July 20, 2026, 3:03 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

Wine regions are among the most charming travel destinations in Europe–and they are becoming increasingly popular. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a novice among wine lovers, wine regions promise, in addition to special delights, a vacation amidst tranquil nature with often fantastic views. Europe pampers its wine travelers with hilly, Mediterranean landscapes, fascinating river valleys, and historic wineries, each more beautiful than the last. At the TRAVELBOOK Award on September 22, the most beautiful wine region in Europe will be crowned this year. Here are the five contenders for the title.

The Five Nominees for the Most Beautiful Wine Region in Europe

Kakheti in Georgia

The Georgian wine region Kakheti, with its more than 8,000 years of wine tradition, is considered the cradle of viticulture. According to the information site Georgia Insight, almost all place names are brand names of Georgian wines, and every farmer is a winemaker. Even the churches have wine cellars. There are many churches in Kakheti, and medieval fortresses can also be discovered during a visit. The region itself is considered cozy, with donkeys and hay carts, vast vineyards tended by hand, and family-run wineries.

According to the information site Georgien.de, Tsinandali (also Tsinandali) is not only the “brand name of the most famous white wine from the region” but also “one of the most interesting wine localities in Georgia (…).” Those who want to hike in addition to wine tasting can do so, for example, in the green Lagodekhi National Park or the Vashlovani National Park, characterized by canyons and steppes.

Dealu Mare in Romania

One of the most famous red wine-growing areas in Romania is Dealu Mare. It is located south of the Carpathians in a sheltered hillside location and is particularly known for “full-bodied, ripe red wines” that, according to the information site Grapeminds, are “characterized by modern oenological practice and international grape variety selection.”

Visitors discover modern boutique wineries amidst the lush green-yellow hilly landscape and–despite the focus on modernity in viticulture–numerous traces of centuries-old wine-growing tradition. Those interested can also discover villages, churches, and other cultural heritage sites. The local wineries also offer wine tastings and guided tours through the vineyards.

Valais in Switzerland

The Swiss wine region Valais in the Alps delights its visitors with terraced vineyards. They climb the slopes above the Rhone River and, together with it, form a picturesque backdrop. According to the information site Swiss Wine, the valley was formed about 20,000 years ago by the retreat of glaciers and subsequent glacial erosion.

Valais is the most important wine region in the country and, like its wines, is described by Swiss Wine as “picturesque and charming.” Fifty-five grape varieties are grown in Valais, 59 percent of them red and 41 percent white. The high-quality wines from Valais are still little known outside Switzerland.

Ahr Valley in Germany

The German Ahr Valley is known to many, especially because of the dramatic flood in 2021, but it is also one of the most renowned red wine regions in Europe. With 80 percent red grape varieties, it is even the largest contiguous red wine-growing area in the country, as the information site of the valley writes.

The picturesque Ahr Valley, which is among the best travel destinations this year according to “Condé Nast” (TRAVELBOOK reported), is flanked by partly steep mountain slopes, on whose wine terraces particularly Pinot Noir thrives. Thus, the Ahr Valley stands like no other German wine region for Pinot Noir, as 65 percent of the 500 hectares of vineyards are reserved for it. Here, too, handwork is a key term, as the hands of the winemakers are used instead of machines.

Also interesting: Traben-Trarbach, the former wine world capital on the Moselle

Calabria in Italy

In Italian Calabria, the love of wine is indulged with sea views. Many of the vineyards there are located between the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas. Vines are found in the southern Italian region near the coast, as well as in high altitudes. About 9,000 hectares are dedicated to viticulture in Calabria.

Visitors can look forward to an authentic region of Italy that is not yet overrun by countless tourists. Authentic encounters, villages, and landscapes are to be expected here, as well as popular wines. According to the wine magazine “Vinum,” Calabria’s most important export products are the wines Cirò Rosso and Cirò Bianco.

Vote Now!

These are the five nominees for the award for the most beautiful wine region in Europe. But which of the five is truly the most beautiful on the entire continent? You decide:

Note on methodology: Voting can be done once per device (computer, smartphone, etc.).