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Wine and travel are two things that have gone hand in hand for years. It is no coincidence that some of the greatest wine regions in the world are also the most beautiful – especially after you have enjoyed a glass or two of the good stuff! In this article, we are going to take you on a tour of some of the iconic countries and regions that are renowned for producing the finest wines. Hopefully, you will come away inspired and ready to plan your next big trip to one of these spectacular destinations.

South Africa

Set against a sweeping mountain backdrop, the town of Stellenbosch is best known for its tree-lined streets and collection of superb vineyards. The Stellenbosch Wine Route is the oldest in the country, and some of the signature vintages that you will find along the way include  chenin blanc and pinotage. Aside from the wine, there are also plenty of wildlife-spotting opportunities along the Western Cape.

Burgundy and Bordeaux, France

No list of wine countries would be complete without mentioning France. The two most well-known regions in the country are Bordeaux and Burgundy. Of course, if you are planning to get into the cellars in either of these areas, you are likely to need to book a tour which takes in some of the other great sights. Both are replete with rolling hills, and the starting point for a lot of Burgundy tours is the beautiful medieval city of Dijon. Taking the extra effort to book a tour will all be worthwhile when you taste the most exquisite wines of France.

USA

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Talk to people about wine in the USA and you will almost inevitably discuss the Napa Valley in California. However, only an hour away is the Sonoma County, which produces some wonderful wines but is often overshadowed by its neighbor. On the positive side, it means that you can visit without the huge crowds. And with over 400 wineries to explore, you certainly won’t be short of choice. Another part of the country that boasts hundreds of vineyards is the Midwest – find out about Stone Hill, one of the most famous. There are plenty of opportunities to go on tours and see some of the other popular sights around the region.

La Rioja, Spain

Centuries of wine-making history lie amongst the sleepy villages of this part of northern Spain. La Rioja is obviously most famous for producing its eponymous red, and it is a fascinating part of the world to visit in general. More than 500 wineries dedicated their craft to producing bottle after bottle of this hugely popular wine. Designed by Frank Gehry (the same architect who had the vision for Bilbao’s Guggenheim museum), the Marqués de Riscal hotel is a popular stopping point for wine-lovers from all over the world. Not too far away is the city of Pamplona, made famous because of its annual bull-running festival.

Spain, Argentina, Australia, & More! There are so many Wine Regions in the world on my Bucket List! #Wine #Travel #Bucketlist
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Mendoza, Argentina

Over the past few years, Argentina has established itself as one of the world’s premier wine destinations. The pick of the bunch of wines that the country produces is its Malbec. Pay a visit to Mendoza and you can enjoy tastings, tasting dinners and tours. Of course, these are all very popular activities so you will need to book in advance. The main city is an attractive base to spend a few days. One of its most popular attractions is the Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno which is home to a host of modern art.

Tuscany, Italy

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The wonderful wine is just one of hundreds of reasons why you should pay a visit to Tuscany. Chianti is the wine most-associated with this region, and you will certainly enjoy a bottle or two while sampling some of the finest food on the planet! The rolling hills of Tuscany are replete with acres of grape vines, and you will get the best impression of the place by staying in one of the many medieval village. You will feel like you have stepped back in time when you see the winemakers still crushing grapes with their feet and visit some of the basement cellars which are carved into the very rocks themselves.

Yarra Valley, Australia

Moving all the way across to the other side of the world, the Yarra Valley is located an hour outside Melbourne and the landscape is packed with acre after acre of grape vines. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah are the main wines produced in this region and the towns of Yarra Glen, Healesville, and Warburton are likely to be where you will base yourself. There is no shortage of tasting rooms, as well as opportunities to visit the area’s many fine restaurants.

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia  

You may not naturally think about Canada as being one of the world’s great wine countries, but a trip to Okanagan Valley might make you think twice. The amazing thing about this area is the sheer number of wines that are produced here – just a few of them include Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. Wine-lovers will be impressed by the high quality of the vintages produced in this area.

The Douro Valley, Portugal

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Up in the north of Portugal, the Douro Valley is one of the most beautiful regions in the country, as well as being one of its best for producing both table and port wines. Listed as a World Heritage site, you can get here easily from Porto, which is itself one of the country’s premier tourist destinations. Just some of the ways that you can enjoy this landscape to its fullest include by road, by train, on a cruise boat and even by helicopter. Each one will give you a unique perspective of this stunning part of the world.

There are so many of the world's Wine Regions I want to visit! #Wine #Travel #Bucketlist
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Hopefully, after reading this article, your mouth will be watering at the thought of sampling some of these wonderful wines, and your feet will be getting itchy to pull on your travelling boots!  

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The post Glass Half Full: World Wine Regions You Must Visit appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

People are often asking me how I learn about these crazy adventures, experiences, or places to travel that are on my Bucket List.  Well, the internet of course! I not only scour the internet but I subscribe to numerous travel and adventure blogs out there to learn about the world.  That is how I found out about The Travel Whispers Blogger Challenge!

The Travel Whispers Blogger Challenge is the brain child of  travel blogger, Stephanie Fox.  Aimed at rounding up 2016 and looking towards 2017, she created 10 out of the ordinary travel questions that would not only share your personal insights on traveling but also introduce other travel bloggers to your readers.  At the bottom of this post, I will list several travel bloggers who are participating as well.  So after reading, please check them out too.  You might find some exciting new bloggers to follow and some great travel ideas for the future!  Also, you can find them across Twitter and Instagram by using the hashtag #TravelWhispers.

When The Travel Whispers Blogger Challenge was passed on to me by Sara & Nacho of I Do What I Want To, I was a  bit nervous to say the least since The Bucket List Project is still a newbie in the blogging world.  However, I found the questions a great way to learn & share not only about myself but my hopes for The Bucket List Project.

Reading The Bucket List Project's answers to the Travel Whispers Blogger Challenge #TravelWhispers
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So with bated breath, here are The Bucket List Project’s answers to The Travel Whispers Blogger Challenge:

1. If you had to move to a country that you’ve NEVER been to, and live there for ten years, where would you go?

I think I would want to go to Cuba since it is where my mother and family are from originally.  To live in such an exotic environment that offers an unbelievable culture all while seeing where my family grew up, would be amazing.  Plus, being ideally located in the Gulf of Mexico, it would allow me the ability to travel home to see my family in the US, while also, being able to explore other parts of Central and South America.

2. If you had to live in a hotel for the rest of your life, which hotel would you choose and why?

Not gonna lie, I would take a hostel, airbnb, a guest house, or even a tent over most hotels any day. To me, most hotels are just places to store my stuff while I am out and about exploring. However, if I had to be sentenced to a hotel I think I would either want to live in the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans or the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego.

3. If you could only eat the cuisine of one nationality forever more, which would you choose?

This question is tough.  If I could only eat the cuisine of one nationality forever, I would have to either say food from Spain or Thailand (minus the Scorpion on a Stick…been there done that).

When it comes to Spain, I think they offer some of the greatest variety as Barcelona has unbelievable seafood with a Mediterranean flair while up North the pork is phenomenal.  With Thailand, I think it offers a great infusion of Asian styles while also finding some modern flavors from around the world in their more metropolitan cities like Bangkok.

4. Who has given you ‘holiday envy’ this year, and how?

Oddly enough there is a couple who I met in Chiang Mai, Thailand during a holiday festival in 2015, called Yi Peng/Loy Krathong. Hands down Chelsea and Mark give me ‘holiday envy’ for all the holidays and festivals they attend.  Though they currently living in Dubai, they travel all over the place.  In 2016, amid all their awesome travels, I most envied their adventure at Oktoberfest in Munich, which now is on my 2017 Bucket List!

5. If you had to look at the same sunrise or the same sunset every day, where in the world would you never get bored of seeing? Please don’t say sitting outside Cafe Mambo in Ibiza.

I don’t think anything has ever beaten the sunset I saw in Oporto, Portugal.  For the rest of my life, I could easily sit amid the tourists, with a cigar and a glass of port wine, just watching the sun set along the Douro River .

6. If you were taking a ‘staycation’ in your hometown, where would it be and what would you recommend others do?

I am from New Orleans, Louisiana where there is a ton to see, experience, and most importantly EAT! First, if possible, stay at the Hotel Monteleone.  Its one of the older hotels in the French Quarter blocks away from all the fun and action.  However, the most important thing to do is to go down to the famous Carousel Bar and ride the Carousel while having a Sazerac, a Vieux Carre, or any cocktail bartender Marvin Allen recommends.

During the day, you need to explore the art galleries on Royal Street, see St. Louis Cathedral, wander around Jackson square, find treasures in the French Market, and stroll the Moon Walk along the mighty Mississippi River.

At night, you need to stroll Bourbon Street (even us locals do it from time to time), walk through Pat O’Briens courtyard, listen to old school jazz at Preservation Hall, or head over to Frenchman Street to hear some modern Jazz and New Orleans Funk Music. Drink Sazeracs, Pimm’s Cups, Daquiris, Hurricanes, any beer from Abita Brewery or explore any of the pre-prohibition cocktails served throughout the city.

To eat, it really doesn’t matter cause it’s all great! Head over to Café du Monde for beignets if you want a light breakfast.  Though you may want Stanley’s for a hearty breakfast by the cathedral.  For lunch grab yourself a poboy or even better, head over to Central Grocery for a muffuletta sandwich, a bottle of Barqs Rootbeer, and a bag of Zaps Crawtators and head up to the river to eat and watch the river boats!  As for dinner Antoine’s is by far the #1 fine dining restaurant in all of New Orleans in my opinion.

7. Describe your perfect travel day of the year?

My summer was packed with unbelievable days on the Camino and in Portugal afterwards.  But if I had to choose a perfect day, it would be with Darcee in Nassau, Bahamas this past March. We had taken a boat out to the coral reefs for snorkeling and then to scratch off Bucket List #202) Ride in a S.U.B. (Scenic Underwater Bubble).  It was amazing.

8. What have you ticked off your bucket list in 2016?

2016 was a very exciting year for The Bucket List Project as we added many items to the 2016 Completed Items list!  However, I would say the highlight was my pilgrimage along the entire Camino de Santiago.  Not only was it amazing to explore all of Northern Spain, but along my “Walk,” I learned a lot about myself and met some amazing friends. You can read Excerpts from My Personal Diary Along the Camino here.

9. What is top of your travel bucket list for 2017?

I tend to be ambitious and perhaps a bit over zealous when it comes to planning out my Bucket List travel plans every year. 2017 is no different.  When I wrote my 2017 Bucket List Hopes and Goals I realized that I had listed 7 countries outside the US & at least 3 different states from Louisiana.  But I guess that is because I am one of those Shoot for Stars kind of guys. With that said I would have to say which of the 10 destinations is top on my list this year it would be a tie between Alberta, Canada and Morocco.

Alberta escaped me last year, but this year it’s a must for me, if not for Banff National Park alone. We have all seen the remarkable photos of Lake Louise in Banff and that marvelous mountain skyline. Well, I want to see that in person.  Plus Canada is celebrating its 150th anniversary of their National Parks. So all entry is free for the entire year of 2017!

As for Morocco, exploring the Blue City of Chefchaouen, checking out the markets of Casablanca, and taking a camel safari into the desert are all hot on my list!

10. Share your favorite Instagram photo of 2016?

So The Bucket List Project only started on Instagram in September of 2016.  But slowly I have been posting up some of my favorite Bucket List Project pictures from the past.  In November 2015, I was fortunate enough to go to Thailand’s Lantern Festivals of Yi Peng & Loy Krathong.  It was probably one of the best experiences of my life.  While we were all lighting and setting sail to our balloons, I was able to catch this mother and daughter sending off their hopes and dreams into the sky!

Now since this is a Whispers challenge, I would first like to thank by Sara & Nacho of IDoWhatIWantTo who inspired me to participate.  You can read their responses by CLICKING HERE!

You can find more travel whispers at the links below:

Stephanie Fox

Josie Wanders

Young and Undecided

My Own True North

If you are a travel blogger and want to take part in the fun, then join the facebook group here.

Don’t forget to Pin this to your Bucket List Board!

The post The Travel Whispers Blogger Challenge appeared first on The Bucket List Project.

I think I need to take a little walk!

Every year around mid January, I sit around and contemplate about what I want to accomplish in the coming year, especially with the Bucket List Project.  I compare what I have been wanting to do versus what is going on in my life.  Then I make out a very raw outline (as seen at My Hopes & Goals of 2016) and share it with everyone.  Personally, I love it when I finally “figure it out” cause it then allows me to start dreaming of the great adventures I am going to take on or the projects I want to accomplish.  Plus I am a list-maker by nature and this allows my scatter brained mind to maintain some sort of focus.

But with life, things are subject to change.  With me, things change can be for millions of reasons but usually its because my heart sees an opportunity and overtakes my brain.

Originally, my Summer 2016 plans were as follows:

June

• #188) See the Synchronous Fireflies in Elkmont, Tennessee
• #5) See my 6 Pack Abs

July

• Do one of my MAKE AMENDS Items hopefully!

August

• #54) Go to a Summer Olympics
• #124) Travel to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
• #185) Visit and Stay with 3 Different Friends who live in Foreign Countries so that I can Reconnect with Old Friends & See that Country through Local Eyes (My Brazilian Friends I met in 2012)

Seemed like a great set of Summer Adventures, but I have decided after much contemplation that I don’t want my first trip to Brazil to be in the insanity of the Olympics and I am missing the fireflies as I type this post.

So what are my new plans???

Well Here goes:

June

• On June 27th I will fly the red eye to Boston & then on to Philly where I will spend a 12 hour layover exploring Independence Hall hopefully
• June 28th – June 29th: Fly from Philadelphia, PA to Lisbon, Portugal
• June 29th – June 30th: ride the overnight train from Lisbon, Portugal to Biarritz, France and then onto St. Jean Pied de Port, France.

July

• July 1st – ????: #109) Walk the Camino de Santiago from France to Santiago, Espana (I will be walking the entire 490 miles of the  Camino Frances and then possibly the additional 50 miles to the coastal area of Finisterre, Espana)
• July???: #185) Visit and Stay with 3 Different Friends who live in Foreign Countries so that I can Reconnect with Old Friends & See that Country through Local Eyes (My Family in Leon, Espana while I am Hiking the Camino)

August

• August??: Figure out how to get from Finisterre, Spain and get to and explore Porto &/or Lisbon Portugal where I will complete – #153) Drink Port Wine in Portugal
• August 10th: Fly from Lisbon Portugal back to Boston
• August 11th: Go with my two Yankee loving cousins (I am a RED SOX FAN!!) &  complete – #55) Return to Fenway Baseball Park to See the Red Sox Play the Yankees

So these are my new updated plans.  Look for new blog articles before I go.  I will be discussing the Camino de Santiago, why I am doing this 490+ mile walk, and some other great insights before I go!

Have big summer plans this summer?  Please let me know in the comments below!  I love to hear about other adventures of all kinds!

Don’t forget to Pin this to your Bucket List Board!

The post My 2016 Summer Bucketlist Plan appeared first on The Bucket List Project.