Italy’s most famous wine region is undoubtedly Tuscany, and there’s no question that Tuscany is beautiful—but the region also gets millions and millions of tourists each year. So, you can bump shoulders with 1,000 of your best friends in San Gimignano, or you could head to some of Italy’s less well-known wine regions, like Franciacorta or Friuli. They’re equally beautiful, the wines are stellar, and you’ll actually feel like you’re in Italy.
Franciacorta
There are three crucial things to know about Italy’s Franciacorta region. One: It’s a little over an hour’s drive from Milan. Two: It is the source of some of the best sparkling wines in Italy. And three: It borders the beautiful Lago d’Iseo, so if you ever get tired of bubbles in your glass, you can make bubbles while you swim instead.
