s impossible to separate the wine from the culture. In visiting a wine region, you’ll deep dive into a country's culture through their wine and by meeting the people behind the wine. These people are risk-takers and optimists, passionate about what they do. Winery visits can lead to authentic connections. It’s these experiences that will leave an impression for years to come. You may not speak the same language, but you can find common ground with wine. Soon it will become more than the color, smell, or taste, but the experience. Believe me; you’ll have a story to tell, and it will invoke a wonderful memory by sipping that bottle of wine.

If you are looking for a vacation to broaden your horizons, do more exploring, yet still feel refreshed when you return home, then wine travel could be for you. Wine regions are a place where simple pleasures are enjoyed, food is savored, and relaxation is placed at a premium. The captivating landscapes, cultural engagement, unbeatable hospitality all combine to result in one paramount adventure.

If we've piqued your interest in traveling to a wine region, then check out our article on How to Chose a Wine Destination for inspiration in finding your Road to Wine.