5 countries every wine lover must visit

What would any wine list be without France? The second largest producer worldwide, it is without a doubt an ideal place for oenophiles. But if many regions produce some wine, it is very common for connoisseurs to fight over Bordeaux and Burgundy when looking for the best red. But because it hosts the Bordeaux Wine Festival every other year and is home to La Cité du Vin, a museum on wine throughout the world and history, Bordeaux should really be on your list. If, however, you are a rosé lover, you might want to head to Provence and match a refreshing glass with some picturesque lavender fields and rustic cuisine. And if celebrations are on the table, you will need to visit the beautiful Champagne region, boasting a touristic road of more than 600 kilometers that features stunning lakes and vineyards. Finally, if you are looking for the best white wines in France, we would strongly recommend visiting Alsace, where you can also go on a fantastic roadtrip between Marlenheim and Thann (following La route des vins d'Alsace) and stop to some charming villages and wonderful vineyards along the road.

With a long history of wine-making, an ideal climate and and over a million vineyards, it is no wonder that Italy is the first wine producer in the world. There are many regions to visit there for a wine enthusiast, but even if Piedmont, Veneto and Sicily are fantastic places to go wine-tasting, you probably cannot beat the charm of Tuscany. With scenic vineyards and verdant rolling hills, it will not fail to amaze you. And Chianti being arguably the most well-known wine-making region of Tuscany, it is safe to say you will have a wonderful time in this gorgeous location. Plus, if you have a sweet tooth, do not miss their famous dessert, the twice-baked cantucci (or biscotti) dipped in Vin Santo, an enticing sweet wine!

Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, South Africa is a perfect place for growing wine grapes. Its location and multicultural population also mean that its wines are a mix of the Old World and the New World. An hour and a half from Cape Town, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (translated as ?heaven and earth') is a great place to visit if you want to try some Burgundian-style wines such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But for the best wine experience in South Africa, you should definitely visit the town of Stellenbosch. Displaying majestic mountains, and historic, oak-lined streets, it is the perfect starting point for the Stellenbosch Wine Route thanks to its 148 wine farms. And because of the granite mountains, the wines are often described as having a subtle mineral note which should be an interesting try for any wine connoisseur!

There are many good reasons to visit Chile, and wine is of course one of them. The vibrant city of Valparaíso is a great place for people who love art, thanks to its modern galleries, music-filled bars, and the graffiti culture of the city, but if you are after the best Chilean wines, you should go to the hilly Casablanca Valley. Renowned for its crisp white wines, particularly its Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, it is a serene and green place, perfect for relaxed wine tasting. And if you're after the reds, head to the Maipo Valley. Producing Cabernet, Pinot Noir and Carménère, it is the birthplace of the wine industry in Chile. Finally, south of Maipo is the Rapel Valley, where you should go if you are after some amazing Carménère. With such diversity in its climate and its grapes, Chile is a country that has a lot to offer regarding wine-tasting and production.

Very popular all over the world, Argentina is one of the leaders in wine production, reaching the top 6 in the last few years. And producing 70% of Argentina's wine, Mendoza is considered as the wine capital of the country, even hosting a National Grape Harvest Festival in March. More precisely within Mendoza, the Uco Valley is a place that should not be missed because of its breathtaking views of the Andes mountains and its production of some of the best South American wines in the world. Famous worldwide for its Malbec, Argentina is a great destination if you love intense and full-bodied wines. And of course, it pairs particularly well with Argentinian food. Asado barbecues are a big part of the culture in Argentina, and what could match a grilled steak better than an intense Argentinian wine?