If travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer, then surely one important component of your vacations have to be beer and wine tours. If your perfect vacation includes touring a country’s top beer and wine travel destinations, then cheers to you. Our guest author offers a tongue-in-cheek look at the beer-swilling, wine-guzzling capitals of the world. And if that isn’t enough reason to pack your bags and your beer or wine glass, what is?
Travel Destinations: World’s Top Beer and Wine Tours
Table of Contents
1. Dublin, Ireland
2. Munich, Germany
3. Barossa Valley, Australia
4. Fiji
Of course, you plan your travels to take in the sights and sounds of the places you visit, but it wouldn’t be a holiday if you couldn’t enjoy a few adult beverages from time to time, Keith Floyd style. Although you can get a drink practically anywhere you go, some travel destinations are more focused on wine and beer tours than anywhere else. Some have achieved legendary status. So where are these bag-packing, sip-worthy destinations? And should you go? We’ve got the beer-swilling, wine-guzzling capitals of the world.
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1. Dublin, Ireland
You’ve no doubt heard of legendary Irish pubs. You’ve probably even visited one. But nothing can quite compare to actually going to an Irish pub in Dublin and experiencing it first hand. You’ll have plenty to choose from as this Irish capital city has more than 600 licensed pubs. Cheers to that, right?
What should you order? A Guinness of course, Ireland’s most famous alcoholic beverage, and this delicious brew is produced daily in Dublin by the millions of galloons. Guinness is unique in many ways thanks to its color and the fact that it’s the butt of many jokes.
Many pubs in Dublin also play live music and host comedy shows, allowing you to have a good laugh while you enjoy your pint. Expect a warm welcome, no matter which pub you go to in the city.
2. Munich, Germany
You can find some of the best breweries in the world in Germany. Munich, famous for its beer halls, is home to the nation’s premier beer-swilling event: Oktoberfest. The festival attracts more than 7.2 million people from all over the world who get through many times more beer during their stay. The festival is all about camaraderie, friendship and enjoying the things that really matter in life (including beer).
Bavaria is the home of some of the world’s greatest brewhouses, and you’ll be able to sample all of their products during your stay. There’s also plenty of food on offer, including local sausages, bratwurst, and the obligatory pickled sauerkraut.
3. Barossa Valley, Australia
The Australian wine industry is the world’s fifth largest exporter of wine, so you’ll likely discover quite a few varieties you’ll want to try. Fancy something a little off the beaten wine track? Then consider paying a visit to the Barossa Valley, Australia’s most-established wine-growing region, with some of the oldest grape vines in Australia.
There are plenty of places to do wine tasting in the valley including its always popular Shiraz. Many of the local wineries have adjacent tasting facilities which you can tour with the help of a local guide. You can also enjoy wine with a locally-prepared lunch if you’re feeling a little peckish.
4. Fiji
Fiji, an island in the Pacific Ocean, isn’t the first place you’d think of going for a beverage-tasting experience, but the local drink, kava (not be confused with Cava), is something truly unique. Kava doesn’t contain any alcohol, but it does play host to a group of substances that can affect mood. Like alcohol, it’s a mild sedative and comes from the root of the kava plant.
Local tribespeople use kava in their rituals, and if you feel up to it, you can join them. They sit in a circle, sipping on the drink using shells. Tourists should take three long sips when passed the shell and then pass their empty shell back to the person that gave it to them. It is easy really.
