The Best Wine Resorts in the World

Conde Nast Traveller by Krisanne Fordham Andrea Whittle November 27, 2017

Why just visit wine country when you can spend the night? From Italy to Australia, we picked 17 luxe resorts that will take your wine country getaway to the next level.

1/ 17 Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Montalcino, Italy

Castiglion del Bosco was voted one of the best resorts in Europe by our readers, and no wonder: the 5,000-acre estate, on a hilltop overlooking Brunello wine country, is home its own winery, a La Prairie spa, and the only golf course in Italy set within a UNESCO World Heritage site. Owned by the Ferragamo family, it’s also stylish to boot, with 23 rustic-chic suites, ten farmhouse-style villas, and a sleek infinity pool overlooking the vineyards. As if all that weren’t enough reason to visit, there are also endless diversions on offer, from archery classes to truffle hunting.

2/ 17 Villa La Coste, Provence, France

Though it’s flanked by vineyards in the heart of rosé country, the newly-Hot Listed Villa La Coste isn’t your typical wine resort. For starters, it has a minimalist, almost museum-like aesthetic and a staggering art collection featuring works by Paul Matisse, Damien Hirst, and Ai Weiwei. Looking over its vermentino vineyards, you’ll find 28 stone villas—some with private plunge pools—that have sweeping views over Mont Ventoux and the Alps. But what you’re really here for is the wine: it’s biodynamic, and as unforgettable as the place itself. Courtesy Villa La Coste

3/ 17 Lapostolle Residence, Santa Cruz, Chile

With its striking architecture and equally jaw-dropping location—nestled in the hills above the vineyard-studded Colchagua Valley—Lapostolle is one of Chile’s most beautiful wine resorts. But it’s not just a pretty face: the Relais & Chateaux property is owned by winemaker Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and home to the biodynamic Clos Apalta winery. There’s lots to do besides sip the house carménère, though: guests can tour the vineyards on horseback, explore the surrounding mountains by bike, dine alfresco on the terrace, or simply relax by the vineyard-facing infinity pool with a book from the library. Courtesy Lapostolle Residence

4/ 17 Le Sources de Caudalíe, Bordeaux, France

Set by a lake in the vineyards of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte—one of the great Pessac-Léognan wines—the Gold- Listed Le Sources de Caudalie is the quintessential French wine country hideaway. Highlights include 61 cozy, rustic-chic guest rooms, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, and an impressive 16,000-bottle wine cellar. But the resort’s pièce de résistance is its Caudalíe vinotherapy spa, where guests can indulge in luxurious grape-based therapies like cabernet baths and merlot wraps. Courtesy Les Sources de Caudalie

5/ 17 Capofaro, Salina, Italy

A compound of modern whitewashed bungalows on the Aeolian Island of Salina, Capofaro (which just joined the Relais & Chateauranks) is surrounded by vines of Malvasia grapes, lemon trees and vivid pink bougainvillea. Every room has a private terrace, where you can sip a glass of their dry, easy-drinking bianco while gazing out at the killer Mediterranean views.

6/ 17 Bernardus Lodge & Spa, Carmel Valley, California, U.S.

With its rural setting and ranch-inspired dwellings, it’s no surprise that Bernardus is consistently ranked by our readers as one of the best resorts in California. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a glass of house wine—the Bernardus Winery is just down the road—and then personally escorted to their room (each one is outfitted with a stone fireplace and deep-soak tub). Highlights of the lodge include the seasonal Lucia Restaurant (helmed by Chef Cal Stamenov, who trained in the kitchens of Alain Ducasse and Pierre Gagnaire) and a sun-drenched spa, where guests can soak in a luxurious chardonnay-filled bubble bath. Courtesy Bernardus Lodge & Spa

7/ 17 Venissa Wine Resort, Venice, Italy

Built amidst the walled vineyards on the island of Mazzorbo in Venice, the Venissa Wine Resort is a great alternative to the traditional Italian wine country experience. Guests have the option of staying in an exquisitely renovated old manor overlooking the vines, or in one of the canal-facing, candy-colored houses on the neighboring island of Burano, just a few minutes’ walk away via a wooden footbridge. The resort’s eclectic charm is reflected in the wine produced here: a funky, zesty white made from the indigenous Dorona grape, which pairs perfectly with the seafood served at the resort’s eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant. Courtesy Venissa Wine Resort

8/ 17 L’And Vineyards, Alentejo, Portugal

Just under an hour’s drive from Lisbon, in Alentejo, this winery, hotel and vineyard impresses from the outset with its edgy, ultramodern architecture. Inside, you’ll find 22 earth-toned, modern-Mediterranean suites, some with heated private plunge pools and retractable bedroom ceilings that open to the stars. Other highlights include a killer restaurant that serves up seasonal, local cuisine, a Caudalíe spa, and complimentary wine tastings showcasing the vineyard’s own reserve wines. Courtesy L’And Vineyards

9/ 17 Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel, Duero Valley, Spain

Hacienda Zorita is worth visiting for its history alone: the estate was built in the 14th century as a monastery, before it turned into a hotel and winery that Christopher Columbus himself allegedly frequented. Today, the hacienda comprises 40 sleek, modern rooms, two gourmet, farm-to-table restaurants, and an ultra-luxe vinotherapy spa. Don’t miss wine tastings inside the historic, 1,450-barrel wine cellar and outdoor movie nights in the hacienda’s lush, leafy courtyard during the summer. Courtesy Hacienda Zorita Wine Hotel

10/ 17 Moorilla Estate, Tasmania, Australia

It doesn’t get much more far-flung than Moorilla, located on the sleepy southeast corner of Tasmania, an island off the southern coast of mainland Australia. But that’s exactly why you’re here: besides the wine, Moorilla’s main draw is its seclusion, tranquility and verdant, unspoiled landscape. Added bonus: the estate is also home to the Museum of Old and New Art, which offers eight luxurious pavilions overlooking the River Derwent as lodging for guests. As part of the Moorilla Sleepover package, guests get a private winery tour and tasting, tickets to MONA, and a complimentary bottle of pinot noir to take home (or enjoy immediately). Courtesy Moorilla Estate

11/ 17 Villa La Verrière, Provence, France

Surrounded by 350 acres of private forest, this opulent, seven-bedroom villa has a dedicated wine tasting room, an infinity pool overlooking the vineyard, a tennis court, and gym. It’s also fully staffed, with a chef who prepares meals with vegetables, herbs, olive oil and honey fresh from the on-site garden.

12/ 17 Castello di Ama, Siena, Italy

Known for their excellent chianti, the family-run Castello di Ama also has a museum-caliber contemporary art collection: site specific pieces include sculptures by Roni Horn and a light installation from Anish Kapoor that illuminates the estate’s chapel. Book one of the five suites in the newly renovated 18th century villa, where the rooms have been updated with Frette sheets and Tuscan design pieces by Edra. copyright by alessandro moggi

13/ 17 Castello di Verduno, Piedmont, Italy

This old-world castle in a tiny town in Piedmont has been run by the same family for 150 years, and aside from the Castello di Verduno mark itself, the estate is a few minutes from many of the top producers of Barolo, Barbaresco, and nebbiolo. Book one of the suites in the Castalderia building, which have intricately painted ceilings and open out directly onto the garden. Eugenio Pini

14/ 17 Quinta Nova, Douro, Portugal

Quinta Nova's 11 elegantly spare rooms—with old stone floors, whitewashed walls, and dark wood bed frames—have magnificent views over the old vines that descend into the plunging Duoro Valley. Meals are served on an outdoor terrace with generous pours of their award-winning rosé and citrusy moscatel.

15/ 17 Vi?a Vik, Millahue, Chile

With its Frank Gehry-esque metal roof, this 22-room hotel in the remote Millahue Valley looks completely futuristic, but the owners (one of them trained for years in Bordeaux) are applying old-world techniques to their carménère grapes. It’s surrounded by 11,000 acres of pasture land, which the concierge can arrange for you to explore on horseback.

16/ 17 The Vines, Mendoza, Argentina

An inventive ranch-style resort in the shadow of the Andes, The Vines has multiple glass-and-wood villas and is set among 1,500 acres of private vineyards—guests can even buy a small plot and work alongside their expert winemakers to cultivate their own grapes. But the real draw is Francis Mallman’s open-flame restaurant, Siete Fuegos, where guests can eat local rib-eye and salt-crusted salmon paired with local boutique wines. Courtesy The Vines

17/ 17 Jackalope, Mornington Peninsula, Australia

This Australian region is better known for its rustic B&Bs, so Jackalope’s, sleek, heavy-on-black design makes for a stark contrast to the dusty green hues of the landscape. Their in-house wine label, Willow Creek, is paired with dishes like dashi cod and truffle and uni omelettes at three “alchemy-inspired” in-house restaurants. Courtesy Jackalope If a travel itinerary is in need I would love to assist you in creating a Wine Adventure just contact me J Camps Travel - Travel the World, We're here for you!