# 11 Amazing Wine Regions You Probably Haven't Heard Of > We've rounded up 11 hidden wine regions around the world, from Myanmar to Wisconsin. Discover where great wine is made far off the beaten tourist track. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/vidkryite-dlia-sebe-11-prykhovanykh-vynnykh-rehioniv-svitu-vid-mianmy-do-viskonsyna/ - Language: en - Published: 2024-05-13 - Categories: Culture, Hotels, Tours, USA, Food & Drinks, Relaxation --- Burgundy, Napa Valley, Marlborough, Tuscany: true wine lovers have probably already crossed the big-name wine regions off their lists. Luckily, these days there are even more wine worlds waiting to be conquered. In recent years, new or lesser-known vineyards have been producing outstanding wines that are redrawing the wine map. Here are 11 hidden, beautiful wine destinations that are ripe for exploring: ## 1. Inle Lake Region, Myanmar ![](/storage/image/prev/july-article-image-93-1-2024.jpg) Myanmar has only two wineries, both located near Inle Lake, famous for its Intha fishermen who row standing on one leg while handling their cone-shaped fishing nets. A 30-minute drive from the lake, up in the Shan Hills, sits Aythaya Winery, which opened in 1999. Wine tastings take place at the Sunset Wine Garden restaurant, where the sun dips below the vineyards and creates an otherworldly atmosphere. Red Mountain Estate opened in 2002 and is the only other winery in Myanmar. Its 400,000 vines were imported from France and Spain after experiments to determine which would grow best in the hilly region. ## 2. Kakheti, Georgia Sitting at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia is known not for juicy peaches but for its grape varieties. Georgia the country (not the U.S. state) is one of the oldest wine regions in the world. Archaeologists have found evidence of winemaking dating back to 6000 BC, earning it a spot on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. Kakheti is Georgia's most famous wine region: among its highlights is a wine tasting at Pheasant's Tears in the picturesque hilltop town of Sighnaghi. Rather than being made in wooden barrels or steel containers, Georgian grapes are fermented in clay vessels known as qvevri. The resulting sweet flavor is pleasant and stands apart from the usual palette of Western wines. ## 3. Brda, Slovenia The 72-square-kilometer wine region of Brda lies along the Italian border and has been described as a "mini-Tuscany," with even its cuisine shaped by Italy. An hour's drive from Ljubljana, most of the vineyards are small family-run operations, and nearly all offer some combination of wine tastings, tours, food, lodging, and wine sales. The best way to get to know Brda? A slow, multi-course lunch on a terrace overlooking the vineyards. ## 4. Douro Valley, Portugal ![](/storage/image/prev/july-article-image-93-2-2024.jpg) Northern Portugal is home to the Douro region and the birthplace of port wine. Winemaking here goes back more than 2,000 years. The new Six Senses hotel, the first in Europe, is a restored 19th-century mansion set high on a hillside overlooking the Douro Valley and the river below. Its standout features include panoramic views while relaxing by the pool or leisurely strolls through the hotel's organic garden. ## 5. Okanagan Wine Region, Canada Located in British Columbia, a 4-hour drive from bustling Vancouver, the Okanagan wine region is the perfect place for a bike ride through the vineyards. The Fairview trail network is a 6.2-mile loop that starts near Tinhorn Creek Winery, where you can cycle through the vineyards and the town of Fairview, a former Gold Rush-era settlement. Afterward, you can enjoy wine tastings at several vineyards with views of the beautiful hills. ## 6. Finger Lakes Region, New York New York's Finger Lakes region is a scenic 9,000-square-mile landscape of waterfalls, gorges, hills, and miles of shoreline, taking in 11 glacial lakes and one Great Lake. Visitors can try one of four wine trails in the Finger Lakes region: the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, or the Canandaigua Wine Trail. The main draw is the white wines, ever since the Finger Lakes burst onto the scene with its delicious Rieslings. The region has more than 100 wineries and is the largest wine region in the U.S. east of California. ## 7. Franschhoek, South Africa ![](/storage/image/prev/july-article-image-93-3-2024.jpg) Just a 45-minute drive from Cape Town, Franschhoek is poised to become South Africa's next big wine destination. The valley was originally known as Olifantshoek (Elephant Corner) because of the huge herds that once roamed the area, and today it is a leading wine destination in the Cape Winelands. The new Leeu House is an exclusive boutique hotel whose six rooms open onto private gardens, and guests can enjoy complimentary tastings of Mullineux & Leeu Family wines. The Franschhoek Wine Tram offers a hop-on, hop-off tour that rolls past beautiful vineyards with stops at several wineries. ## 8. Tenerife, Canary Islands Thanks to Tenerife's rich volcanic soil, the largest of the Canary Islands produces delicious red and white wines. The island is home to grape varieties that were wiped out in continental Europe during the phylloxera epidemic of the mid-1800s. There are also plenty of vineyards for wine tastings, including Bodega Monje in the north of the island and Bodega Frontos in the south. The red Listan Negra resembles a robust Spanish wine, while the white Listan Bianco is a dry, fresh wine that pairs beautifully with the island's fresh seafood and shellfish. ## 9. Marche, Italy ![](/storage/image/prev/july-article-image-93-4-2024.jpg) Located in central Italy, the Marche region offers a beautiful landscape beside the Adriatic Sea without the heavy tourism of neighboring Tuscany or Umbria. Around 18 million bottles of its celebrated Verdicchio wine are sold worldwide every year. In the small town of Offida, the most important grape variety is Pecorino. Estates like Ciu Ciu thrive while preserving a sense of local tradition. ## 10. Healdsburg, California Instead of following in the footsteps of the oft-mentioned Napa Valley getaway, one alternative is to check out Northern California's up-and-coming wine scene in Healdsburg. Located an hour's drive north of San Francisco, Healdsburg celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Wine Road organization last year, where 200 wineries are scattered across the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River valleys. The Wine Road was created because, decades ago, Napa was the only place to taste wine in the region, and Californians wanted more variety. Guests can join the husband-and-wife team of Gerald and Kirsten Jones, who lead wine walking tours in downtown Healdsburg and let you sample some of the region's wines. They run their tour with a fun take on wine tasting, visiting several tasting rooms such as Williamson Wines and Stephen & Walker. ## 11. Door County, Wisconsin "The Cape Cod of the Midwest" is the affectionate nickname given to the wholesome, laid-back lakeside destination of Door County, Wisconsin. This Midwestern spot has eight wineries that are part of the Door County Wine Trail. One of the oldest in Wisconsin, Door Peninsula Winery, which opened in 1974, is one of the state's largest producers. The area is known for its fruit wines, especially those made from the local tart cherry. Orchard Country Winery produces a range of wines from grapes, cherries, apples, and other fruit they grow on their 100-acre farm near Fish Creek.