Tasting Europe

I Took European Wine Vacations. Here’s What Felt Real.

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I’ve done three wine trips in Europe. I paid for them myself. I lugged bags up stone steps. I stained a pair of white sneakers with red dust. I also had some of the best meals of my life. So, was it worth it? Short answer: yes. But the story matters.

I actually turned the whole saga into a deeper travelogue—you can skim the full diary of my European wine vacations if you crave more detail between the sips.

Let me explain.

The quick pour

  • Best for views: Douro Valley, Portugal
  • Best for food + wine together: Tuscany, Italy
  • Best for value + cool cellars: Rioja, Spain
  • Easiest day trip: Champagne from Paris
  • Most dreamy river bends: Mosel, Germany

I’ll share what I loved, what bugged me, what I paid, and a few tiny mistakes I made so you don’t repeat them. Like wearing slick sandals on wet cellar stairs. Don’t do that.

Trip 1: Douro Valley, Portugal — golden hills and slow boats

I went in late May. Warm sun. Long days. We stayed near Pinhão at a small guesthouse, tucked among the Douro wine villages. I woke to the sound of roosters and the smell of toast. The hills looked like folded velvet.

  • Tastings: Quinta do Crasto had a patio view that felt unreal. We sipped Touriga Nacional and watched a tiny train snake along the river. At Quinta do Seixo (the Sandeman one), the tour was slick, but the view still stole my breath.
  • Food: I liked the grilled sardines at a no-frills spot by the station. Simple, salty, perfect with white port tonic.
  • Getting around: We took the train from Porto to Pinhão on a Saturday. It was slow, cheap, and scenic. We also did a short boat ride. I thought it would be cheesy. It wasn’t.

What I loved

  • The terraces. They look hand-made because they are.
  • Ports tasted next to dry reds. It helped me “get” the region.

What bugged me

  • Hills. I mean it. The inclines are no joke.
  • Some wineries needed cash for small fees. I had to hunt an ATM.

What I paid (for two people, 2 nights)

  • Train from Porto: about 30–40 euros round trip
  • Room: 120 euros per night
  • Tastings: 15–30 euros per person
  • Boat ride: 10–20 euros per person

Tiny tip: Book tastings by email a week ahead. Bring a hat. And call a taxi before dinner if you’re out of the town center. Drivers get busy at sunset.

Trip 2: Tuscany, Italy — Chianti roads, big bowls of pasta, long naps

I went in early October. Grapes were coming in. The air smelled like crushed fruit. We stayed near Gaiole in Chianti. The road was narrow and cute until a tour bus met us around a bend. My palms still remember.

  • Tastings: Antinori nel Chianti Classico felt like a museum inside a hill. The tasting was calm and well run. Castello di Brolio (Ricasoli) had a castle walk and views that made my camera go wild.
  • Food: A bowl of pappardelle with wild boar ragù near Radda. I still think about it when I’m stuck in a long meeting.
  • Side trip: We drove to Montalcino for Brunello. Biondi-Santi was booked solid, so we tried a smaller spot. Slower, kinder, and cheaper. No ego, just good wine.
  • Souvenir bottle: If you only take one home, consider this Italian standout I keep reaching for.

What I loved

  • The way Sangiovese changes with each hill. It’s like cousins at a reunion. You see the family face, but each one talks different.
  • Long lunches that slide into naps.

What bugged me

  • ZTL zones. Those city cameras will fine you if you drive in the wrong area. Siena got me once. Watch for red circles.
  • Many tasting rooms shut from 12:30 to 2:30. I learned the hard way. I ate gelato for lunch. Twice.

What I paid (for two people, 3 nights)

  • Car from Florence: 45–70 euros per day (manual was cheaper)
  • Room: 140–180 euros per night
  • Tastings: 20–50 euros per person
  • Fuel + tolls: about 60 euros total

Tiny tip: Set Google Maps offline. Use “Trenitalia” for city hops, then rent the car outside major centers. Bring coins for small parking lots.

Trip 3: Rioja, Spain — cool cellars, warm people, fair prices

We based in Haro last spring. Haro has a clutch of old bodegas in one walkable area. I loved that. No car needed within town. The vibe felt proud but friendly. If you’re curious how Rioja stacks up against the rest of the country, my road notes are collected in this honest take on tasting across Spanish wine regions.

  • Tastings: López de Heredia was my favorite. The cellars looked like a storybook, with cobwebs and old wood. Wines were calm and layered. Muga had a solid tour, and the rosé pour felt like a patio party. CVNE was polished but not stiff.
  • Food: Pinchos on Calle Laurel in Logroño. One bar, one bite, one glass. Move on. It’s like a food parade.

What I loved

  • Value. A flight could be 12–18 euros and still feel generous.
  • Old plus new. You see tradition and tech living side by side.

What bugged me

  • Sundays were sleepy. Some spots closed with little notice.
  • Late dinner hours. I got hungry at 6. Locals didn’t. I caved and ate chips once.

What I paid (for two people, 2 nights)

  • Bus from Bilbao: about 20–30 euros round trip
  • Room: 90–130 euros per night
  • Tastings: 10–25 euros per person
  • Pinchos crawl: 2–3 euros per bite, 2–4 per glass

Tiny tip: Book Heredia by email weeks ahead. Wear shoes with grip. Cellar stairs can be slick.

Bonus sips

  • Champagne (Reims/Epernay): Easy day trip from Paris on SNCF. I toured Taittinger and Ruinart. Lots of chalk, cool temps, clean lines. Book far ahead. Bring a light sweater.
  • Mosel, Germany (Bernkastel/Wehlen): River bends like a ribbon. Riesling that smells like lime and slate. I visited Dr. Loosen for a quick tasting, then sat by the water with a pretzel. Simple joy.
  • Cava (Penedès, Spain): Bright citrus, gentle bubbles, and prices that feel like a hug. A train from Barcelona drops you near vineyards in under an hour, and this is the Spanish bubbly I keep reaching for.

Back home, I lined up a flight of the highest-rated bottles—my notes live here if you want a cheat sheet before you shop.

Planning notes I wish someone told me

  • Resource: For sample itineraries and dependable winery contact info, I like to skim TastingEurope before I lock anything in.
  • Bookings: Many places want an email or a form on their site. Some use Tock, but not many. Don’t assume walk-ins.
  • Season: May–June and September feel sweet. July can roast you. Harvest (Sept/Oct) is fun but busy; some places close for crush.
  • Getting around:
    • Portugal Douro: Train works; taxis are scarce at night.
    • Tuscany: You need a car. Manual cars are cheaper.
    • Rioja: Train or bus to Haro or Logroño; walk a lot.
    • Champagne: Train from Paris, then taxis or your feet.
    • Mosel: Car is handy; buses exist but run light on Sundays.
  • Money: Keep a small stash of cash for tiny fees or tips. Card works most places.
  • Food windows: Lunch is sacred. Expect closures mid-day. Plan snacks.
  • Packing: Neutral clothes hide wine drops. Bring a foldable tote for bottles and bubble wrap sleeves.
  • Myth busting: Wondering if European bottles mean fewer headaches? I tested the sulfite question over a week of tasting, and you can peek at the results [here](https://www.tastingeurope.com/do-e

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