7 Countries Wine Connoisseurs Can Visit With A US Passport

Wine enthusiasts who have a US passport can visit some of the top wine producing countries without having the need to apply for another visa that is specific with the country. We love to travel for all sorts of reasons. This post is dedicated to the wine connoisseur travelers. Here are 7 wine producing countries that will surely make your US passport worth more than you initially thought.

Argentina

Argentina is the country next to China in terms of wine production and consumption. Some of the wines in Argentina can be traced back to Spanish roots, which was introduced to the country during the colonization in 1557. Argentina is one of the top producers of organic wine because of the climate and other conditions. That is why their vineyards are very suitable for cultivating fruits used for wine, like grapes. During the 1990s, Argentina was more concerned in quantity of production rather than the quality of the wine. However, things changed when most of the wines were unexportable. This made them go back to prioritizing quality.

Australia

The wine industry of Australia is the fourth largest exporter of wine all over the world. Almost all states of Australia have their own vineyards and are producers of different kinds of wine. This industry in the country contributes significantly to the economic income of Australia. Different wine varieties are produced in the country, such as red grape and white grape wines.

Chile

Wine production in this South American country can be dated back to the 16th century, during the Spanish colonization. Different French wine varieties were introduced to the country during the mid- 19th century. The production of wine significantly increased due to the large amounts of French families immigrating to Chile and have shared their wine culture with the locals. The unique weather changes and location in the country greatly affects the taste of the wine they produce. There are mainly around 20 grape varieties in Chile with a mixture of French and Spanish varieties.

South Africa

Aside from the rich culture and beautiful nature, South Africa also has their fair share of the wine industry. Their history in the industry can de traced back to 1659. South African wine is considered one of the greatest wines in the world. The process of wine making in South Africa represents the mixture of old and new methods. The wines produced here have their distinct taste which makes them popular to wine connoisseurs.

Russia

Russian wines were previously said to have been produced in the Russian Federation and some were made in the former USSR but later on changed because of the places where the wine is really produced. Russian wine is widely produced in the Southern part of the Russian Federation. Russia has different raw material varieties in terms of wine production. Before the 1917 revolution, wine was only drunk in Russia by the elites and the aristocrats, but this all changed under Stalin. He believed that every one should be able to have access and taste their wines.

Brazil

Although Brazil has a large number of vineyards in the country, most of the areas are used to produce table grapes and only some produce the wine. The unfortunate geographical location of Brazil, which is near the Equator, makes the country unsuitable to viticulture because of the heat and humidity in the place. This is the reason why most of the wine vineyards of the country are located in the southern area, away from the equator. There are different hybrid wines produced in the country.

China

China is ranked top 5 in the wine industry, both imported and domestic, all over the world and you are free to visit with a US visa. Wine production in China goes back 4,500 years ago. The Chinese have the highest consumption rate of red wine in the world, putting the French in second place. Since the 1980s, due to economic reforms, the connection of China with France (the top wine producing country) has become stronger and their products have been recognized internationally.