At midnight on 19 November 2026, the first barrel of Beaujolais Nouveau is tapped in Beaujeu — a medieval village 56 km from Lyon that fills with torch processions and 20,000 wine lovers for the annual Sarmentelles festival.
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Champagne is the only great wine region made to be tasted underground: chalk cellars hold a steady 10°C all year, so a cellar-hopping weekend from Reims works brilliantly in winter, when the houses are quiet and the cathedral forecourt glows with holiday lights.
Wine regions South Africa is the only wine nation with a documented birthday for its first vintage. Six weeks later, in February and March, the Cape Winelands live it all over again — and Stellenbosch and Franschhoek couldn't feel more different about it.
Wine regions Champagne is the only great wine region made to be tasted underground: chalk cellars hold a steady 10°C all year, so a cellar-hopping weekend from Reims works brilliantly in winter, when the houses are quiet and the cathedral forecourt glows with holiday lights.
Wine regions Kyoto's working sake district, eighteen historic breweries strong, sits a couple of quiet train stops from Fushimi Inari's crowds, with its own spring festival still waiting on a confirmed next date.
Wine regions For 18 days each winter, Rhine castles and a Cistercian abbey become the stage for Michelin-starred chefs and Rheingau's finest Riesling — the 2027 edition marks the festival's 30th anniversary.
Wine regions While summer visitors queue outside Porto's Port wine lodges, winter travellers get the same three-century-old cellars to themselves, for nearly half the price.
Wine regions Each February, Porto's Palácio da Bolsa transforms into the world's most extraordinary port wine fair: 400 producers, 4,000 wines for free tasting, and four days of masterclasses in one of Portugal's finest 19th-century palaces.
Wine regions At midnight on 19 November 2026, the first barrel of Beaujolais Nouveau is tapped in Beaujeu — a medieval village 56 km from Lyon that fills with torch processions and 20,000 wine lovers for the annual Sarmentelles festival.