Check out the world’s most unusual wineries

Just an hour’s drive from the beautiful city of Dubrovnik, you’ll find yourself wine-tasting at a different level … under the sea! Oenophiles can dive into one of the world’s most unique wineries at Edivo Viva which is located underwater on the Peljesac Peninsula. Drawing on ancient Greek traditions, Edivo Viva’s wines are aged for up to two years underwater in an amphora which protects the wine, as well as creates aromas other traditional wine-making techniques cannot produce. There is, of course, a wine bar on land for wine drinkers looking to stay dry, literally.

The Napa Valley is one of the world’s best destinations for wine lovers and gourmets, so having classic wineries offering award-winning wine is expected. A pleasant surprise is finding a winery in a run-down old garage. Decorated with gas pumps, vintage Indian motorbikes and other paraphernalia to remind you of old-school American road trips, Tank Garage Winery is the perfect spot to refresh after a long drive down Route 66. Wines on offer include crisp whites and also classic Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon with epic names like Roll the Bones or Take It Easy.

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Sottomarino Winery is located in an old WWII submarine-like training vessel on the man-made Treasure island, San Francisco, which has now become an urban wine district in its own right. It’s also a place to learn about history – it is a former WWII naval base and also home to the Treasure Island Museum. Classic Italian reds and whites are on offer; the winery offers spectacular views of San Francisco Bay waterfront.

Bodega La Geria is definitely not your average winery. Located in the Natural Park of La Geria, more than 5,000 ha mark a historical winery near a dormant volcano. The barren landscape is still covered in a blanket of black volcanic ash, following the last volcanic eruption in the mid-18th century. With more than 300,000 visitors a year, join other wine-lovers in this epic experience.

If you love to live life on the edge, visit Olkiluoto Island Winery (Olkiluoto, 27160 Eurajoki), which is classified as the most northerly vineyard in the world, with its vine roots in the Arctic Circle. Residual water from the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant next door is piped into the vineyard to warm the soil the zilga grapes are grown in. There has been no radioactivity registered in the wines.

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Maui, Hawaii may be known for its discount shopping and laid-back culture but when it comes to wine, put it on your list for one of the more unusual vineyards to visit. Located on the slopes of the Haleakala volcano, the winery at more than 600m above sea level with spectacular views of the island is best known for its pineapple wine. The tasting room is located in a former prison.

If you like epic views with your wine-tasting experience, head on over to Italy. Sitting on a cliff on the Amalfi Coast, more than 395m above sea level, is Marisa Cuomo Winery. The magnificent views over the Tyrrhenian Sea can prove to be too much for those afraid of heights, but at least you have good Italian wine to help you get over your fears.

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In the Guadalupe Valley, Vena Cava winery waits for you. Built into a fishing boat, this winery is a perfect place to keep wine cool when the temperature reaches sky-high Mexican levels. The organic wine is produced sustainably and free from pesticides or fertilisers. Now that is something to say cheers to!

– TEXT BY MICHELLE TCHEA
PHOTOS: EDIVO VIVA FACEBOOK, TANK GARAGE WINERY FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, BODEGA LA GERIA FACEBOOK, MAUIWINE FACEBOOK, CANTINE MARISA CUOMO FACEBOOK, VENA CAVA VINICOLA FACEBOOK
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.