Nine Camino Ways for Wine Lovers

Are you a wine lover? Head on an incredible wine tasting adventure with CaminoWays.com, the walking holiday specialist.

Autumn is the time for wine harvesting in Europe and the Camino de Santiago and the Via Francigena trails take walkers through some of the most important wine producing regions in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland.

September and October are the ideal months to visit these beautiful wine producing regions to experience the tradition and culture of the harvest season.

See below for the CaminoWays.com top 9 Camino routes for wine lovers.

1: Across La Rioja on the French Way

As the most prestigious wine making regions in Spain, La Rioja is the most obvious choice for wine lovers. The region is located on the famous French Way and its capital, Logroño, is home to a fantastic harvest festival at the end of September called the Fiesta de la Vendimia.

2: El Bierzo on the French Way

Home to delicious Mencía red wines, El Bierzo is another fantastic destination for wine lovers on the French Way. Aside from its wine, the area also has a fascinating history. The Templars built a castle in the area's capital, Ponferrada, to protect pilgrims who were walking the Camino de Santiago. You can still explore 'Castillo de los Templarios' today.

3: Porto on the Portuguese Way

As the home of Port wine and the capital of the famous Douro region, which is known for producing high quality wines, Porto is a wine enthusiasts' paradise. It is also a UNESCO world heritage listed city which makes it an ideal destination for experiencing wonderful Portuguese culture and architecture.

4: Albariño in the Rias Baixas - Portuguese Way

The Rías Baixas area is on both the Portuguese Way and the Portuguese Coastal Way and is home to fruity Albariño white wines. The Portuguese version of this wine, Albarinho or Vinho Verde, is also produced south of the River Minho in Northern Portugal. The best time to visit this region is from mid-September as that is when the harvest takes place during which, there is a fantastic harvest festival in the town of O Rosal.

5: Bordeaux on the Camino from Paris and To

Bordeaux is undoubtedly one of the most very well-known names on this list and is the largest wine growing region in France. Although the area celebrates its wine festival ahead of the harvest season in June, Autumn is still a fantastic time to visit as walkers are able to witness the harvest and attend 'open house' events in the region's wineries.

6: Champagne on the Via Francigena 

With the area home to one world's most famous drinks, Champagne in Northern France is a fantastic destination to visit during harvest time. The region is located on the path of the Via Francigena, the Camino to Rome, and hosts a 'cochelet' festival at the end of harvest time. Massif de Saint Thierry, north of Reims, also hosts a traditional harvest festival at the end of October which is well worth a visit.