Wine trips worth taking

Wine Access Unfiltered - the official podcast and wine club of Wine Access - thrives on exactly what wine does best: stories, place, and a little bit of personality in every pour. Hosted by Napa insider Amanda McCrossin, it's less classroom, more conversation - where bottles come with context and a sense of occasion.

In Unveiling My Top 5 Exciting Wine Destinations (2026), Amanda goes solo, and the energy shifts in a good way. It's candid, fast-moving. She frames travel as the ultimate wine education: 'there is no substitution' for walking vineyards, tasting locally and absorbing culture. That idea anchors everything that follows.

Her picks - Portugal, Germany (pic), Mendoza (Argentina), Paso Robles (California) and Britain - aren't just name-drops. Each comes with a perspective shift. Portugal isn't only about port - it's a playground of styles. Germany breaks out of its Riesling stereotype with serious Pinot Noir. Mendoza leans into altitude and immersive tourism. Paso Robles feels experimental and community-driven. And Britain? Quietly redefining cool-climate wine.


The takeaway is clear: if you want to understand wine, don't just study it - go live it.