When we plan to go for a wine tasting experience and choose the winery to visit, most of the time we choose a dreamy estate lost in the Italian or French countryside, surrounded by green hills or in the middle of endless vine rows. Have you ever thought of going for a wine tasting in urban vineyards? If you do not believe that there are wineries very close to famous city centres around the world, then you need to read our new blog post where we share with you our favourite wineries located near some incredible cities.
Get ready to pack your bags for a trip filled with history, monuments and wine tastings!
Wineries Near Nantes, France
Nantes is the administrative capital of the Pays de la Loire region and the largest city in the Loire Valley wine region. A number of monuments tell the story of striking historical events which affected the city of Nantes.
Whether it is the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, Les Machines de l’Île, the Cathedral or the Passage Pommeraye, Nantes offers a diversity of attractions and activities combining pleasure and history.
If you are also would like to taste wines of Loire Valley and planning on visiting wineries near Nantes, here’s where to go close to the city center:
Domaine de la Coche
30 km from Nantes
Le Haut Planty
26 km from Nantes
Wineries Near Montpellier, France
Take a break in Montpellier, an amazing medieval town and the third-largest French city on the Mediterranean. Spend time in the lovely little streets, have a drink on the Comédie Place. Enjoy the architecture of the faculty of medicine and the Royal Place of Peyrou. Between vineyards, mountains, and the Mediterranean Sea, take pleasure in walking around, tasting fabulous wines and food at the markets.
Montpellier is close to the heart of the Languedoc-Roussillon wine region but you can find amazing wineries even near one of the sunniest cities in France. Here are our suggestions on wineries to visit near Montpellier:
Château de Flaugergues
7 km from Montpellier
Domaine Massillan
13 km from Montpellier
If you are willing to discover more cities in France, you cannot miss one of the most famous winemaking cities in the world: Bordeaux. Check out our blog post about the best châteaux to visit in Bordeaux.
Wineries Near Verona, Italy
Verona, city of love, city of Romeo & Juliet, we know that’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the name of one of the main cities in Veneto. Verona is actually much more than that, and its most famous building dates back to Roman times, long before Shakespeare wrote the tragedy of the star-crossed lovers, and is the perfect starting point for a tour of the city.
The Arena di Verona is a Roman amphitheater from the 1st century and due to the unique acoustics, the arena has quickly established itself as a venue for operas, concerts, and other performances.
Just some kilometers out of the gorgeous city centre of Verona, there are many wineries waiting for you for a delicious wine tasting. We chose these two wineries near Verona to visit:
Fasoli Gino
10 km from Verona
Corte Figaretto
10 km from Verona
A true wine enthusiast cannot miss a trip to Tuscany (after having tasted some exceptional Veneto wine!). In case you are planning on travelling to one of the most incredible Italian wine regions, check our article Chianti Wine Tours from Florence.
Wineries in Porto, Portugal
Porto is considered one of Portugal’s most vibrant and dynamic cities. This incredible and beautiful city has the perfect blend of rich history and modern luxury that every traveller enjoys. The city of Porto is best known for the production of port wine but there is far more to the city than just this.
The narrow streets of the Ribeira district take visitors back in time and are the perfect spot to relax and sip on a glass of wine. For book lovers, a visit to the Lello Bookshop cannot be missed. This unique bookshop is unlike any other in the world.
Porto is one of the world’s most famous wine cities, together with Vila Nova da Gaia just on the other bank of the Douro River, and that’s why many wineries are very close to the city center. Our suggestion is to visit these two incredible wineries in Porto:
Cálem Wine Cellar
7 km from Porto
Churchill’s Port
5 km from Porto
To know more about Porto and its relationship with Port Wine, check out our blog All You Need to Know About Port Wine.
Urban Vineyards of Vienna, Austria
The cityscape of Vienna is marked with beautiful vineyards. Vienna is the perfect destination to explore the city while enjoying the range of excellent local wines at the same time. The city of Vienna is one of the main tourism destinations in Austria that is a must-see on all itineraries.
For wine lovers, you can find vineyards around and even within the city of Vienna. Urban vineyards in Vienna present a very special “Heurigen” culture. Heurigen is a type of tavern where wines from the latest harvest are served. There are more than 200 vineyards in Vienna that are mainly located in the famous Döbling district. Take walk around the district and enjoy the special taste of Austria in Viennese Heurigen while admiring the city view from the Kahlenberg hill.
Here are some suggestions on vineyards to visit in Vienna:
Weingut & Heuriger Christ
10 km from Vienna
Fuhrgassl-Huber
8 km from Vienna
If you want to visit the city before heading to wine tastings, the Innere Stadt is the innermost district of Vienna. At the heart of Innere Stadt you will find the world-famous St. Stephen’s Cathedral. This church is considered by many to be the symbol of Vienna. From the cathedral, the streets of Vienna extend in all directions, including the most famous Karntner and Graben Streets. To make access to the cathedral easier, most of this area of Innere Stadt is pedestrianized and easy to spend hours walking through.
Vineyards Near San Francisco, USA
San Francisco is the “hippiest” city in the world; its colourful buildings, hippy shops, and green soul fully represent its character. This bustling city is famous for a number of great attractions and for having a real-life collection of world trams that constantly run up and down the city’s undulating hill district.
The biggest challenge when visiting San Francisco is deciding where to go first. You won’t want to miss a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, a visit to Alcatraz Island, stroll at the crossroads of 1960’s famed Haight and Ashbury or taking an instagrammable picture in front of the Painted Ladies. Don’t forget to pay a visit to the sea lions that live at Pier 39.
Distance is pretty relative in a huge country like the USA, that’s why the nearest wineries to San Francisco are actually located in the Napa Valley. Here’s where you should go if you are planning a day trip to Napa Valley from the city:
Avinodos
70 km from San Francisco
Hoopes Family Vineyards & Winery
90 km from San Francisco
Vineyards in Cape Town, South Africa
The largest city in the Western Cape region and dominated by Table Mountain, Cape Town is a fascinating destination that really has a lot to offer. Being close to the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is the perfect spot where to enjoy a sunny day at the beach touched by a gentle breeze that makes the atmosphere even more relaxing.
Discover the urban development of the V&A Waterfront and another former industrial neighborhood, Woodstock. In 2014 the city was elected World Design Capital and today is the place to be for every design enthusiast. Wine enthusiasts are very welcomed as well in one of South Africa’s most beautiful cities, as the wineries of the Coastal Region wine region are all around the city. These two are our favourites:
High Constantia Wine Cellar
17 km from Cape Town
Saxenburg Estates
34 km from Cape Town
Vineyards in Adelaide, Australia
Adelaide is regarded by many as a magical and perfect city because of its wide range of things to do and see, both for visitors and local residents. Despite its small size, the population is just over 24 000 people, Adelaide has regularly been voted one of the most liveable cities in the world and because of its appeal, is visited by approximately 300 000 people daily.
The city is an interesting mix of arts, culture, history, and heritage. In 2015, Adelaide became the first and only UNESCO City of Music in the whole of Australia – a designation that acknowledges the city’s deep and rich music culture and influence on the international music scene.
The nearest vineyards to Adelaide are located in the stunning McLaren Vale, in the South Australia wine region, and are the perfect destination for a getaway or a day trip from the city. Here’s where we would go to visit a vineyard in Adelaide:
Willunga 100
46 km from Adelaide
Hastwell & Lightfoot
42 km from Adelaide
