5 Wineries to Visit This Summer

Summer is when a wine trip becomes something else. The days are longer. Lunches run into afternoons. Tastings that would end at four in October run until seven, and by then someone has brought out olives and bread and the sun is still on the terrace. The best wineries know this. They plan for it. They have the kitchen open late, the garden set for dinner, and a bottle of something cold ready when you arrive.

The five estates that follow have been chosen for the way they make summer feel bigger — from a working Sicilian abbey twenty-five minutes from Cefalù, to two of the great Port houses of Porto, to a family estate deep in the Douro Valley, to one of Crete's most beloved wineries in the shadow of the Lassithi mountains. Each is bookable through WineTourism.com. Each has a distinct reason to visit this summer.

At a glance: 5 wineries to visit this summer

These are five of WineTourism.com's top-rated wineries to visit this summer: Abbazia Santa Anastasia in Sicily, an organic Benedictine-heritage estate with rooms, a pool, and a gourmet restaurant near Cefalù; Burmester Wine Cellar in Vila Nova de Gaia, one of the oldest Port houses (1750), tucked into the rock beneath the Dom Luís I Bridge; Taylor's Port, founded in 1692, with panoramic Douro views and a garden that occasionally hosts peacocks; Quinta de S.Tiago in the Douro Valley's Baixo Corgo sub-region, a family estate run by two brothers under the Mãos e Irmãos label; and Lyrarakis Winery in central Crete, famous for reviving the ancient Dafni and Plyto grapes.

Why summer changes a winery visit

Wine estates are built for the long-light season. In summer, the gardens are full, the terraces are open, and the culinary side of the visit — often the best part — pushes late into the evening. Harvest hasn't started yet at most estates, which means the winemakers are still available to talk. And in the Mediterranean, summer is when the food-and-wine culture aligns most obviously: raw seafood with high-acid whites, grilled meat with tannic reds, everything served outside.

Summer suits the mood a wine trip should have. You're on holiday. You want the tasting to be an event, not a meeting. The five estates below have been picked because they get that, and because they design experiences specifically to lean into it.

The 5 wineries to visit this summer

1. Abbazia Santa Anastasia — Sicily (near Cefalù)

Twenty-five minutes' drive south of Cefalù, Abbazia Santa Anastasia is a working monastery-turned-organic-winery in the Madonie mountains of northern Sicily. The Benedictine winemaking tradition here reaches back centuries; the modern estate is certified organic and biodynamic, producing wines from indigenous Grillo, Nero d'Avola, and Zibibbo alongside international varieties.

The tasting includes a stroll through the vineyards, a cellar tour, and a flight of four organic wines paired with local cured meats and cheeses. Reviews single out guide Paolo by name for warmth and knowledge, and the gourmet dinner option led by Chef Alessandro Battaglia — a tasting menu across 4–6 wines from sparkling to late-harvest.

The estate has rooms, a large pool, and the restaurant runs into the evening, meaning you can turn a summer visit into an overnight stay easily. Must-try wine: the aged Nero d'Avola, highlighted by returning guests. Best time: June through early September, when the abbey terraces are at their most magical.

2. Burmester Wine Cellar — Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto

Founded in 1750, Burmester is one of the oldest Port houses still operating and one of the most photographable — the cellar is tucked into the rock at the southern end of the Dom Luís I Bridge, riverside, with a view straight across to Porto's medieval old town. Owner-led tours walk through the history of Port winemaking, the ageing cellars, and finish with a tasting inside the atmospheric warehouse.

The classic tour includes a cellar visit and a tasting of two Port wines alongside a small selection of white and red table wines. Higher-tier tours add chocolate pairings or aged Ports. Guides speak German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese — an unusual range. Márcia is named repeatedly in reviews for her warmth.

Must-try wine: the White Port, which visitors specifically ask about after tastings. Best time: early evening June through August, when the bridge above catches the sunset. Entry starts at around €14 — one of the best values in Gaia.

3. Taylor's Port — Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto

Founded in 1692 and dedicated entirely to Port wine, Taylor's sits higher up the hillside above the Douro at Rua do Choupelo 250. The elevation is part of the charm — panoramic views of Porto's orange rooftops and the river below, and enough distance from the main tourist route that the crowds thin.

The self-guided audio tour walks through cellars that have aged wine for over a century, ending with a tasting of two or three Ports, with bread and olives available. Master classes for Vintage or Tawny lovers add a curated technical tasting on top. Taylor's is one of the few remaining houses producing a 30 Year Old Tawny — a wine that alone justifies the visit.

Peacocks occasionally appear in the garden. Reviews describe the property as "magical" and "worth every penny." Must-try wine: the 30 Year Old Tawny, which almost no other house makes at this level. Best time: June through September, late afternoon, with the Douro turning gold below the terrace.

4. Quinta de S.Tiago — Baixo Corgo, Douro Valley

An hour and a half east of Porto, in the Baixo Corgo sub-region of the Douro Valley, Quinta de S.Tiago is a working family estate run by two brothers, Rafael and his sibling, under the Mãos e Irmãos ("Hands and Brothers") label. The visit includes a guided vineyard tour, a walk through the small cellar, and a tasting of three classic Douro wines — reds built around Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca, plus whites from Gouveio, Rabigato, and Viosinho.

The estate has an old-world, unhurried feel that returning guests describe with the same phrase: "sharing wine with friends." Meals include bread, meat, cheese, olive oil, and access to the estate's shop for wines to take home. Rafael and his staff are remarkably accommodating, and the estate specifically welcomes families with children.

Must-try wine: the Vinhas Velhas (old-vine) red, a Douro classic in miniature. Best time: July and August, when the vineyard terraces on the Douro's slopes are at their most dramatic.

5. Lyrarakis Winery — Crete (Alagni, near Heraklion)

In central Crete, in the village of Alagni, at the foot of the Lassithi mountains, Lyrarakis Winery is one of the island's most beloved family estates and a key reason the ancient Cretan grapes Dafni and Plyto exist as commercial wines today — the Lyrarakis family were among the earliest producers to revive both varieties from near extinction.

The Cretan Queens Wine Journey walks visitors through five signature bottlings from the "Queens" of Cretan grapes, hosted by a sommelier who explains the island's five-thousand-year wine history. Rusks, olives, and an olive oil-verjuice dip come with the flight; cheeses and Cretan delicacies can be added. The seven-wine Cretan Vines & Heritage experience includes rare wines from the Single Area range.

Guide Angel is mentioned repeatedly and warmly; Sofia in others. Honeymoon couples describe private tables under olive trees. Must-try wine: the Dafni, which grows almost nowhere else in the world. Best time: late June through mid-September, when mountain evenings are cool enough for outdoor dinner.

Practical tips for a summer wine trip

Book tastings at least two weeks ahead — three for August. Small family estates like Quinta de S.Tiago and Lyrarakis can be fully booked at peak, and top slots at Taylor's and Burmester go fast. Arrive at estates in the mid-to-late afternoon; the light is best, temperatures are cooler, and the tastings that turn into dinners are the most memorable of the trip.

Pack light layers and walking shoes. If you plan to buy wine to take home, bring a soft-sided cooler and two ice packs — airline luggage limits allow more bottles than you think. WineTourism.com bookings include free cancellation up to 48 hours before.

The summer that starts at the tasting room door

Booking one of these five is the fastest way to turn a summer trip into a story you'll retell for years. Any one of the estates above is the kind of place you'll leave carrying a bottle you didn't plan to buy, a phone full of photos, and — if you time it right — an invitation to come back for the harvest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best wineries to visit this summer?

The best wineries to visit this summer combine open-air tastings, on-site dining, and cool-evening settings. WineTourism.com's top picks include Abbazia Santa Anastasia (Sicily), Burmester Wine Cellar and Taylor's Port (Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto), Quinta de S.Tiago (Douro Valley), and Lyrarakis Winery (Crete). Each offers distinctive summer experiences from pool-side dining to riverside cellar visits to Cretan tastings under olive trees.

What are the best wineries to visit this summer?

Where can I do a wine tasting in Crete?

Central Crete around Heraklion is the island's main wine region. Lyrarakis Winery in the village of Alagni is the most-recommended stop for travelers wanting to taste indigenous Cretan grapes — Dafni, Plyto, Vidiano, Kotsifali — that grow almost nowhere else. Their Cretan Queens Wine Journey (five wines) and Cretan Vines & Heritage tasting (seven wines) are both bookable through WineTourism.com.

What is the best time of year to visit European wineries?

Late spring (May and early June) and September are the peak windows across most of Europe. Summer suits Mediterranean wineries designed around outdoor tastings — coastal Sicily, Porto and Douro, Crete, southern France — where long evenings and warm nights suit the experience. Avoid August in inland regions like Chianti and Bordeaux, where heat and tourist density peak.

Do I need to book wineries in advance?

Yes, especially in summer. Small family estates like Quinta de S.Tiago and Lyrarakis have limited daily capacity and book out weeks ahead. Larger Port houses like Taylor's and Burmester have more capacity but still fill peak time slots. Book at least two weeks ahead for June, July, and September, and a month ahead for August. WineTourism.com bookings include free cancellation up to 48 hours before.

Can I combine wine tastings with a beach holiday?

Yes — several featured wineries pair beautifully with coastal travel. Abbazia Santa Anastasia is 25 minutes from Cefalù, one of Sicily's best beach towns. Lyrarakis Winery is under an hour from Crete's north-coast beaches. Burmester and Taylor's in Vila Nova de Gaia are minutes from Porto's Atlantic beaches.