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WORDS BY MICHAEL SCOTT
September’s grape harvest is a fantastic excuse for a splash of wine. But a splash can very quickly turn into a full-on festival! Here are five of the best
Logroño, La Rioja, Spain (21st September)
Wine has been the lifeblood of the Rioja region for centuries. Nowadays, the festival kicks off with the stomping of the grapes in Logroño’s main square, when the wine is offered to the Virgin of Valvanera for her approval. Being a statue, she never declines and, with the formalities over, the fiesta really gets underway. Lasting about a week, it’s packed with fun, food and flamenco. And, of course, copious amounts of vino. Tipsiness rating: 4/5 Fly to Bilbao (1½ hours’ drive to Logroño)
Madeira, Portugal (5th–7th September)
The good people of Madeira give even the Riojans a run for their money when it comes to drinking, dancing and general over-exuberance. As in Rioja, you’ll spot grapes being trodden using traditional foot presses. And while it can’t be the most efficient way to juice a grape, it’s certainly a sight worth seeing. Whether it’s wise to do it after so much booze is another question entirely.
Tipsiness rating: 4/5 Fly to Funchal (where many of the festivities take place)
Italy (12th–28th September)
Even if you’re not a fan of Asti’s eponymous sparkling wine, you’re bound to find something to please your palate at the annual Douja d’Or. This region of Italy is also home to full-bodied reds such as Barolo and Barbera. And the Douja d’Or is conveniently dovetailed with the local gastro-fest, the Sagre, so there’ll be an abundance of fresh food to try too. Tipsiness rating: 3/5 Fly to Turin (1 hour’s drive to Asti)
Budapest, Hungary (6th–7th September)
The imposing Buda Castle throws its doors open each September for Budapest’s International Wine Festival. The Saturday sees the Vintage Parade, a traditional procession around the castle grounds culminating in a high-spirited stage show. Tipsiness rating: 3/5 Fly to Budapest
Limassol, Cyprus (29th August–7th September)
The festival opens with a spectacular fireworks display. And with free wine on offer for all visitors, you can expect the rest of the week to go with a bang as well. In addition to the fruits of the harvest, there’s no shortage of traditional Cypriot music, dance, and theatre. With so much going on, it’s easy to see why the festival’s slogan is “Drink wine, it gives you life”. Tipsiness rating: 5/5 Fly to Paphos (45 minutes’ drive to Limassol)
What better way to savour the last few days of summer than by pouring a glass of wine and heading outside to take in the sunset? We look at five great places to do just that
The remote village of Peroulades is the best spot in Corfu to watch the sunset. Gaze out from the clifftop as the sun drops into the sea, then relax with a drink at one of the laid-back local bars. VISIT: Panorama Restaurant, Peroulades, Corfu, Tel. +30 2663 095035 GLASS OF WINE: €2.50
Istanbul’s misty skyline burns blood red as the sun sets over the Sea of Marmara. Stroll up to 360 Istanbul in Beyoglu for dinner, drinks and fabulous views.
VISIT: 360 Istanbul, Istiklal Caddesi, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Tel. +90 (0)212 251 1042 GLASS OF WINE: €6
Apparently the Romans referred to Sagres as “the end of the world, where the waters of the ocean boil at sunset”. They were wrong. It’s only the end of Europe. And the Atlantic is freezing, whatever the time of day. But it does look great at dusk. VISIT: A Tasca Restaurant, Baleeira, Sagres, Tel. +351 282 624177 GLASS OF WINE: €3
The fashionable-but-pricey Café del Mar has garnered a reputation as the best place to catch an Ibizan sunset. Glass of wine: at least €10. Cocktails: even more. Watching as the sun slips gently over the horizon, lending the sky a fiery, orange hue: priceless. VISIT: Café del Mar, Vara del Rey 27, San Antonio, Ibiza, Tel. +34 971 803983 GLASS OF WINE: €10
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1 | Fiesta de San Mateo
2 | Madeira Wine Festival 
3 | Douja D’Or Asti
4 | Budapest International Wine and Champagne Festival
5 | Limassol Wine Festival