France and Italy may be familiar names for wine lovers, but neither took first place in European Best Destinations’ wine region ranking for 2027. The organisation assessed more than 90 leading wine territories before selecting its top 12. Its criteria included wine heritage, grape varieties, landscapes, food, hospitality, sustainability and accessibility. Cellars, tasting rooms and wine routes also contributed to the assessment, which considered the wider travel experience alongside the wines.
The top spot went to Štajerska in Slovenia, followed by Italy’s Langhe–Roero–Monferrato and Spain’s Ribeira Sacra. The selection spans seven countries, offering ideas for trips that combine wine tasting with local food, history and time in the countryside.
The top 12 wine regions in Europe for 2027
- Štajerska, Slovenia
- Langhe–Roero–Monferrato, Italy
- Ribeira Sacra, Spain
- Kamptal, Austria
- Chianti Rufina, Italy
- Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, France
- Etna, Italy
- Saumur and Anjou, France
- Wachau, Austria
- Valle d’Aosta, Italy
- Alentejo, Portugal
- Naoussa, Greece
Why Štajerska took first place
Štajerska’s wine heritage connects historic towns with vineyards and cellars that preserve centuries of local knowledge. In Maribor, a vine more than 450 years old is recognised as the world’s oldest. Wine cellars extend beneath the city centre, while vineyards cover the surrounding hills. Nearby Ptuj has another link to the past: its historic wine cellar preserves Zlata trta, a 1917 vintage described as Slovenia’s oldest preserved wine. Gornja Radgona adds a different chapter to the region’s history, as the place where Slovenia’s first sparkling wine was produced in 1852. These sites give visitors several ways to explore how winemaking developed in the region.
Beyond the towns, roads connect family wineries, hillside villages and vineyard terraces. One of the most recognisable sights is the heart-shaped bend at Špičnik, where the road curves between rows of vines. In Jeruzalem Slovenija, sunny slopes and cool nights provide conditions for white grape varieties such as Šipon. Haloze offers a steeper landscape, with vineyards planted across demanding hillsides. Visitors may also notice wooden structures called klopotci, which use wind to create noise and scare birds away from the grapes. Tastings range from historic urban cellars to estates surrounded by vineyards, allowing travellers to experience different parts of the region’s wine culture.
Italy and Spain take second and third
Second-placed Langhe–Roero–Monferrato lies in Piedmont in northwestern Italy, where vineyards share the landscape with hazelnut groves, castles and villages. Its wine heritage includes Barolo and Barbaresco, both made from the Nebbiolo red grape variety. Other varieties grown here include Barbera, Dolcetto and Moscato, giving visitors a broader range of wines to discover. Food is an equally strong part of the attraction, with local cheeses, hazelnuts and Alba’s white truffles accompanying the region’s wines. European Best Destinations highlights autumn as a particularly appealing time to visit, when truffles and changing vineyard colours add to the experience.
Ribeira Sacra, in Galicia in northwestern Spain, took third place with a landscape shaped by the Sil and Miño river canyons. Vines grow on narrow terraces cut into steep hillsides, making the setting a central part of a visit. Mencía, the region’s main red grape variety, produces aromatic wines influenced by the altitude and slate soils. Small wineries and ancient monasteries provide stops between tastings and walks. Travellers can also explore the river landscape by boat or follow hiking routes through the area, combining wine visits with time outdoors.
Austria and Tuscany complete the top five
Austria’s Kamptal finished fourth, with Riesling and Grüner Veltliner among its leading white grape varieties. Around the town of Langenlois, historic family estates sit alongside contemporary wineries. Vineyard trails offer opportunities to explore the countryside between cellar visits. Traditional wine taverns, known as Heurige, bring together local wines and food. The region’s combination of established winemaking traditions and modern architecture gives visitors more to explore than tasting rooms alone.
Fifth place went to Chianti Rufina, a small wine area northeast of Florence in Tuscany. Its vineyards extend into the Apennine foothills, where cooler conditions and higher elevations influence wines made from Sangiovese grapes. Visitors can combine tastings with walks through vineyards, olive groves and nearby villages. Accommodation includes agriturismi, or farm stays, which offer a base in the countryside. Florence’s proximity also makes it possible to include both the city and the surrounding wine area in one trip.
From Slovenia’s historic cellars to Galicia’s steep vineyard terraces, the ranking highlights how varied a European wine trip can be. The appeal extends beyond the glass to the landscapes, food and communities that give each region its character.
