White, red or rosé. Pure or as a Spritzer. On the terrace of your vacation home, in a hotel restaurant or in a camper. After a walk in the vineyards or at a tasting of regional varieties. Is a good wine also part of the perfect vacation for you? If yes, we can recommend a trip through a wine region! You will find good wines around every corner and unique landscapes, characterized mainly by vineyards. We will introduce you to the places in Europe where you can experience and enjoy just that. 

Where is wine grown? And why mountains in particular? 

Viticulture is a challenging discipline. To ensure that the final wine product is good, winemakers must consider many small details. Starting with soil quality and extending to rainfall and the correct time for harvesting.  

By the way, growing grapes is possible only in two narrow belts around the earth, known as the vine belts, between 40- and 50-degrees north latitude and 30 and 40 degrees south latitude. The sun and warmth are the most important factors. The ideal location, accordingly, is on a south-facing hillside where plants can get most of the sunlight. So, next time someone will ask you why wine grows on mountains: now you know. 😉 

Some tips for sustainable travel in wine regions of Europe

Destination Germany: The Moselle wine region

You know the legend about the cure of a sick Elector by wine? No? But as a real wine lover, surely the Bernkasteler Doctor rings a bell, doesn’t it? It is the famous wine from Bernkastel-Kues in Rhineland-Palatinate, and it is the miraculous remedy that is said to have brought the then elector back to his feet. 

Besides this, the Moselle region also offers numerous other excellent wines of high quality. The steep vineyards along the river offer ideal conditions for the production of noble and, above all, delicious white wines. 

Along the entire Moselle River stretch various cycling and hiking trails, some of them leading along the river and some climbing up into the hills and mountains all around. Up there, the view over the river bends is best enjoyed with a well-chilled white wine. 

However, for those coming to the region for the wine rather than the hiking, there are all kinds of things to see. Besides various castles and ruins of castles, the many towns invite you to take a relaxing stroll around the city. Or enjoy the Moselle wines from the hotel after a wellness treatment, for instance at the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten in Bernkastel-Kues. This wellness hotel is located on a plateau above the town and, apart from a large selection of high-quality wines from the region, offers plenty of space to relax and unwind in the heated swimming pools or in the natural bathing lake. Simple, regional and sustainable doesn’t just apply to the wines, though, but to the rest of the products you’ll enjoy on site. 

Looking over the edge of the wine glass: Bad Sulza Winery 

Even further north, there are still wine-growing areas. The northernmost, German wine comes from the island of Sylt in the Northern Sea. But we won’t go quite that far. Instead, we take a look at our Green Pearls® partner Bioseehotel Zeulenroda in Thuringia. Here, its wines are sourced from a vineyard in Bad Sulza, barely an hour and a half’s drive away. As of June 2020, 480 new grape vines are also growing in the outdoor area, planted together with the winery.

Italy: The White Wine Heaven of Cormòns 

Located just before the Slovenian border, Cormòns remains the economic and cultural center of the Collio and is renowned for its extraordinary white wines. Conditions for wine cultivation couldn’t be more ideal: The pre-Alps protect the grapevines from cold winds, while the proximity to the Mediterranean Sea provides a mild, temperate climate. It is no wonder that most inhabitants make a living from viticulture. Take a stroll through the city with Habsburg flair and taste your way through the wines, or make a trip to the corresponding vineyards right away. Just like on the Moselle, Cormòns and the surrounding area are best explored by foot or bicycle. Rolling hills will make this a pleasure even for untrained cyclists. 😉 

Great accommodation for a trip to the wine region is La Subida Country Resort. The rustic-stylish cottages combine tradition, natural luxury and modern architecture. Moreover, there are two excellent restaurants that offer you the opportunity to feast after a day in the vineyards. The proximity to Slovenia and the peculiarities of the Friulian cuisine (Friuli is the name of the region) will be noticeable on your plates. Cormòns is definitely a place that will impress you!

Looking beyond the wine glass: The Pigato Road in Liguria

You’ll find another wine-growing area in Liguria around the Relais del Maro in Borgomaro. “Ligurian wines?” you are probably thinking right now,” Never heard of them.” Well, then we can only suggest that you plan your next trip there. The Relais del Maro offers not only a unique stay in a small village away from the major tourist centers, but also a crazy good wine selection. Minutes from the old village center and hotel is the Pigato road, which is home to numerous wineries along the way. The Pigato is a dry white wine produced only in this region. Discover more treasure at Podere del Maro, a biodynamic winery in Borgomaro, where Marco and Matilde will teach you the secrets of the wine region.

Croatia: Island of delight Hvar in the Adriatic Sea

The sunny Adriatic island of Hvar is known beyond its borders for its wine. Unfortunately, also for the difficulties that the viticulturists had in the past. For example, they had to struggle with a phylloxera plague for a long time. In the meantime, however, winegrowing has once again become one of the most important economic sectors on the island and red wines such as “Zlatan Plavac” are among the leading wines in Croatia. The Plavac Mali grapes used for this grow on hillsides that slope steeply down to the Adriatic Sea, sometimes more than 350 meters above sea level. A scene that you should definitely take a look at!

You can taste the wine, as well as other local white and red wine varieties, at the luxurious Maslina Resort. The 5-star boutique hotel in the bay of Maslinica with its 53 rooms, suites and villas, four restaurants and bars, the Pharomatiq Spa, a playroom for children and teenagers and the Wine & Culture Club for wine lovers and culture enthusiasts is the ideal place for a luxurious multigenerational vacation or a relaxing time for two. Within the “Mindful Luxury” philosophy, the hotel offers you experiences in close connection with the nature and culture of Croatia.

Looking beyond the wine glass: Grk, a unique feature of Lumbarda.

A small, local celebrity on the island of Korçula, Lumbarda is a unique wine. Or better said, the white wine Grk is. The eponymous grape is grown nowhere else in Croatia, which makes Lumbarda a treasure of wine growing. 

Around the corner is the Eco Aparthotel The Dreamers Club. Its owner, Tanja Duračković, suggests two wineries you should visit: Bire, which caters to larger groups, and the family-owned Popic. But of course, you can also enjoy Grk and other regional wines in the garden oasis of the Dreamers Club. Accompanied by a plate of delicious tapas made from regional recipes and the sun setting over the sea. What more beautiful experience could there be?

Spain: Organic wines in Catalonia

Located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees, you will find the growing region of a particularly strong, Spanish red wine: the DO Empordà. Besides, the region is also known for its light, which already inspired Salvador Dalí and will go on your vacation something special. 

Apart from wine and light, you only need the right, suitable, sustainable vacation accommodation. The historic ensemble POU DE GLAÇ is located not far from the vineyards of the organic winery Vins de Taller. A former ice fountain and the buildings surrounding it have been renovated sustainably and ecologically, and now offer complete relaxation away from the hustle and bustle. It is surrounded by a spacious park with olive grove and offers a saltwater pool, the said ice fountain as an event location and access to numerous hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. Furthermore, the winery provides tours on horseback or bicycle through the vineyards, in addition to tastings of its own organic wines. A haven for wine lovers looking for something special. 

Looking over the edge of the wine glass: Green pearls outside wine regions

Naturally, not all of our partners are located in a wine region. However, many of them focus on providing you with wines that are as regional as possible and maintain a good relationship with their suppliers. The ADLER Lodge RITTEN, for example, sources most of its wine from Tuscany from its family operated and biodynamic winery Tenuta Sanoner. At the Naturhotel Aufatmen, there are regular wine tastings by the winemakers whose wine the hotel sources. This personal relationship also spills over to you as guests, and you gain profound insights into the world of wine. 

Germany or Italy, whether a famous wine region or an insider tip, they are all sustainable destinations. The bicycle or your feet are a matter of course everywhere, and with Green Pearls® partners you have found your sustainable accommodation directly. A sustainable trip to a wine region is therefore not only good for you, but, done right, also for the environment. In turn, it ensures that we will be able to enjoy the wine from there for a long time to come. Cheers!

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