In our last post, Why Wine Is at the Heart of Our Travel Philosophy, we shared how wine and food shape the way we travel. Our continued quest to learn about wine — and how it connects to the people, culture, and food of a place — doesn’t stop at the well-known regions. Some of our most memorable wine travel experiences have come from smaller, lesser-known wine regions that, while not as famous, are every bit as fascinating and delicious.

A couple of true standouts over the years really captured our travel philosophy.

Crete: An Unexpected Wine Destination

Crete isn’t exactly an area that screams “wine” — at least not in our book. But we connected with sommelier Anna Maria of Chania Wine Tours for a farm-to-table lunch at Dourakis Winery, and it turned into one of our favorite wine experiences yet. Perfect weather, a charming and knowledgeable host, a beautiful vineyard, and a seamless pairing of wine and food all came together for a great day.

The wines were wide-ranging, and Anna Maria paired them beautifully with local Cretan cuisine — including our first taste of orange wine (a skin-fermented white wine). We now seek out certain Greek wines at home, though wines specifically from Crete can be surprisingly hard to find outside the island. If you find yourself in Crete, we highly recommend booking a tour with Chania Wine Tours (full post of our day here).

Sicily: Bold Reds from Volcanic Soil

Another standout is Sicily. Italy is famous for its wine, but Sicily isn’t usually the first region that comes to mind — yet it has so much to offer, especially in its big, bold reds shaped by the volcanic soil of Mount Etna.

We toured the Terrazze dell’Etna estate on the slopes of Mount Etna, where we got a deep dive into Sicilian wines like Rosato and Nerello Mascalese, along with a lunch served right in the vineyard. Our meal was prepared using ingredients sourced entirely from the estate and neighboring local farms. The combination of local cuisine and wine was pure magic — further proof that “what grows together goes together.” (Full post here)

Tenerife: Wine on a Volcanic Island

One of the most off-the-beaten-path wine regions we’ve explored is Tenerife, in Spain’s Canary Islands. We toured the island with Feel Tenerife, taking in sights like Mount Teide, before diving into its wine culture and vineyards.

The landscape here is striking — in places, it looks almost lunar, which is exactly why so many films have been shot on the island. Picturing vineyards thriving in this terrain doesn’t seem logical at first. And yet, where there’s a will, there’s a way: Tenerife produces dry, crisp whites and light, fruity reds that are well worth seeking out.

Wine as a Way to Connect with the World

We hope these two wine travel posts inspire you to find your own thread of connection as you travel — one thing to learn from and experience in as many different ways as there are places to visit. Let the traditions, tastes, and stories of each region guide you. You might be surprised where your next favorite wine comes from. Now go find an experience; whether by land or by sea, it is waiting for you.

Click Food & Wine: Wine Country to read more.