Remember the days when you would go to AAA and get those ridiculous TripTiks? The entire wall behind the employees was lined with individual pages that they somehow put together in a spiral booklet to get you from point A to point B. Then, of course, there was the AAA guidebook that you could grab for whatever region you were visiting. This was how we traveled.
Now we have all the maps right in our phones. We no longer need to turn pages or look for coordinates. Life has definitely gotten easier for those of us who love to travel, and there is always something exciting about exploring a new-to-us frontier. For wine lovers, we get to explore even more frequently—through the glass. Each bottle we open has the ability to virtually transcend us to that region. A well-made wine allows you to taste the terroir and experience the region from the comfort of your home. And that is fantastic!
But for those of us who love to travel, there is simply nothing that equals tasting a wine in the region where it was produced. To taste an incredible Tempranillo while observing the striking limestone ridge of the Sierra de Cantabria mountains in Rioja, an exquisite Merlot-led blend while sailing on the Gironde River in Bordeaux, or a Super-Tuscan while taking in the brilliant, deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Tuscany is pure heaven.
Since most of us don’t have unlimited time to travel, we need to make the most of the time we do have in these incredible wine regions. Enter Académie Du Vin Library. They are a dedicated publisher and hub for wine literature that champions narrative-driven storytelling over purely technical data—a philosophy deeply rooted in the belief that a wine truly comes to life through the history, people, and places behind it.
Their website is the ultimate destination for a highly curated selection of books, including the collection “The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guides,” which takes a deep dive into specific wine regions. I was gifted three of these wine guides: Tuscany, Rioja, and Bordeaux. Each pocket-sized book is written by a wine professional specializing in that region, and all three come in just under 200 pages packed with a wealth of information.
Tuscany: The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide Written by Paul Caputo This guide is like having a friend show you the real Tuscany, taking you beyond the postcard views into the heart of its rolling hills and historic villas. It balances the region’s deep history with the kind of practical advice you actually need when you’re there. Caputo points you toward the absolute best local trattorias in legendary spots like Montalcino, while also mapping out killer routes to explore the hidden gems and world-class wineries tucked away along the Tuscan coast.
Bordeaux: The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide Written by Georgie Hindle Let’s be honest, Bordeaux is the spiritual home of fine wine, but its sheer scale and formal vibe can be incredibly intimidating to navigate. Written by a local expert who knows the region inside and out, this guide completely demystifies it. Hindle helps you look past the locked iron gates of the ultra-famous estates to find the real hidden vineyard secrets, serving up great itineraries that seamlessly connect the vibrant city center with the historic châteaux across the rivers.
Rioja: The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide Written by Fintan Kerr This volume is an incredibly accessible look at Spain’s most famous wine region. Kerr does a fantastic job of breaking down Rioja’s unique, 150-year relationship with Bordeaux and explaining the styles that define the area without getting bogged down in technicalities. He maps out the geography so it actually makes sense, and charts stunning routes that guide you past everything from traditional cellars to those striking, modernist bodegas that look like works of art in the middle of the vineyards.
What I love most about having these three guides side-by-side is how they collectively redefine what a wine travel book should be. They don’t just give you a list of tasting rooms; they give you the cultural context, the local secrets, and the confidence to navigate these historic regions like an absolute insider.
Whether you have a trip already marked on your calendar or are just beginning to daydream about your next wine-fueled getaway, (like I am always doing) these guides are the perfect companion to ensure you don’t miss a single hidden gem.
Huge thanks to the Académie du Vin Library for providing these books as media samples; they have officially stolen a permanent spot in my travel bag!
~Slàinte!
Ready to turn your passion into expertise? Whether you’re looking for foundational classes like Wine 101, Sparkling, and Rosé, or you’re ready for a deep dive into specific regions, we have a digital course or class for you! For those specifically interested in Spain, don’t miss our fun Exploring Spanish Wine: The Bingo Brains Edition or our professional-level Uncork Rioja Certification. Explore our full range of educational classes and find your next wine adventure: View All Wine Education Options.
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