Humankind has been making, drinking and singing the praises of wine for many thousands of years – so it comes as no surprise that many cultures around the world have wine festivals that celebrate this fermented drink. A typical wine festival occurs in the autumn after the harvest of the grapes and the earliest one can be traced back to when the Greeks held festivals to honour their wine god Dionysos.
So let’s take a look at some of the best wine festivals in the world!
Rotunda as seen through Chardonnay – photo credit:Greg CC 2.0
Best Wine Festivals in the World
The Cellar Door Wine Festival, Adelaide, Australia
Australia is considered one of the best producers of New World wines and there are many bold and delicious flavours emerging from Down Under. Celebrate the wine making culture and the beautiful countryside at the Cellar Door Festival, in which you will be able to enjoy unlimited tastings at more than 150 wineries across the Limestone Coast, Connawarra, McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley. The sheer amount of wineries can be overwhelming, so pace yourself and take it slow!
The Bandol Wine Festival, Provence, France
This lovely little town of Provence celebrates in a big way with this exciting festival. The local wine growers will dress up and show off their best of the year’s vintage straight from the barrel. These are not the finished wines, they are the “work in progress” samples that will show how the vintage will turn out. You can also taste the finished bottled wines at the Maison des Vins – the “House of Wines”.
Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt, Dürkheim, Germany
This is one of the largest festivals in Germany and it dates back for more than 590 years. You can taste around 300 different wines at several locations throughout the city – at the beautiful wine halls or the tiny traditional wine stands. You can also visit the wine village, known as the Weindorf. If you love wine, this famous German festival should absolutely be on your travel bucket list.
Duerkheimer Wurstmarkt 2008 – photo credit:Timberwind Public Domain
The Grape Harvest Festival, Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the prime wine-producing region in Argentina and this week long March festival has a history that dates back more than 75 years. There are tastings held at vineyards all around the city and the festivities also include parties and parades. Prior to the event a “Festival Queen” is chosen and the festival organisers pray to the patron saint of the vineyards. The festival also includes a performance at the local amphitheatre where beautifully costumed dancers tell the story of the grape harvest.
The Boston Wine Expo, Boston, USA
This is the largest wine expo in the USA, with approximately 1,800 different wines to taste from more than 300 different wineries all over the world. You can also take part in tasting seminars that will teach you about the intricate details of wine flavours and tasting menus featuring dishes cooked by celebrity chefs.
Boston Wine Expo – photo credit:Masstravel CC 2.0
These are just a few of the best wine festivals in the world, so why not eat, drink and be merry and attend one on your travels?