2023 is a Great Year for a Change: Here Are 6 Amazing Wine Countries to Consider
Would you move for the love of fine wine? Some people say they definitely would!
Wine countries around the world offer the kind of lifestyles that have similarly boomed in recent years, as a great migration of home buyers are searching for more green environs from California, Santa Barbara to the Hunter Valley about two hours north of Sydney Australia.
USA – Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara was made for laid-back vino lovers.
With its boho-western vibe, great climate and casual, small-town feel, California’s Santa Barbara County is one of the world’s top spots for individuals and families who want to relocate for the slow paced lifestyle.
The central coast area took home the 2021 Wine Region of the Year Award from Wine Enthusiast magazine—harvests nearly 15,000 acres, and the industry has a $1.7 billion annual impact on the economy, according to Santa Barbara County Vintners Association, a non-profit that toasts and promotes the industry.
If Santa Barbara sounds familiar you’ve guest right. It is one of the famous locations where the 2004 Oscar-winning iconic road-trip film “Sideways,” starring Paul Giamatti and Sandra Oh was shot. Welcoming Californians and international tourists every year for wine tours and holiday breaks.
South Africa – Cape Town
If the idea of a crisp glass of Chardonnay on a warm, summer’s day sounds like a great idea, then a trip to the Cape Winelands is an absolute must.
The Western Cape is South Africa’s main wine-producing region and is conveniently located just a stone’s throw away from the center of Cape Town. Whether you head east, west or south in the Mother City, you’re bound to come across lush, green vineyards surrounded by majestic mountain ranges. Dating back 350 years, the Cape Winelands are divided into six regions encompassing 26 districts, but the most well-known areas are Constantia, Stellenbosch, Durbanville, Paarl and Franschhoek.
The Constantia wine valley is situated on the green slopes of the Constantiaberg mountain range and is a mere 15-minute drive from the center of Cape Town. Dating back to 1685, Constantia is the oldest wine region in South Africa boasting eight award-winning wine estates and boutique wineries. Meanwhile, Stellenbosch is one of the most popular tourist destinations for wine tasting in the Western Cape. If you choose to relocate here you’ll have the best scenic neighbourhood views and the ideal warm climate Mzansi has to offer.
Other beautiful areas to consider are Franschhoek, Paarl and Durbanville, all near the coast and surrounded by mountains, vineyards and beautiful houses.
Chile – Valparaíso
The region has vineyards stretching from the foothills of the Andes all the way to the Pacific coast
The coastal region of Valparaíso, in central Chile, is extraordinarily diverse, with mountains and beaches, bustling cities and peaceful seaside resort towns.
It has a Mediterranean-like climate, with balmy summers and cool, crisp winters, and is home to several fertile valleys where some of the country’s finest wines are grown. The bohemian port city of Valparaíso, which was founded in the mid-16th century, offers spectacular historic architecture and a thriving cultural scene, while the beach town of Zapallar, Chile’s most exclusive residential address, offers idyllic luxury living.
As the cultural capital of Chile, Valparaíso is a unique city with explosion of colour, thanks to its labyrinth-like hills, mysterious landscapes and historical centre, which was officially acknowledged as a World Heritage City by Unesco in 2003. “The famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, fell in love with Valparaíso. He called it a ‘crazy lunatic’ in his ‘Ode to Valparaíso’ and built his house here. La Sebastiana is in Florida Hill and is now a museum.”
Just 45 miles from the city of Valparaíso and a two-hour drive from Chile’s capital, Santiago, is Zapallar. It has plenty of beautiful beaches, forests and natural trekking areas. Combined with good weather, a wide gastronomic offer focused on quality seafood and a variety of entertainment activities, Zapallar is a very appealing place to live.
France – Alsace
The region of Alsace anchored by Strasbourg, has an international flair, timber-frame houses and an obsession with quality food and drink
Located in northeastern France, this is a picturesque region on the Rhine River that’s synonymous with wine. Strasbourg, the main city and capital, is home to the European Parliament, and historic, fairytale-like villages are scattered throughout the scenic countryside that’s full of rolling hills. Strasbourg is centrally situated in Europe and easily accessible from numerous cities on the continent, making it an appealing place to buy a home. Paris is west, Zurich is south, Munich is east, and Frankfurt is north. All these cities have direct trains into Strasbourg.
Alsace is a large area, and driving from north and south takes around three and a half hours. From west to east, the drive is about an hour. Alsace borders Germany to the east and north and Switzerland to the south.
Italy – Florence
Attractive to local and foreign home buyers alike, Tuscany’s capital is a cultural hub with the Chianti region nearby.
Florence (Firenze) is one of Italy’s most enchanting cities in Europe. As Tuscany’s capital, the town is in the heart of a storied region that produces outstanding red wines recognized around the world. Beyond its winemaking tradition, Florence is also the birthplace of the Renaissance, presenting magnificent art and architecture and a history that’s palpable. Some people say you can literally breathe the Renaissance atmosphere while walking around the city. We can mention a very long list of reasons why people would love to live in Florence, but its artistic and architectural heritage is probably the most important one.
Florence entices both natives and visitors with its relaxed lifestyle, wealth of culture, deep devotion to wine and food, and a countryside dotted with vineyards, olive groves, orchards and farmhouses.
Florence is also one of Tuscany’s 10 provinces. Positioned in central Italy, about 145 miles north of Rome and 190 miles south of Milan, the city is in a dynamic locale. The Arno River is one of the most significant rivers in Italy––streams through the center, eventually spilling into the Tyrrhenian Sea. For beach lovers, the east end of the Italian Riviera is about a 90-minute trip. Meanwhile, beautiful villages amid a green landscape—lie within a short drive.
Australia – Hunter Valley
Horse breeding, national parks and a quieter pace of life have made the area a popular destination for tourists and home buyers alike.
Known locally as “the Hunter,” in northwest of Sydney and home to some of Australia’s oldest wineries, the valley now offers buyers a diverse range of properties from commercial vineyards to luxury getaways. People used to visit the Hunter Valley just for the wine, but now they’re staying for the lifestyle after a 20-year transformation that put the verdant vineyard region on the international map.
Officially, the Hunter Region covers 8,762 square miles. But what’s locally known as Hunter Valley wine country is a smaller patch bordered by the Wollombi National Park to the southwest and Barrington Tops National Park to the northeast. With a booming domestic travel market, a lively events scene, and a recent overhaul of local infrastructure this makes Hunter Valley more attractive to buyers both domestic and internationally.