These U.S. wine regions offer the best experience for your money

The rising popularity of wine tourism has led to an accompanying increase in prices. However, if you’re a wine enthusiast and know where to look, you won’t necessarily have to drop too much paper to take a well-earned vacation focused on the divine beverage.

HomeToGo, a marketplace for vacation rentals, has your back. It recently unveiled its 2023 Wine Lovers Index, which highlights the top 25 US wine regions for travelers on a budget to explore in honor of National Drink Wine Day on February 18.

The ranking was determined by reviewing data collected by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. This is where we got our first information about the distribution of American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), or wine-producing regions.

Next, it analyzed how many people were interested in traveling to various regions on HomeToGo.com and selected the top 25. In the end, it ranked them based on a number of factors, such as the average cost of a night’s stay and the average cost of a top-rated bottle of wine from the region, as well as the cost of a tasting lasting between one and two hours.

For the most affordable wine vacation, wine lovers must load up and travel to Shawnee Hills in Illinois. It is unquestionably a rare find and the very first AVA in Illinois. Thrillest noted that it boasts nearly twenty wineries and fifty-five vineyards, as well as scenic views, such as those along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, a 35-mile breathtaking drive through the Shawnee National Forest. There, a really good bottle of wine costs just $27.33 and the average cost of a night’s lodging is $34.90. The typical cost of a wine tour is $12.50.

If you’re keeping an eye on your budget, the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania is your next top pick. Visitors can find themselves less than an hour from the renowned Poconos with a median lodging cost of $67.83, and they can explore over 30 wineries with an average wine tour cost of $12. The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail introduces visitors to five locally owned vineyards that have won prestigious awards.

Middleburg American Viticultural Area (AVA) in Virginia comes in at number three on the list, moving south. Wine lovers will have the opportunity to sample the wares of more than 30 vineyards and wineries, and nature lovers can enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the region’s forested countryside. The average cost of a bottle of the region’s renowned red wine is $30.33. The average price of a tour will cost you approximately $20.67, while the average price of a night’s stay will be $65.45.

Conversely, Napa Valley is without a doubt the most well-known wine region in the United States.

See below for a comprehensive top 25 ranking of the nation’s finest wine regions in terms of price.

1. Shawnee Hills, Illinois

2. Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

3. Middleburg Virginia, Virginia

4. Isle St. George, Ohio

5. Monticello, Virginia

6. Wisconsin Ledge, Wisconsin

7. Hudson River Region, New York

8. Southern Oregon, Oregon

9. Haw River Valley, North Carolina

10. Tualatin Hills, Oregon

11. Puget Sound, Washington

12. Cape May Peninsula, New Jersey

13. Chehalem Mountains, Oregon

14. Finger Lakes, New York

15. Verde Valley, Arizona

16. Fennville, Michigan

17. Texas Hill Country, Texas

18. Leelanau Peninsula, Michigan

19. Sonoita, Arizona

20. Lake Chelan, Washington

21. Northern Sonoma, California

22. Ulupalakua, Hawaii

23. Long Island, New York

24. Sonoma Valley, California

25. Napa Valley, California

Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.

This story was originally published February 17, 2023 at 12:00 PM.