Spain

Spain is the most popular destination for Germans. This is not surprising at all, because this country is simply beautiful: warm people, perfect beaches and first-class wines - that's all a summer vacation needs. The Spanish regions directly on the Mediterranean are of course the most popular: Catalonia, Valencia and Andalusia. Each has its own wine specialties and it is worth trying each one of them.

• Catalonia - With the port city of Barcelona, Catalonia can probably boast the most beautiful city in Spain. The coastal region is known above all for its refreshing, sparkling cava, a sparkling wine that can certainly come close to good champagne. Well chilled, a Cava Penedès, for example, is the ideal way to cool down in the midday heat.
• Valencia - The region's capital of the same name is a true Mecca for sports enthusiasts. In addition to the inevitable soccer, water sports are particularly popular here. Refreshments are provided during the day, which is why we can sit back in the evening with an aromatic glass of Monastrell and recover from the active days - before heading out into the nightlife of the metropolis. If you still prefer to stick to white wine, you can try the Airén, which is produced exclusively in Spain. Airén is a dry, fresh and easy-to-drink refreshment - but the alcohol content is not without its drawbacks!
• Andalusia - Flamenco and bullfighting represent the wild soul of the Spanish south and the wines produced here are correspondingly headstrong. The most important specialty is of course the world-famous sherry - don't think of the tasteless supermarket sherries that we sometimes use for cooking. Andalusian sherry opens up a whole new world of flavors and no travel itinerary to Andalusia should be without a sherry tasting. There are light and fruity, sweet and caramelly and even heavy, nutty varieties.

Italy

Italy - the land of dreams that Goethe raved about so effusively. For many, Italy really is the ideal vacation destination: bright sunshine, an uncompromisingly relaxed way of life and some of the world's best wines are served with food that is popular everywhere. Mentioning all the regions would lead to an unbelievable list at this point - which we don't want you to do - so we will limit ourselves to three representative regions: Tuscany in central Italy, Puglia at the heel of the boot and the island of Sicily in the far south.

• Tuscany - The artists of the regional capital Florence have decisively shaped the aesthetics of Europe, a leaning tower makes tourists in Pisa contort themselves for photos and Napoleon had to serve his exile on the Tuscan island of Elba. He certainly wanted for nothing. He probably made himself comfortable with a glass of fabulous Chianti or invited his neighbors over for a glass of Vin Santo. And that's exactly what we recommend you do: be sure to try the red wines of Tuscany. These are usually cuvées - blends of different grape varieties - such as Chianti, which usually combines spicy aromas of dried fruit and herbs with notes of red fruit. If you prefer white wine, you will love the Vernaccia di San Gimignano. The scent of fresh lemons makes this dry, mineral white wine a stunner! The Vin Santo is ideal as a souvenir for those at home. With its strong sweetness and notes of figs, almonds and toffee, it goes perfectly with many desserts.
• If Puglia is your destination, you can look forward to great red wines. A particular specialty that is unique to this region is the Nero di Troia, a deep red, quite heavy red wine. But the Negroamaro - also unique to Puglia - which tastes mainly of all kinds of red and black fruits such as cherry, plum and blackberry, can also be highly recommended.
• Sicily - The further south you go, the warmer the people in Italy are. In Sicily, you can therefore look forward to special encounters, especially when it comes to the wines. Friends of white wine should definitely try the Cataratto, a white wine with a pronounced body and a wonderful lime scent. Among the island's red wines, the Nero D'Avola is particularly famous for its licorice and tobacco notes, which, along with black cherries and high alcohol content, make up this full-bodied wine. The sweet Marsala with its aromas of apricots, vanilla and brown sugar is ideal for dessert. This specialty naturally needs some time to mature, so it should be a reserve.

Greece

Greece - the cradle of philosophy - is located in eastern southern Europe. It goes without saying that philosophers have always been very fond of wine. The question now is, what did they drink back then?

• Crete - One of the southernmost islands in Europe has a really hot climate in the coastal areas. Together with strong winds from the sea, this results in very full-bodied and intense wines. In the interior, the high mountains offer several climate zones at the same time, so that humid-alpine but also dry-hot conditions can occur. An interesting white wine here is Malagousia, which is very aromatic but still refreshing when well chilled. Assyrtiko is also highly recommended for lovers of dry white wines. A fresh acidity and a slightly smoky note make this wine unmistakable!

• Peloponnese - With its mountainous landscape, the center of Greece offers many interesting microclimates for viticulture. This is also where the popular Limnios is produced, a harmonious, full-bodied red wine with light woody notes that bear witness to long ageing in wooden barrels.

If you are drawn to another wine region in the world for your vacation - don't worry! - In our search you will find the right wine for every corner of the world, no matter how remote.

Image source: flickr.com Vreimunde CC by 2.0