Visiting a wine region isn’t just about sampling the local wines. You’ll be able to explore the countryside and experience the tasty local cuisine as well. Harvest time is usually the most popular time to go visit a wine vineyard. However, many wine areas host festivals and other celebratory events at other times of the year as well. In other words, there’s always a good time to travel to wine country, you just have to know where and when.
Check out other bonuses from Wine Access, Winc.com, and Firstleaf.
Read below for more information on which wine region to visit each month of the year and what to expect when you’re there.
January – Champagne (France)
Champagne, France looks like an odd go-to wine region for January since there’s a lot of brown vineyards and ray skies. However, it’s the annual feast of St. Vincent of Saragossa, patron saint of winemakers, that steals the spotlight. Usually, on January 22, people come to celebrate the occasion by dressing up in traditional costumes and getting into a grand parade. You’ll be able to experience the music, food, and tons of champagne.
Additionally, you can explore the ancient caves of renowned wine houses, this includes Perrier-Jouet, Taittinger, and Veuve Clicquot.
February – Marlborough (New Zealand)
In New Zealand, February is like summer, great weather for the Marlborough Food and Wine Festival. This celebration is the perfect opportunity to taste wines from the region (Sauvignon Blancs are the specialty). Furthermore, you can sample local fare and take in the live music and entertainment.
You can also check out big-name wine producers like Allan Scott, Brancott Estate, and Cloudy Bay and some other smaller wineries like Dog Point Vineyard and Greywacke.
March – Mendoza (Argentina)
March in the Southern Hemisphere is harvest time. The Argentinians celebrate it with the National Grape Harvest Festival in Mendoza, home of the Malbecs. You can enjoy ceremonies, parades, live performances, and fireworks throughout the whole weekend you’re there.
April – Andalucia (Spain)
Andalucia in Southern Spain comes alive with fiestas, and the big Seville Fair (Feria de Abril) in April. This is the perfect time to go visit Jerez in the heart of Sherry country. The bodegas, or wine cellars are all downtown so you can sample wines from lots of different producers without needing to go far.
May – Willamette Valley, Oregon (USA)
All the wine regions across the United States plan big events to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. However, this place is highly recommended for their scenic Willamette Valley in Oregon. Enjoy special tastings, vineyard picnics, food pairings, chef-led lunches and dinners, concerts, art shows, and more. This is with more than 150 wineries and tasting rooms participating.
June – Rioja (Spain)
The Wine Battle (Batalla del Vino) takes place in Rioja each year on June 29. It features a large party and concert and a whole day of spraying, pelting, dousing, and deluging others with red wine. While you’re there, visit the beautifully-designed Bodegas Ysios winery and the Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia tasting room.
July – Finger Lakes, New York (USA)
Not many have heard of Finger Lakes in New York, but it produces some amazing white wines and the scenery is beautiful. In July, this area holds their annual Finger Lakes Wine Festival that features: live music, wine-tasting seminars, a costume parade, a four-course banquet, etc.
August – Sicily (Italy)
Going to Italy in August in general is a great experience in itself. Especially, since wine regions throughout the country celebrate the Night of the Shooting Stars (Calici di Stelle) on the 10th of the month. Events will include: dinners, live entertainment, art and design shows, and more.
September – Sonoma, California (USA)
You can celebrate Labor Day in Sonoma, California with the annual Taste of Sonoma festival. Sample wines from more than 100 local wineries, enjoy food from local chefs and restaurants, and learn about wine.
There are specific credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card that come with amazing benefits for this event. This includes: discounted tickets, early entry, or preferred seating. So be sure to check it out when you go.
October – Rosslyn, Virginia (USA)
Go to Rosslyn in October for the annual Virginia Wine Festival. This event features 200+ local wines, live music, Chesapeake oysters, and gourmet food vendors and food trucks.
November – Margaret River (Australia)
Usually, winemakers in the northern hemisphere move their work to the cellar, vineyards in the south are just coming back to life. This is the best time to visit in Western Australia. The 3 hour drive from Perth is worth it for the annual Gourmet Escape, which features: celebrity guests, a gourmet beach barbecue, and more than 30 events throughout the beautiful region. More than 70 local wineries will partake in this, most specializing in Bordeauz-style wines.
December – Mosel Valley (Germany)
In December, this place comes alive with a festive season, so you can enjoy Germany’s famous Christmas markets and experience in fine Rieslings and warm, spiced Gluhwein. If you want to visit a winery, be sure to make appointments with every cellar. Or, you can go to the town’s Vinothek to sample almost 200 wines from that region.
Credit Cards Mentioned
Earlier, we mentioned two credit cards that offer perks for events like the annual Taste of Sonoma festival in California. Here’s some extra information on bonuses, benefits, and rewards for the cards we mentioned above.
 The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM • 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries • 2x on all other travel purchases • 1x on all other purchases • $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027. Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase TravelSM This card carries a $95 annual fee. |
 The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time bonus of 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel. You're able to earn: • 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. • 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection This card does come with a $95 annual fee. Enjoy no foreign transaction fees and receive up to $120 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✔®. |
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Conclusion
Now, you know all the best places to visit throughout the year if you’re looking to dabble in the best wines in the world. Knowing when and where to go for the best experiences will better your understanding of the culture and festivities of each region during their peak wine times.
