Historic wine destinations are trending this year, offering experiences beyond traditional tastings. Discover some of the best …
Castello Banfi, Tuscany, Italy
Established in 1978 by the Italian-American Mariani family, this impressive 7,100-acre estate features an historic castle surrounded by beautiful vineyards and olive groves. Visitors can book guided tours and tastings to explore the cellars and enjoy wine flights. Meanwhile, the surrounding Val d’Orcia region is a classic Tuscan destination, famous for its rolling hills and cypress-lined roads. The estate is a perfect base for exploring the nearby hilltop town of Montalcino, soaking in the thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni or taking a scenic drive to Siena.
Stay: Castello Banfi – Il Borgo is a Relais et Chateaux hotel overlooking the vineyards. Or Hotel Certosa di Maggiano – a former monastery and idyllic retreat on the fringes of Siena.
Pago De Carraovejas, Ribera del Duero, Spain
Pago De Carraovejas was founded by Spanish sommelier and restaurateur Jose Maria Ruiz. The estate has grown from just 22 acres into a vast vineyard featuring a modern winery. The property focuses on guest experiences, offering tasting tours and interactive workshops. The winery sits in the Valladolid province, directly below the medieval Castillo de Penafiel. The surrounding travel route follows the Duero River through historic stone towns and local taverns famous for traditional roast lamb. Guests can also enjoy a premium dining experience at the estate’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Ambivium.
Stay: Hotel & Spa Arzuaga is a five-star wine hotel in Ribera del Duero, which is also noted for its spa experiences. The scenic wine town of Penafiel in its centre is in a fantastic location to explore the region, where the Hotel Convento de las Claras in an ancient convent blends Ribera’s history with the comforts of a modern four-star hotel.
Marqués de Murrieta, Rioja, Spain
Marques de Murrieta was founded in 1852 at the Finca Ygay estate in Rioja Alta. It’s one of the oldest and most respected wineries in Spain. Visitors can tour the beautifully restored 19th-century Castillo de Ygay, explore a private museum housing rare historic vintages and sample their flagship barrel-aged Reserva wine.
The property sits minutes from Rioja’s lively capital of Logrono, a popular destination known for its tapas culture along Calle Laurel. The wider Ebro Valley region provides an ideal backdrop, featuring historic monasteries and medieval towns like Laguardia.
Stay: Hotel Marques de Riscal, designed by Frank Gehry, which exudes the glamour of a bygone age. Another luxuriously romantic hotel is the stunning Santa Maria Hotel.
Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Champagne, France
Champagne Billecart-Salmon offers a popular, family-run alternative to the region’s massive corporate brands. Founded in 1818, the business is still run by the same family seven generations later. Visitors can tour the independent estate to see its beautiful old gardens, visit its rare private vineyard and taste Champagnes, known for being exceptionally fresh and light. The estate is located in the village of Mareuil-sur-Ay. This central location is a great gateway to the famous Avenue de Champagne in Epernay, or take a short trip to Reims to see its historic cathedral and ancient underground chalk tunnels.
Stay: Only 40 minutes by train from Paris, France’s Champagne region offers an easily accessible weekend escape. For a special celebration, try the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa in the middle of the vineyards that stripe the hills of Epernay, as well as the historic villages of Champillon and Hautvillers of Dom Perignon fame. A local Reims-based architect designed the property in the style of a contemporary amphitheatre, incorporating the original 19th-century Post House where it’s said that King Charles X of France visited en route to Reims for his coronation. The site is rumoured to have been favoured by Napoleon Bonaparte, with the hotel featuring the opulent Josephine Suite paying homage to Napoleon’s great love – aptly fit for royalty. The breathtaking destination spa overlooking the vines offers world-class treatments, in partnership with myBlend and Clarins Precious, in the most bucolic of settings.
Gusbourne, Kent, UK
Founded in 2004 in Appledore, this boutique estate uses traditional methods to cultivate its own Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Visitors can book personal vineyard safaris, explore tasting rooms and sample vintages that rival those of historic French houses.
Located in a quiet village, the estate is famously known as the “Garden of England.” The area is ideal for a trip combining coastal walks across Romney Marsh, exploring the cobblestone paths of Rye or touring nearby castles.
Stay: The George in Rye, a Georgian coaching inn that’s now a boutique hotel with a buzzing bar and excellent restaurant. There’s also the understated Boys Hall in Ashford, a former 17th-century manor house with generous bedrooms that are impeccably decorated.
Holdvölgy Winery, Tokaj, Hungary
With over 500 years of Hungarian winemaking, the estate stands out for its unique “treasure hunt” tasting flights. These interactive experiences take place inside an underground labyrinth of cellars, where guests use a map to find hidden bottles and taste each wine as a guide shares the property’s history.
Located in the village of Mád within the UNESCO World Heritage region, the area was originally famous for its volcanic sweet Aszu wines. Nowadays, dry Furmint wines are more popular. These mineral-driven whites have made the village a pilgrimage for natural wine enthusiasts, especially with the annual Furmint festival every summer.
