1. Destination: Veneto – Land of Endless Charms
Make memories to last a lifetime when visiting Veneto. From food exploration and wine, Veneto’s endless charms are steeped in a rich, complex and long history. The population of the Veneto began around 7000 years ago. Wine production dates back to seventh century BC. It’s no wonder why wines from the region are famous in every country of the world!
Detail of the Veneto wine regions from our our beautiful Italy Wine Regions map. Click to see the entire map.
Travelers and enthusiasts of Veneto and her historical charms might enjoy our Italy: Veneto Wine of Ages Map. This antique, old world style map showcases the region’s DOCG (Controlled and guaranteed designation of origin) and DOC (Controlled designation of origin) boundaries. Our unique Veneto wine map is the perfect art piece for your wine bar decor and is a beautiful way to pay homage to your travels.
Raise a toast to love and Veneto with a glass of sparkling Prosecco. Looking for tips on tasting this heavenly sparkler? View our YouTube video, A Penchant for Prosecco.
The house and balcony of Juliet in Verona. This Gothic-style 1300s house and museum, with a stone balcony, is said to have inspired Shakespeare.
2. Verona – The City of Love
The romance of Verona is clear; it is rich in history, culture, art, and food and wine. It is also known as the City of Love thanks to Shakespeare. Verona, Italy was the scene for the famous fictional love story of Romeo and Juliet.
“In fair Verona, where we lay our scene” is how Shakespeare describes the setting of his most famous love story, Romeo and Juliet.
Modern-day lovers stroll the cobbled streets of Verona for the romance it embodies. The house and balcony of Juliet is a major attraction in Verona and receives thousands of tourists every year.
Beyond the romantic home of Romeo and Juliet, The vineyards of the Valpolicella region stretch in two directions. Experience fairytale atmospheres in wineries near Bussolengo and San Giovanni Lupatoto. Wine tourism offers a selection of wineries in this region here.
Cadaqués is a town in the Alt Empordà comarca, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Once a small fishermen village, in the early 20th Century, Cadaqués became an important cultural center. The area attracted world-famous artists such as Picasso, Chagall, Man Ray, Garcìa Lorca, Luis Bunuel, and many others. Photo by Joaquin Aranoa
3. Destination – Catalonia (Northeastern Spain)
Catalonia, in northeastern Spain, draws visitors from across the world. With a rich history, Catalonia has many attractions for tourism. Barcelona, the capital, is a modern city with a rich and varied historical heritage including magnificent examples of Gothic and Modernist architectures. For art lovers, Catalonia has produced world-famous artists like Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso.
Enjoy the long fine sand beaches of Costa Daurada, and explore the Catalan wine and Cava. Cava is the sparkling wine of Spain, and it is said that most locals have a glass daily!
Catalonia has a very rich tradition of wine makers, and today it is a producer of world famous wines. Penedès, Priorat, Costers del Segre, Alella and Terra Alta, to name just a few, are well known DOPs (Denominación de Origen Protegida or designation of protected origin, the Spanish administrative division to control and preserve wine producing areas). Sangría is also served in most restaurants, with large variations in quality, and mainly made for tourists.
Interested in learning more about the geographic diversity and famed wine regions of Spain?
Take a look at our Spain Wine Regions Map.
Southern France has endless picturesque cobbled streets and outdoor markets. Photo by Sam Bark
4. Destination – Rhône Valley, France
The Rhône Valley is one the most historic and ancient wine-growing areas in the southern part of France. Full of culture, history, renowned wine, France’s Rhône Valley region is a must-see romantic destination for any wine and food lover.
Tour to the southern part of the Rhône Valley and visit one of the oldest wine regions in France, the Fleurie wine sub-region. Fleurie is a commune of the Rhone department near the city of Lyon. It was founded by a group of monks from the nearby monastery who wanted to cultivate grapes for their use and visitors. Today there are more than 180 growers produce more than 5.5 million bottles each year. The area benefits from a temperate climate with many hours of sunshine and a cool Mediterranean influence.
The Most Feminine Wine
Fleurie wine literally means “floral”, and is light to medium body with various aromas ranging from red fruits and blueberries. Fleurie wine is known as “The Queen of Beaujolais” due to its distinctive uniqueness among Beaujolais wines. Sometimes it is also referred to as “the most feminine wine.”
Can’t travel to France to taste Fleurie Appellation wines? You might enjoy this medium-bodied, red-fruit, floral-toned Gamay from Beaujolais-Villages (will pair well with your Valentine’s Day dinner!). Total Wine and More offers this limited production wine, which sources from 50 to 100-year-old French vines for under $25.
5. Destination: Bordeaux – France
A wine lover’s paradise, Bordeaux is the capital of wine. It is home to numerous esteemed vineyards and famed wine growing regions. Whether you love a white Bordeaux variety such as Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon or reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, or Merlot, sip your way through castles and vineyards and enjoy local delicacies such as Cap Ferret oysters and foie gras. Take a romantic walk in time as you explore architecture that goes back to the Middle Ages and over 350 historic monuments.
Visit the Cité du Vin, and learn all about wine history, culture, and creation, and sip a glass from the top floor featuring 360-degree views.
Discover the source of your favorite French wines and explore over 300 wine regions (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée/Protégée), with our France Wine Regions Map.
We hope you enjoyed our suggestions for romantic destinations in Europe with an emphasis on wine. While there are so many places to visit in Europe, we hope you find your special place to make lifetime memories.
À votre santé