When it comes to European wine regions, many of us are familiar with the big names like Bordeaux, Tuscany, and Rioja. But there’s so much more to discover. These lesser-known wine regions will give you a chance to taste incredible wines and discover some unique areas of Europe.
Styria (or Steiermark), Austria, is a beautiful region tucked away in the southeastern part of Austria. What sets it apart is not just its breathtaking landscapes of steep rock slopes but also its exceptional white wines. The star of the show here is Sauvignon Blanc – imagine vibrant acidity, citrusy flavors, and that lovely mineral touch. The wine history of Styria goes way back to Roman times, so you’re sipping on history with every glass!
To get there, you can fly into Graz, the capital city, and rent a car to explore charming wine villages like Kitzeck and Gamlitz.
Located on the slopes of Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano, the Etna wine region in Sicily offers a unique terroir for wine production. The volcanic soil, high altitudes, and coastal influences make it perfect for unique wines. The Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio grapes produce a red wine with vibrancy, elegance, and a unique minerality that the volcanic soils create.
Catania is your airport of choice, and from there, you can rent a car or join a guided tour to check out the wineries around the magnificent mountain.
Welcome to Alentejo, a wine region in the southern part of Portugal with vast landscapes, rolling hills, and ancient vineyards. In the typical blends, Aragonês (also known as Tempranillo) and Trincaderia grapes are used, and because there are a couple of distinctive climates in the region, the style of wine will differ. In the hotter, drier south and central regions, the wine produced is richer with more black fruit flavors than in the north, where the climate is cooler and wetter and produces more elegant wine. The winemaking history of Alentejo goes back over 2,000 years, so there’s a lot of tradition in each bottle.
To get there, you can fly into Lisbon, then rent a car to explore the beautiful countryside and picturesque towns like Évora.
Head to eastern France and find what may be the world’s best-kept secret, Jura. This gem of a wine region won’t remain ‘hidden’ much longer. The charming region is located between Burgundy, France, and Switzerland. Jura wines are distinctive, with Vin Jaune as the most famous. The wine is made from the local Savagnin grape variety and is produced with a process similar to Sherry. It’s a special wine that undergoes a one-of-a-kind aging process in oak barrels, giving it this lovely nutty, oxidative character. And don’t neglect their sparkling wine, Crémant du Jura, and the deliciously complex white wines made from Savagnin and Chardonnay grapes.
For some incredible scenery, you can fly into Geneva or Lyon, and from there, rent a car to explore the vineyards and picturesque villages like Arbois and Château-Chalon.
Situated in northeastern Hungary in the foothills of the Carpathia Mountains, Tokaj has a long winemaking tradition dating back to the 16th century and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This historic wine region is renowned for its sweet wines, Tokaji Aszú. This noble rot wine is made from grapes affected by botrytis cinerea, resulting in concentrated flavors of apricot, honey, and exotic spices.
Although Tokaj is famous for its sweet Tokaji wine with the Furmint grape as the principal variety, modern winemaking is producing dry wine wines using the same Furmint grape that gives us wine with high acidity and flavors of apples.
To travel to Tokaj, fly into Budapest and take a scenic drive or join a guided tour to explore the vineyards and visit traditional wine cellars.
By venturing off the beaten path and exploring these lesser-known wine regions in Europe, you’ll find unique wine experiences, stunning landscapes, and a sense of discovery.
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