PT Portugal
Douro Valley
Two nights around Pinhão, a quinta with time to spare, and the eastern stretch towards Tua for the landscape shift.
Best Sep — Oct · normally 4–6 daysTravel thoughtfully · drink responsibly · 18+
5 5 days
Enough to stop rushing.
Five days is the first length where a region stops being a highlights reel. You get a second base if you want one, a day that goes wrong without ruining the trip, and time for the long lunch everyone underestimates.
Regions that work at 5 days
FR France
Burgundy
Dijon and Beaune both, with a day each for the Côte de Nuits, the Côte de Beaune and the hospices.
Best May — Jun · normally 3–5 daysAR Argentina
Mendoza
Mendoza city, then the Uco Valley with a driver for two days. The altitude change is the point.
Best Mar — Apr · normally 5–7 daysIT Sicily, Italy
Etna
Randazzo as a base, several contrade on the same slope, and one long lunch nobody has to drive home from.
Best May · Oct · normally 4–5 daysDE Germany
Mosel
Trier at one end for the Roman city, then the river towns downstream at the pace the trains allow.
Best Jun — Sep · normally 3–5 daysES Spain
Rioja Alavesa
Alavesa properly, plus a day across the Ebro into Rioja Alta for the contrast in soil and style.
Best May · Sep · normally 4–6 daysFR France
Champagne
Both towns, the Montagne de Reims between them, and a day in the Côte des Blancs where the villages are quieter.
Best Jun — Sep · normally 2–4 daysES Spain
Jerez
All three towns of the triangle, with Sanlúcar given its own night for the manzanilla and the estuary.
Best Mar — May · Sep — Nov · normally 3–4 daysPT Portugal
Madeira
Funchal for the lodges, Câmara de Lobos for the terraces, and two days walking levadas between them.
Best Apr — Oct · normally 4–7 daysZA South Africa
Stellenbosch
Two sub-routes, a day in Cape Town at either end, and a driver for everything in between.
Best Feb — Apr · normally 4–7 daysIT Italy
Piedmont
Both zones with time to spare, plus Asti or Monferrato for the Barbera side of the story.
Best Sep — Nov · normally 4–6 daysFR France
Alsace
Colmar as the base for the southern half, then two nights further north for the Strasbourg end.
Best May — Jun · Sep — Oct · normally 3–5 daysFR France
Northern Rhône
Hermitage, Cornas and Côte-Rôtie, with Lyon at one end for the food.
Best May — Jun · Sep · normally 3–4 daysIT Italy
Chianti Classico
Two bases at opposite ends of the zone, with the drive between them treated as a day out.
Best May — Jun · Sep — Oct · normally 3–5 daysES Spain
Priorat
Several villages at a village-a-day pace, plus Montsant next door for the cheaper, gentler version.
Best Apr — May · Sep — Oct · normally 3–4 daysGR Greece
Santorini
The island's wine belt properly, with the caldera villages kept for the evenings.
Best May — Jun · Sep — Oct · normally 3–5 daysAT Austria
Wachau
The Wachau at a slow pace, plus the Kamptal or Kremstal next door for a different style.
Best May — Jun · Sep — Oct · normally 2–4 daysHU Hungary
Tokaj
Several of the 27 villages, with a car, and time for the aszú tastings to be slow.
Best Sep — Oct · normally 3–4 daysNZ New Zealand
Central Otago
Queenstown or Cromwell as a base, Bannockburn and Gibbston, and one day that is not about wine at all.
Best Feb — Apr · normally 5–7 daysNot the length you have?
Try the other lengths, or start from the place instead with the region guides.