Updated April 2023
Best wineries in North America and Europe
Most of the wine regions in Europe and America are classics like Burgundy, Rioja and Napa. However, there are some hidden gems too. Read on to find out our picks for top underrated wine regions in the Northern Hemisphere.
And don’t miss our list for the Southern Hemisphere here!
4. Okanagan Valley – British Columbia
Why we love it: Sitting near the US border of Washington, this under-the-radar region houses many cool climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Riseling. However, the vast swath of land spans many different microclimates, enabling optimal growing conditions for Merlot, Syrah and even Cabernet.
Much like the Columbia River Gorge and the Douro Valley, the defining characteristic of The Okanagan Valley is a large river cutting through mountainous terrain. The vineyard views are incredibly scenic, making the tasting experience all the more special.
Overshadowed by: Anything in the USA
Why it’s underrated: Few people outside Canada associate that country with wine. It’s difficult to find exports, especially from smaller producers. This is a region that’s worth exploring by foot.
Read our full guide to Okanagan Valley here
3. Edna Valley – California
Why we love it: One of the premier wine regions below California’s central coast is not very well known. Located just 20 minutes south of the increasingly popular Paso Robles region, Edna could not be more different. While Paso produces powerhouse Cabs, Zins and Syrah, Edna is known for lighter bodied varietals like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling.
On top of beautiful, light-bodied wine, Edna is located right next to beautiful beaches; the only other wine region we can think of that offers this is Margaret River in Western Australia.
Overshadowed by: Paso Robes
Why it’s underrated: Edna provides extremely approachable and reasonable refreshing wines. Where it really excels though is the ambiance and amenities. Wineries are anything but pretentious and snooty, the weather is always perfect and the wonderful town of San Luis Obispo within a short drive.
Read our full guide to Edna Valley here
2. Rogue Valley – Oregon
Why we love it: Wide array of varietals, boutique winemakers, proximity to awesome little towns of Ashland and Jacksonville. All tucked away in the middle of the scenic Siskiyou mountains.
Overshadowed by: Willamette Valley
Why it’s underrated: The Willamette further north casts a pretty big shadow. They are the self-proclaimed “Burgundy of America”. That’s hard to compete with. The Rogue Valley and Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon couldn’t be more different from its northern counterpart.
Warm temperatures, diverse geology, various microclimates and prevailing coastal winds produce a wide range of varietals. While it may be less known, it’s worth a visit.
Read our full guide to Rogue and Applegate Valley here
1. Douro Valley – Portugal
Why we love it: The Douro Valley is one of the most unique and beautiful wine regions in the world. Located 90 minutes east of Porto in the northern part of Portugal, vines on steep mountains are divided by the flowing Douro river. It’s One of the few wine regions that’s a UNESCO world heritage site. We love it so much, we actually bought an old winery farmhouse. Stay at our property via AirBNB!
Overshadowed by: Spain, France, Italy
Why it’s underrated: Douro Valley in Portugal is the first demarcated wine producing region in the world, established in the 1756. Despite being the first, this beautiful area is not universally known for their wine.
A few reasons why: 1. The region has historically produced sweet wine (known as Port) which is currently out of favor with many drinkers. This is changing to more dry-focused wines now as the producers want to keep up with current trends in demand.
Reason 2 is that there simply isn’t great tourism offered here. Wine regions across Europe in Italy and France have so many more options for tours, tastings, transportation.. yet the Douro is still relatively young in their tourism offerings.
This may change though, as many travelers have been flocking to Portugal in the past few years. Some, like us are after the Portugal Golden Visa.
