The Riesling Challenge
Germans drink more sparkling wine than any other nation, and Riesling Sekt (from Baden, Pfalz and Mosel) is arguably the best. There's no better way to find it than along the 85 km-long German Wine Route (the oldest in Germany). The route is idyllic, castle-dotted countryside with hiking and cycling routes that pass through villages, vineyards and forests all the way from Bockenheim to Schweigen. Make the most of the opportunities for tastings at sustainable wineries along the way. Plan your route, including affordable accommodation and great restaurants, at german-wineroute.com.
The Champagne capital
Grape harvesting in Epernay. Photo: PR
Epernay calls itself the capital of the Champagne region, and for a quick experience of the region's best bubbly, consider a quick tour that tastes 24 different Champagnes in 24 hours. Based in Epernay, the tour includes stops at family-run producers, tastings, an overnight stay at the 4-star Jean Moet Hotel, and a tour of the church where Dom Pérignon is buried and Hautvilliers, the “birthplace of Champagne.” It also includes dinner at a hilltop restaurant paired with the Champagne.
From £487pp (excluding international travel)grapeescapes.net
Dorset rollout
You don't have to cross the Channel to taste the finest Champagne-made wines. Recently ranked among the top 10 most beautiful vineyards in Europe, family-run English Oak Vineyard in Richet Matravers, Dorset, offers tours and delightful picnics under the broad oak trees with a glass of award-winning Chinquapin Rosé. Or join a team of dedicated volunteers to help with the autumn harvest; as with the Champagne, all the grapes are hand-picked on the same day. Stay at Poole's ivy-covered Georgian Hotel du Vin, a 10-minute drive away.
englishoakvineyard.co.uk; double rooms (room only) at Hotel du Vin from £174
Spending time with Widow Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot vineyard sign. Photo: Tim Moore/Alamy
Savor the inspiring winemaker's drama in the Widow Clicquot biopic, hitting theaters later this month. Then explore the home of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot-Ponsardin, the “Veuve” (French for widow) of the famous champagne Veuve Clicquot. Hear how she rose to fame, peek into the cellars, enjoy a rosé-wine-themed picnic at Manoir de Verzy, or have lunch on the sunny terrace of the new Café Clicquot. Stay at Reims' traditional Grand Hôtel des Templiers, a 30-minute walk from Veuve Clicquot's estate.
veuveclicquot.com; Double Room B&B at Grand Hotel des Templiers from £169
Crémant de la Crop
Maison Ackermann is the oldest sparkling wine producer in the Loire Valley. Photo: Jérôme Paris/Shutterstock
This corner of France is home to Crémant de Loire, an affordable and elegant alternative to Champagne, including Maison Ackermann, the Loire's oldest sparkling wine house. Specializing in the Saumur and Crémant de Loire appellations, visit the winery's vast cavernous cellars (with tastings included) and see dramatic art and light installations by the winery's artists. Stay at Fontevraud L'Ermitage Hotel, with its Michelin-starred restaurant, located inside Fontevraud Abbey's monastery.
Double rooms only from £127. L'Hotel de Fontevraud L'Ermitage
France's first sparkling wine
A glass of Blanquette de Limoux. Photo: Invictus SARL/Alamy
In 1531, the Benedictine monks of Saint-Hilaire in Limoux, Occitanie, created the delicious Blanquet de Limoux, which is older than Champagne. Rumor has it that Dom Pérignon adapted the recipe. Use the quaint Domaine Saint-Andrew near Limoux as your base to enjoy the covered Friday market at Place de la République, stroll through the historic centre before heading to fine wineries such as Domaine Bouchet and Paul Mas. Don't miss the medieval carvings of the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire.
Domaine Saint Andrew, double B&B from £81
Cava Catalonia
If you like cava, head to Catalonia. Called “Spanish Champagne” until EU law banned the term, 95% of cava is produced in the Penedès region southwest of Barcelona. Enjoy a tasting of Catalan sparkling wines from Praktik Vinoteca, a boutique wine hotel in central Barcelona. Or head into the countryside on an expert-led small-group wine tour that includes a visit to three Penedès wineries and a tapas lunch.
Small-group tours from €175, winetourismspain.com. Double room B&B at Praktik Vinoteca from €144.
Romanian Rhine wine
Vineyards in Romania. Photo: Emilia Birculescu/Getty Images/500px
Thanks to its mountainous climate (perfect for the second fermentation of white and rosé sparkling wines), Romania has begun to spread its reputation as the sixth largest wine producer in the EU. At Rhein Winery, Romania's largest champagne producer, you can try Rhein Extra, Romania's oldest brut. The bottles are turned by hand twice a day for two months and kept at a constant low temperature. The result is a sparkling wine that tastes like biscuit and is very affordable. Combine the main attractions of the Carpathian Mountains (Peleș Castle and Seven Ladders Canyon) with a full-day tasting tour to Rhein Winery with Viator (from £115 per person). Stay in the characteristic wooden-beamed Casa Çitic in Brasov's old town.
viator.com; Casa Chitic double room B&B from £20
Ups and South Downs
Bottling at Ridgeview Estate Winery in Sussex. Photo: Bloomberg/Getty Images
One of the earliest advocates of English sparkling wine is Ridgeview, a winery in Ditchling, East Sussex. Founded in 1995, the winery won Sparkling Wine of the Year at the 2024 Sommelier Wine Awards for its Bloomsbury Magnum NV. After a day exploring Chardonnay vineyards in the South Downs National Park, enjoy a guided tour and wine and cheese pairings before enjoying an al fresco lunch at Ridgeview's Rows & Vine restaurant. Afterwards, relax at The Bull, a cosy 16th-century inn in Ditchling.
ridgeview.co.uk; double B&B at The Bull from £179
Italy's highest peak
Visit the Franciacorta wine region in Lombardy, an hour's drive from Milan, to taste high-quality sparkling wine made in the most traditional way: aging in oak barrels or aging in bottle for up to seven years. Enjoy the annual Franciacorta Festival in September or tour the vineyards on foot or by e-bike. Stay at the Ambra hotel on the shores of Lake Iseo. contadicastaldi.it/en/; Hotel Ambra, double B&B from £105
