It should come as no surprise then that people flock from all over to countries that offer great wine. From the countryside vineyards covering acres of rolling hills to the chic wine bars deep in historic city centres, wine offers an experience for everyone, and each region have their own taste, history and culture surrounding the beverage.

Bounce has published a report on the best countries for wine tourism, taking into account several factors such as wine production and consumption, number of vineyards and wine tours and the average cost of a bottle of wine in order to determine the best country to visit for a wine holiday.

The top spot was bestowed upon Portugal, with a score of 8.83 out of 10. Portugal has an expansive history of winemaking and many different types of grapes in their territory. They’re the home of port wine, named after Porto, which is world famous. The average person in Portugal consumed 58 litres of wine a year, there were “25.5 wine tours and tastings per million people, and 2.09% of the nation is covered in vineyards,” according to the index.


In second place came Moldova, with a score of 8.16, a small country sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine, but with “a rich winemaking history that stretches back over 5000 years.” Moldova’s vineyards cover 3.6% of its area, greater than any other country on the list. “The Codru region,” Bounce reported, “located in the central part of the country, is one of Moldova’s most important and historically significant wine-producing areas. The country holds an extensive network of underground wine cellars, the most famous of which is the Mileștii Mici.”

In third was Italy, scoring 7.86, a nation famous for its wine industry, with a vinicultural history dating back to Roman times. Each region has its own take on the drink, with Tuscany “perhaps the most celebrated,” the report says. It’s the biggest producer of wine, with 84 litres being made every year per person.

The remainder of the top 10 is filled by Spain, Georgia, France, Hungary, New Zealand, Greece, and Chile, whose scores range from 7.18 to 5.31.

Author

Star in the 2015 music video for the hit single “Headlights” by German musician, DJ and record producer Robin Schulz featuring American singer-songwriter Ilsey. Also a journalist.

Jay Bodsworth