Planning your next wine holiday? Have a look at some of the most Googled destinations in 2015, from both the US and UK, and the nearby wine regions to visit…
The list below is sourced from a combination of the UK’s ‘trending holiday destinations’ on Google, and the USA’s ‘most searched countries and regions’ from Google’s 2015 ‘Year in Search’ list.
Greece
Athens, Greece
A holiday in Greece offers sun and sand, as well as impressive history and architecture – but is also a great wine holiday destination. Plan a trip to Peloponnese – which Sarah Jane Evans MW calls ‘the ideal wine lover’s holiday’ in her Decanter travel guide – and is just a drive along the highway from Athens, over the Corinth Canal.
Greece was in Google’s top 10 from the UK.
- See also: Nine must-visit Athens wine bars
Australia
Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Australia is a classic choice for a wine lover’s holiday, with a wealth of wine regions to choose from, as well as beautiful scenery to explore. Tyson Stelzer recommends a visit to one of Australia’s most historic wine regions, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, where you can taste excellent Chardonnay, Semillon and Shiraz – and is only two hours from Sydney.
Or you could head to Victoria, then include a trip to some of Melbourne’s top wine bars.
Australia featured in Google’s top 10 in both the UK and the US.
Italy
Vineyards in Prosecco
Enjoy the Mediterranean lifestyle on a trip to Italy, where there is no shortage of exciting wine regions to visit. Whether you’re heading to Venice, where you can also take a short trip to visit Prosecco, or exploring Tuscany, including a visit to Florence, you’ll be sure to find great food, wine and culture.
Italy featured in Google’s top 10 in both the UK and the US.
United Kingdom
Hambledon Vineyard, Hampshire
2015 saw English wine surge in popularity, and plenty of these wineries open their doors to tourists and visitors. Southern England is where the key names for English sparkling wine are found, with growing conditions that are very similar to those of Champagne, as well as using the same production method and grape varieties. Plan a visit to one of these English wineries in the South Downs from Lonely Planet’s book Wine Trails.
United Kingdom was in Google’s top 10 from the US.
- See also: London’s top wine bars | UK top wine bars
United States
Finger Lakes, NY
Finger Lakes, New York
If you’re going to the East coast, plan a wine trip to Finger Lakes, NY, with our guide from Howard G Goldberg – including the ultimate Seneca Lake wine tour. If you fly into New York City – the number one holiday destination search in the United Kingdom – pay a visit to one of these top New York wine bars.
United States featured in Google’s top 10 in both the UK and the US. New York City was number one in the UK.
- See also: Where to drink Californian wine
Spain
Mallorca, Spain
Spain has plenty of options for food and wine lovers; as well as some of the more well known wine regions to visit, such as Rioja and Jerez, you can plan ideal wine holidays in more unexpected spots, such as Mallorca, using our travel guide from Sue Style.
Spain was in Google’s top 10 from the UK.
Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife may be better known as a sun seeker’s holiday island, but Tom Cannavan discovered what else it has to offer when he visited Suertes del Marqués, a producer making interesting, mineral wines from the volcanic soils. Cannavan describes Tenerife as ‘glorious country for growing vines’ and many of the vineyard plots are over 100 years old.
Tenerife was in Google’s top 10 from the UK.
Canada
Niagara, Canada
The wine scene in Canada is very exciting at the moment and rapidly growing, so now is the time to visit their largest wine region, Niagara, with our Lonely Planet travel guide. And don’t make the mistake in thinking that Canada can only make Ice Wine; there’s Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Franc to try.
Canada was in Google’s top 10 from the US.
- SEE ALSO: Canada wine: 10 exciting discoveries
