Airline Credit Cards

By Jessica Hupp

Oenophiles have an excellent excuse to travel the world: the perfect glass of wine. You’ve probably been curious about the rich history and lush landscapes behind your favorite beverage. Take a trip to see where the magic happens and connect with other wine lovers.

Locations

Get a good look at the birthplace of some of your favorite labels.

1. California Wine Country: Indulge yourself in the finest food and wine that California has to offer in California’s wine country. Explore Napa Valley, Sonoma, Lodi, and other gorgeous regions. In addition to its many wineries, this area is home to numerous spas, inns, and unique wine experiences.
2. Finger Lakes: The Finger Lakes region in New York boasts gorgeous lakes, wineries, 25 state parks and numerous resorts and inns. While vacationing in Finger Lakes, you’ll enjoy beautiful scenery, fishing, and of course, world-class wines.
3. Australia: Visit Australia’s wine regions and you’ll fall in love with its towns and fine wineries. Be sure to check out regions like Brossa Valley, which is home to unique architecture, around 50 wineries, and fine restaurants.
4. Tuscany: Drink up la dolce vita in Tuscany! Enjoy fine Italian wines, rich food, and an even richer heritage. Be sure to take in a cooking course to take a taste of your Italian vacation home.
5. South Africa: Hit South Africa’s Western Cape for tasting, tours, food, and accommodations like no other! These beautiful winelands feature exquisite wine and lush scenery. Check out an art gallery, blend olive oil, and feast on foods like hot-and-sour grilled squid, all while enjoying South Africa’s selection of fine wines.
6. South of France: The South of France is well known for its wines and winemaking regions. From the Rhone Valley, to Provence, Corsica, and the Loire Valley, this region is diverse not only in wine production, but also culture and history. Check out the wine museum at Pere Anselme and enjoy views of sun-soaked vineyards.

Food & Wine Festivals

Soak up the best of what various cities have to offer at these food and wine extravaganzas.

7. Aspen Food & Wine Classic: This sell-out event presented by Food & Wine Magazine allows attendees to experience wine tasting, food sampling, and cooking demonstrations in gorgeous Aspen, Colorado.
8. Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival: These “Five Days of Bliss” feature over 100 restaurants, 60 wineries, and 30 different events. Enjoy a sip and stroll in downtown Austin and partake in the best wines that Texas has to offer.
9. The Spinazzola Gala Festival of Food and Wine: This “mother of all food and wine celebrations in the country” brings over 90 of the world’s most elite wineries to Boston. Bid on rare and fine wines in the silent auction and feel good about the fact that funds raised at this Gala go towards hunger relief and education.
10. Alimentaria: Visit Barcelona for this showcase of Spanish wines. You’ll find producers Arvicaretey and numerous other bodegas from the region.
11. Wine Malborough Festival: This premier wine and food event in New Zealand offers visitors a chance to indulge in wines of the region as well as excellent food. You’ll also find wine tutorials and entertaining performers.
12. Brisbane Fine Wine Festival: At the Brisbane Fine Wine Festival, attendees are invited to taste from over 600 different wines from regions around Australia. Visit a masterclass, and you’ll be treated to a 60 minute taste and talk about wines, how to evaluate them, and exquisite food pairings.
13. Moldova Wine Festival: In the first week of October, Chisinau, Moldova opens up to winemakers, folkloric groups, and wine tasting for both professionals and the general public. While there, be sure to visit the Milestii Mici winery, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest wine collection in the world.
14. Christchurch Food & Wine Festival: The historic town of Christchurch holds this annual celebration of food and wine over 10 days. They close off streets and open over 100 booths that sell a wide variety of different foods and wine. Be sure to check out the town’s restaurants, which will have special meals and events during the festival.
15. Chianti Classico Wine Festival: In the heart of the Chianti Classico wine zone, this wine festival allows attendees to buy a glass that can be refilled endlessly by all of the booths at the event.
16. ZinFest: Visit gorgeous Lodi for ZinFest, a celebration of wine, food and fun at the lake. This festival features tasting from more than 40 local wineries, live music, arts, crafts and plenty of shopping.
17. Melbourne Food & Wine Festival: The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is the largest of its kind in the world. Held over 14 days and attended by over 300,000 food and wine lovers, this is an event like no other.
18. Vendimia Harvest Festival: Visit Argentina to take part in this celebration of the harvest produced by farmers in the Mendoza province. Enjoy harvesting your own grapes and have them made into wine.
19. Vino al Vino Wine Festival: This attractive hill town between Florence and Siena holds a wine festival that’s full of the many Panzano wineries. Here you’ll find music, a great atmosphere, local food, and of course, excellent wine to sample.
20. VinItaly: Make “the trip around the wine world in five days” at the VinItaly exhibition, an event that attracts numerous exhibitors and boasts top level tasting sessions and meetings.

Experiences

Don’t just drink wine, immerse yourself in the experience of it.

21. Wine The Experience: In Hawaii, you can learn about the wine making process and create your own personalized bottle filled with your choice of 50 different red, white, and dessert wines.
22. South Coast Winery Resort & Spa: This winery is more than meets the eye. In addition to the vineyard, you’ll find villas, a restaurant, and a lush spa designed to delight the senses.
23. Silver Shadow: Aboard the Silver Shadow, you’ll cruise to exclusive vineyards while enjoying luxury amenities like a 15,000 bottle wine cellar, a spa, and special history lectures.
24. Adventures in Wine Patagonia: Discover the wonders of Patagonia, from white water rafting to Chile’s finest wines on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
25. Le Phenicien: Aboard Le Phenicien, enjoy visits to 6 wineries as well as introductions to wine tasting and wine making science.