Wine tourism has evolved far beyond the standard tasting room with a token cheese board. Across Europe, a growing number of vineyards are turning their cellars and terraces into bona fide dining destinations, where the food rivals the vintages. Wine Enthusiast magazine has compiled a global list of 57 winery restaurants, and 22 of them are in Europe — a clear sign that the continent remains the heartland of wine-and-food pairings.
Italy: six entries, four in Tuscany
Italy dominates the European selection with six restaurants, four of them in Tuscany. In Chianti, Osteria di Brolio and Il Ristoro di Castello di Ama offer rustic yet refined dishes amid the rolling vineyards. Further south, Ristorante Campo del Drago in Montalcino and Indigeno in Montepulciano bring modern touches to traditional regional cooking.
But the list also rewards those who venture off the beaten path. La Veduta, perched above the hills of Irpinia in Campania, serves handmade pasta and local produce, best enjoyed with wines from Fiano, Greco, and Aglianico grapes. Near Verona, Locanda Costasera adopts a 'wine first' philosophy, meaning the food is chosen to complement the wines, not the other way around. Try the Corvina-Merlot blend with their flavourful tubetti pasta.
Portugal: from Alentejo to the Douro
Portugal's Alentejo region is having a moment, and its vineyards are part of the appeal. The restaurant at Malhadinha Nova pairs modern wines with traditional Alentejo cuisine, much of it sourced from the estate's own black Iberian pigs. In the Douro, Bomfim 1896 sits on the riverside in Pinhão, with open kitchens turning out smoked eel and slow-roasted baby goat. Further inland, Mesa de Lemos in Dão offers a thoroughly contemporary experience, from floor-to-ceiling glass to chef Diogo Rocha's single-ingredient plates, such as pandora fish from the Algarve or pineapple from the Azores.
France: from Provence to Bordeaux
France's entries reflect its culinary range. Chez Jeannette in Provence keeps things inventive but unpretentious, with dishes like amberjack with white asparagus and acacia flower vinegar, using ingredients from the estate's organic garden and nearby farms. In Bordeaux, La Grand'Vigne is a two-Michelin-star affair, known for elegant French cooking and long, complex tasting menus.
England: a new wine frontier
The south of England has emerged as a serious wine region, thanks to warming temperatures and chalky soils similar to those across the Channel. Chalk at the Wiston Estate in West Sussex capitalises on the vineyard's sparkling wines, offering dishes like mackerel with horseradish and elderflower, or Devonshire brill with samphire. Hambledon in Hampshire, England's oldest commercial vineyard, serves seasonal fare — guinea fowl and chalk stream trout appear year-round, but with asparagus and wild garlic in spring, and pickled onion and chestnuts in autumn.
Spain: two Michelin-starred spots in Ribera del Duero
Spain's two entries are both in Ribera del Duero. Refectorio, set in a former 12th-century abbey dining hall, offers tasting menus that draw on historical recipes, including pickled partridge and alboronía aubergine stew. Ambivium at Pago de Carraovejas pairs each course with a specific wine from the cellar, all while diners look out over the vines.
Beyond the usual suspects
The list also shines a light on less obvious wine countries. Austria, Germany, Greece, and Hungary each have one entry, as does Liechtenstein — the tiny Alpine principality better known for mountains than vineyards. Moldova, with its deep winemaking roots, also makes an appearance, and Georgia, home to one of the world's oldest wine traditions, is included as well.
These selections remind us that Europe's wine map stretches far beyond the classic regions. For travellers who enjoy a bit of discovery, these single entries from smaller countries might be just the excuse to plan a trip. And with Czechia, Iceland, and Spain leading Europe's trending destinations for 2026, there's no shortage of new places to explore.
Whether you're drawn to the hills of Tuscany or the banks of the Dniester, these winery restaurants prove that a glass of wine is best enjoyed with a plate of something memorable.
