One of my favorite travel memories is taking an e-bike tour through the Geneva countryside , stopping at boutique wineries on the way . It was
the perfect ( somewhat ) athletic excursion
to take in the stunning scenery and feel
truly refreshed when a nice glass of
Chasselas came my way . But you don ’ t
have to go to Switzerland to experience
this euphoria — although I would certainly
encourage it . Wine regions , with their
rugged , expansive beauty , often lend
themselves to outdoor activities . Here are
five top destinations for those who crave
a taste of nature with their wine .
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HORSEBACK RIDING + MALBEC IN MENDOZA
If you love the rich fruity flavors of Malbec
wine , its birthplace of Mendoza is where
you want to try it . It ’ s one of the most wellregarded
wine regions in South America .
The cosmopolitan Argentinian city offers
unlimited outdoor and gastronomic
adventures , but horseback riding through
the vineyards can ’ t be missed . The horses
are well-trained and therefore on their
best behavior for these popular day trips .
Saddle up for a picturesque ride through
the Andes Mountains , stopping for a
lunch of Malbec and Mendoza ’ s famous
meats . This can be a romantic adventure
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SURFING + CHARDONNAY IN AUSTRALIA
Hate deciding between the countryside
and the beach ? In Western Australia ’ s
Margaret River Region , you don ’ t have
to . Outstanding wineries and towering
forests are practically steps from pristine
coastlines offering some of the best
surfing opportunities in the world . Start
your morning with a surf lesson before
heading out to the region ’ s renowned
boutique wineries to taste award-winning
Chardonnay , Shiraz , Cabernet Sauvignon
and more . If there ’ s time , go river
canoeing , kayaking or explore one of the
area ’ s decorated limestone caves — the
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CYCLING + CABERNET IN CALIFORNIA
With more than 1,000 vineyards to visit ,
you could make a week out of exploring
Northern California ’ s Wine Country . A sixday
Sonoma getaway with Intrepid Travel
is a beautiful blend of sightseeing and
wine tasting . Or consider a wine country
bike tour led by Backroads , beginning in
Napa and ending in the charming town
of Healdsburg . Gaze up at the 1,000-yearold
trees of Armstrong Redwoods State
Reserve . Bike past rugged beaches and
manicured vineyards . Stay at premier
hotels and , of course , savor the awardwinning
wines the region is known for .
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PHOTOS |
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for couples , a fun group activity or a
memorable solo adventure .
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wilderness is an untouched playground for
adventure seekers .
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Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are
the most widely planted , but there are
three dozen varieties available across the
region to suit every palate .
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LEFT : MALBEC IN MENDOZA CENTER : SURFING IN AUSTRALIA RIGHT : CYCLING IN CALIFORNIA WINE COUNTRY |