Just arrived at the breathtaking Picciolo Etna Golf Resort & Spa, Curio Collection by Hilton, tucked away in the heart of Castiglione di Sicilia.
Surrounded by lush vineyards, ancient olive groves, and the dramatic slopes of Mount Etna, this place is pure magic. Here’s a fun fact: It’s the only place in Europe where you can play golf on the slopes of an active volcano
Stay tuned — a full review is coming soon!
The Consorzio Alto Adige Wines has successfully concluded the Alto Adige Wine Summit 2025, marking its most ambitious and internationally resonant edition to date. Held biennially, the summit serves as the preeminent platform for positioning Alto Adige as a dynamic contributor to the global wine dialogue, uniting international trade media, sommeliers, wine merchants, and hospitality professionals.
For the first time in its history, the summit extended its program by two additional days, reflecting its growing scope and influence. From September 4 to 8, a total of 82 delegates from thirteen countries immersed themselves in the cultural and viticultural fabric of Alto Adige. Participants engaged in exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences, in-depth tastings, and direct exchanges with local winegrowers and producers, thereby gaining a comprehensive understanding of the region’s unique terroirs and winemaking traditions.
The summit’s opening sessions introduced international wine journalists and opinion leaders to the region’s viticultural identity, while the expanded program specifically targeted sommeliers, wine merchants, and hospitality professionals. This deliberate broadening of audiences reflects Alto Adige’s strategic aim of deepening its global market presence and strengthening cross-sector partnerships.
A major highlight was the large-scale tasting hosted at NOI Techpark in Bolzano, which presented 365 wines from 100 producers. This unprecedented showcase provided delegates with a singular opportunity to appreciate the breadth, quality, and stylistic diversity of Alto Adige’s contemporary wine production.
The strong representation of U.S. media reinforced Alto Adige’s rising prominence in the American market, its most dynamic export destination.
With its expanded scope, the Alto Adige Wine Summit 2025 has further cemented its role as a global reference point for promoting wine culture, trade dialogue, and cross-cultural exchange, strengthening Alto Adige’s position within the evolving landscape of international wine.
Bulgaria is uncorking a bold strategy to embrace wine tourism year-round, weaving together heritage, taste, and experience. Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh is championing wine not just as a drink, but as a strategic complement to the nation’s tourist heartbeat, whether that’s serene valleys, culture-rich cities, or hidden terroirs.
The ministry and the Bulgarian Wine Tourism Organization are plotting out immersive wine routes across celebrated regions like the Rose Valley and Thracian tills (one of Europe’s oldest wine-making territories).
They are also forging local alliances, linking up producers and municipalities, and pledging a national promotional fund to spotlight Bulgaria’s vintages on the global stage.
Bulgaria will also host the 9th UN Tourism Global Conference on Wine Tourism in Plovdiv on October 6–7, 2025. This forum, shaped by UN Tourism and Bulgaria’s Ministry of Tourism, aims to elevate wine tourism through sustainability, heritage, and innovation. Attendees from around 160 countries are expected to gather, offering a global stage for Bulgarian wine regions.
Wine has long been intertwined with the art of hospitality, yet a select number of hotels elevate the experience to the highest level by curating world-class cellars that rival esteemed restaurants and private collections. According to MICHELIN Guide, these properties redefine the concept of luxury lodging, offering immersive oenological journeys that appeal to both seasoned connoisseurs and aspiring enthusiasts.
At these destinations, wine is not simply an accompaniment to a fine meal; it is the foundation of the entire stay. Guests may encounter sommeliers who serve as personal guides, expansive cellars that read like encyclopedias of viticulture, and opportunities to pair rest with rare vintages.
From California’s iconic Cabernet Sauvignon estates to the refined lakeside retreats of Québec, these hotels embody the essence of wine tourism in North America. They serve as cultural crossroads, blending terroir, tradition, and innovation into an experience that extends beyond the bottle.
Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito, California
This Two-MICHELIN-Key resort looks and feels like a posh summer home. It’s fitting then that Caruso’s isn’t just a MICHELIN-Starred and Green Star restaurant with an ocean view—it’s also home to one of Southern California’s most extravagant wine cellars, stocked with 22,000+ bottles and a serious Burgundy collection. The sommelier team is armed with rare verticals and white gloves, and you’ll find that most guests here dress for dinner, even if they’re just heading downstairs, or opting to enjoy from their suite. Also located at Rosewood Miramar Beach? AMA Sushi with edomae-style sushi, available à la carte or as an omakase.
Rosewood Miramar Beach Wine Cellar, Napa Valley, California
A 15,000-bottle cellar. Lunch overlooking the Rutherford vines. And a wine list that reads like the Napa Valley Book of Genesis. This Three-MICHELIN-Key resort with a MICHELIN-Starred restaurant of the same name doesn’t shout — it purrs, in silky Bordeaux and well-structured Chardonnay. Whether you’re toasting at the bar or reclining in a vineyard-view suite, every sip is a reminder that heaven might just be spelled C-A-B.
SingleThread Inn, Sonoma, California
SingleThread is a unicorn; it’s a Three-MICHELIN-Key hotel with a Three-MICHELIN-Star and Green Star restaurant tucked inside. Here in this culinary sanctuary, dinner unfolds like a symphony, and the wine pairings are its most delicate movement. Located in California’s Wine Country, the inn’s cellar is both impressive and intimate; designed not just to dazzle, but to deepen your understanding of the bottle in front of you. Expect somm-led education, rare local vintages and a breakfast that might just come with a splash of Pét-Nat.
The Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado
Come for the snow, stay for the Pinot Noir. The One-MICHELIN-Key Little Nell may be best known for ski-in, ski-out luxury and its Element 47 restaurant, but oenophiles know it for its award–winning wine cellar: over 20,000 bottles deep, with verticals that rival some European royalty. Prefer your wine with altitude? Book a sommelier-led ski tour, complete with slope-side sabrage. Yes, really.
The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, D.C.
This spot is in a sleepy little town outside of Washington, D.C., but just happens to be home to the region’s only Three-MICHELIN-Star and Green Star restaurant. The dining room is like a Versailles fever dream, and the wine cellar could double as a museum. At Patrick O’Connell’s countryside fantasy, the wine program is an experience unto itself, with deep French and American verticals, pairing flights that border on spiritual and tours that feel like a pilgrimage. You’ll sleep well—but not before a Château d’Yquem nightcap.
Post Hotel & Spa, Lake Louise, Canada
You’ll come for the glacial views and stay for the cellar, which spans more than 22,000 bottles. Discover rare vintages, winemaker dinners and private tastings—all housed in this MICHELIN-Key alpine lodge. It’s the kind of place where après-ski means Amarone, and the wine cellar is deeper than the snowpack.
Manoir Hovey, Québec
Québec’s most refined country escape comes with a serious side of vin. The Two-MICHELIN-Key Manoir Hovey houses a 15,000-bottle cellar and leans proudly into local pairings, offering Québécois wines you won’t find at your downtown wine bar. Book a table at Le Hatley for fine dining or Le Tap Room for a more casual setting. It’s as much about terroir as it is about taste—and yes, there’s foie gras involved.
As wine tourism continues to flourish globally, the MICHELIN Guide’s recognition of these hotels underscores a growing trend: travellers no longer seek only a destination, but a holistic experience that marries luxury, culture, and vinous discovery.
Source: MICHELIN Guide
In the rolling hills of Wales, a quiet revolution is underway. Once considered too cold and damp for viticulture, the Welsh countryside is now home to a burgeoning wine industry that is defying expectations and thriving amid climate shifts and strategic innovation.
As global temperatures rise, regions previously unsuitable for grape cultivation are experiencing longer growing seasons and milder winters. Welsh vineyards are capitalizing on these changes, planting varieties that flourish in cooler climates and investing in technologies that enhance yield and quality.
Dr Kate Gannon has researched the impact of climate change on UK wine, said warming temperatures meant Wales had become “more suitable” for wine production, but warned of challenges ahead.
Local winemakers are embracing sustainable farming practices, from organic soil management to water conservation techniques, ensuring that growth does not come at the expense of environmental stewardship. These efforts are not only producing exceptional wines but also positioning Wales as a model for climate-resilient agriculture.
The Welsh wine sector remains small compared to its English neighbour and is made up of micro-producers, but it has been growing rapidly. The Food Standards Agency Wales said 59 vineyards across the country were registered with them at the end of July.
The rise of wine tourism in Wales is another testament to the industry’s success. Visitors are drawn to the scenic vineyards, tasting rooms, and the stories of passionate vintners who are redefining what it means to produce wine in the UK.
With award-winning reds and sparkling wines gaining recognition, the Welsh wine industry is proving that innovation and adaptability can turn climate challenges into opportunities. As the vines of change continue to grow, Wales stands poised to become a key player in the global wine landscape.
