Destinations for Wine Lovers

Some destinations are discovered through their landscapes, others through their cuisine, and some also through a glass of wine.

Across Europe, wine culture is part of the identity of many regions, found in their vineyards, wineries, tables, and traditions, but also in hotels that make it part of their history, their concept, or their way of understanding the destination. This journey brings together eight places where wine becomes another way to travel, discover, and enjoy each region.

From the hills of Franciacorta to the vineyards of the Douro, wine invites us to explore some of Europe’s most distinctive destinations.

Franciacorta, Italy

The heart of italian sparkling wine

Franciacorta stretches across the hills of Lombardy, south of Lake Iseo, in a landscape of vineyards, small villages, and gentle slopes. The region is known for its sparkling wines, produced using the traditional method, and for a winemaking tradition that forms part of the area's identity. Visiting its wineries, exploring its vineyards, or sitting down to sample local cuisine are some of the ways to discover this corner of northern Italy. 

Where to stay: L’Albereta

Set on Bellavista Hill, L’Albereta is an elegant villa surrounded by vineyards and gardens, in the heart of Franciacorta. The hill also lends its name to the Bellavista family winery, associated with the Moretti family, reflecting the hotel's close connection to the region's wine culture. A carefully curated culinary offering and a wellness space complete the setting, creating a stay from which to discover the landscapes and flavours of Franciacorta.

Douro Valley, Portugal

A vineyard landscape along the river

The Douro Valley is one of Portugal's great wine regions. Its steep slopes, shaped into terraces that descend towards the river, have been home to vineyards for centuries and form the setting where Port wine was born. The region was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, in 1756, became the world's first formally demarcated wine region. Visiting its wine estates, cruising along the river, or following the course of the Douro by train are some of the ways to discover this remarkable landscape.

Where to stay: The Vintage House Hotel

In Pinhão, on the banks of the river and surrounded by the valley's terraced vineyards, The Vintage House occupies a former winery transformed into an elegant hotel with a classic style. Its location offers the opportunity to experience one of the Douro's most characteristic landscapes from a perspective closely connected to wine. The hotel also features a specialist wine shop where guests can discover and purchase wines from the region, with recommendations to help explore the different varieties and styles produced throughout the valley.

Cuenca, Spain

Winemaking tradition amid nature

Tarancón lies amid a landscape of gentle hills and extensive vineyards, where winemaking tradition forms part of the character of Cuenca province. The clay soils with limestone subsoil and the altitude of the vineyards favour the slow ripening of the grapes, while the changing seasons transform the landscape with new nuances throughout the year.

Where to stay: Finca La Estacada

Surrounded by 278 hectares of vineyards and olive groves, Finca La Estacada is a wine tourism complex where wine is an integral part of the stay. The winery, founded in 2001, occupies a central place within the estate, with an underground ageing cellar capable of holding 3,000 French and American oak barrels. The hotel, restaurant, spa, and outdoor spaces complete an offering designed to discover wine from different perspectives. Among its experiences are guided winery tours, which end with a tasting of its wines.

Corsica, Francia

Mediterranean wines with a corsican identity

Corsica has a winemaking tradition shaped by its Mediterranean landscape, mountains, and influence of the sea. Its vineyards are spread across different parts of the island, producing wines with a strong sense of place and made from indigenous grape varieties. Discovering its wineries and vineyards is also a way to explore Corsican identity, amid landscapes of maquis, villages, and coastline.

Where to stay: La Signoria

In Calvi, La Signoria offers a distinctly gastronomic perspective on the island. This five-star hotel, surrounded by nature and housed in a former Corsican residence, is home to Le Joia, a restaurant where Mediterranean and Corsican cuisine meets a carefully curated wine selection. Its wine list features around 800 labels, while the sommelier team guides guests in discovering different wines, their producers, and the regions where they originate.

La Rioja, Spain

A land shaped by wine

La Rioja is one of Spain's and the world's great wine destinations, with a landscape of vineyards stretching between medieval villages, rolling hills, and small towns shaped by centuries of winemaking tradition. Visiting its wineries, exploring the vineyards, and discovering the local cuisine are some of the best ways to experience a culture in which wine holds an essential place.

Where to stay: Teatrisso

In Cuzcurrita de Río Tirón, Teatrisso is a 17th-century palace that preserves its past as a cinema, theatre, and ballroom. Within its stone walls, history and gastronomy meet La Rioja's wine culture: the hotel has its own underground wine cellar, while its culinary offering focuses on local produce and traditional recipes reinterpreted through a contemporary perspective. A way to discover La Rioja from a historic palace where wine is an integral part of the stay.

Lisbon, Portugal

Portuguese wine can also be discovered in the city

Lisbon offers a way to discover Portugal through its cuisine and wine culture, bringing together wines from different regions across the country. From traditional taverns to contemporary restaurants and wine bars, the city offers countless ways to explore Portuguese whites, reds, rosés, and sparkling wines, always accompanied by local cuisine.

Where to stay: Lisbon Wine Hotel

In the heart of Lisbon's historic centre, Lisbon Wine Hotel makes wine one of the highlights of its offering. This boutique hotel is home to Wine House, a restaurant dedicated to traditional Portuguese cuisine, where dishes are paired with a selection of white, red, rosé, and sparkling wines. An ideal base from which to discover Lisbon and explore the diversity of Portuguese wine, one glass at a time.

Ribera del Duero, Spain

Wine among castles and vineyards

Ribera del Duero is one of Castilla y León's great wine regions, a land of vineyards following the course of the river between historic villages, wineries, and medieval fortresses. A landscape of high plateaus, hillsides, and vineyards where altitude and an extreme climate help shape the character of its wines.

Where to stay: Castillo de Curiel

Perched on a rock 927 metres above sea level, Castillo de Curiel de Duero offers a stay surrounded by centuries of history and vineyard landscapes. Documented since the 11th century and restored as a hotel with 23 rooms and suites, the castle lies just a few kilometres from Peñafiel, in the heart of Ribera del Duero. Its connection to wine continues at Castillo de Peñafiel winery, where its own wines are produced and guests can enjoy wine tastings and visits to the barrel cellar, housed in a former 12th-century church.

Nantes, France

A taste of french wine

Nantes offers a gateway to the diversity of French wine, from wines produced around the Loire to labels from some of the country's major wine regions. The city provides plenty of opportunities to discover this richness around the table, in its restaurants, markets, and wine bars, in a destination where gastronomy and culture are part of the journey.

Where to stay: Maison Maubreuil

In Nantes, Maison Maubreuil turns wine into another way of travelling. Its wine cellar houses between 7,000 and 10,000 bottles from around the world and from France's winemaking heritage, ranging from historic grands crus to contemporary biodynamic wines. The hotel also offers wine workshops and experiences combining tastings and gastronomy, guided by its sommelier team. A place from which to discover wine through its regions, producers, and the stories behind each bottle.

Discovering wine can also be a way to gift a journey. Turn one of these experiences into a memory to enjoy, explore, and have a glass with a Domus Selecta Gift Card.