Wine is a big part of why we travel the way we do. As we’ve explored more of the world, we’ve noticed a pattern: in nearly every destination, we end up learning — almost by accident — about local food traditions, and in turn, about the local wine. There’s an old saying that captures it perfectly: “what grows together goes together.” That applies to wine just as much as it does to food. Enjoying wine with snacks, cheese, or a full meal has always been part of our lives as adults, but travel has taken that appreciation to an entirely new level.

Finding Joy Through Local Wine Traditions

If you’re planning your own travels, here’s something worth considering: identify one or two things that bring you real joy, and look for ways to experience them through local traditions and flavors wherever you go. For us, that’s wine and food. No matter our destination, we seek out opportunities to learn about the local wine — what makes it distinct, how the grapes are grown, and what sets the winemaking process apart. That curiosity has taken us from the volcanic soil of vineyards in the Canary Islands to the months-long grape-drying process behind Amarone in Northern Italy.

Wine Travel in California, Italy, and France

Our wine travels began, unsurprisingly, in some of the most famous wine regions in the world: California, Italy, and France.

California is home to internationally renowned wines, with vineyards that are as grand and beautiful as the wine itself (full post here).

One highlight was joining a food and wine pairing lunch at St. Francis Winery in Sonoma — an extraordinary experience that paired the region’s wines with thoughtfully matched dishes (full post here).

Italy offers an incredible range of wine regions, and Tuscany is one of the largest and most well-known. We spent an entire day exploring the vineyards of Chianti on a Wine Safari, getting an up-close look at how this iconic Italian red wine is made (full post here).

Further north, in Verona, we booked a private tour and tasting at Corte Borghetti in the Valpolicella wine region. Both Tuscany and Veneto are known for Italian red wines, yet they couldn’t be more different — from winemaking techniques to terrain and climate. Learning those distinctions changes how we experience the wine itself: how we pair it with food, and even how we recognize it on a restaurant wine list. Those small moments of discovery are exactly what make wine travel so rewarding for us.

Exploring Bordeaux’s Wine Estates

Some destinations feel almost synonymous with wine, and Bordeaux is a perfect example. Everything about the region speaks to its winemaking heritage — the vineyards are full-fledged estates, complete with grand châteaux that are simply stunning to see. We spent a full day touring three wineries with a sommelier through Rendez-Vous au Château, learning the nuances of each vineyard and the traditions behind French winemaking (full post of the tour here).

More Wine Regions to Come

This is just a sample of our experiences exploring the world’s most celebrated wine regions. In the end, it’s never really just about the glass in front of us — it’s about the soil, the seasons, and the people who shape what’s in it. That’s the kind of detail that keeps pulling us back to the table, wherever in the world it happens to be.

In our next post, Hidden Gems: Exploring Lesser-Known Wine Regions, we’ll take you off the beaten path to explore some lesser-known wine regions well worth the trip.

Click Food & Wine: Wine Country to read more.