Italy's wine culture needs no introduction. The epitome of a perfect wine region, Tuscany has been producing the best wines in the world for centuries, and in fact, is where it all began. One of the best destinations for a romantic escape, drive along its winding roads, past lines of cypress trees, ancient pilgrim trails and medieval churches. Stop at one of the many award-winning vineyards to relax and appreciate both the craftsmanship of the wine and perfect scenery.

Castello di Ama

Located in a 12th century castle, this winery is home to premium reds, like Haiku Chianti Classico, an intensely flavoured variety with notes of wild berries and spices. Wander around the vineyards and olive groves, view the onsite art installations and then finish in La Terrazza di Ama, a beautiful restaurant set in a Tuscan house. Enjoy locally grown cuisine and their extra virgin olive oil, pressed in the vineyards - the perfect accompaniment to their renowned wines.

Capezzana

After a wander around scenic Florence, drive out to Capezzana, a historic estate that's been producing wine and olive oil since 804 AD. Their terrace is the perfect place to sit - with a view of the terracotta rooftops of Florence and its Duomo. Don't miss vin santo, a luxurious dessert wine made from raisins dried on racks, and enjoy their library vintages, dating from the 1930s. Tastings include three different wines and a tour of the forested estate, with its organic vineyards and olive groves. The onsite Vinsantaia wine bar offers organic food and a wide range of the estate's wine.

Salcheto

Salcheto has a unique claim to fame - it was the first self-sufficient winery in Europe. The wines here are certified organic, and are produced with eco-friendly techniques, including high-tech water reclamation processes, solar panel sourced energy in the cellar, and wine tanks which use energy converted from the excess CO2 produced by the grapes during fermentation. Tours here explore their innovative technology as well as tastings of three wines. Recommended are the Obvius varieties, which are made only using fruit (with no added sulfites, yeasts or tannins) and have a rich taste with spicy notes. Their enoteca serves simple cold cuts and cheeses with terrace seating that overlooks the picturesque town of Montepulciano.

Avignonesi (photo)

Quaint village Valiano is the home of Avignonesi, a winery with villas, vineyards, a chapel and atmospheric stone wine cellars. Tastings at their cellar door are available all summer long, as well as a variety of other romantic activities, including hot air balloon rides and falconry lessons in the stunning grounds. There are a total of eight vineyards here, each one lovingly stewarded by the estate's staff. They operate with an eco-friendly mentality, using no chemical fertilisers and pesticides and growing secondary crops among the vines. Try special wine La Tonda, where notes of cherries, plums and red fruit are complemented by delicate hints of nutmeg and violets.

Barone Ricasoli

It's hard to find a more stunning winery; nestled among trees and in a centuries old castle, Barone Ricasoli is a truly romantic destination. Barone Ricasoli has been producing wines since 1141, and produce some of the best in Tuscany. Come here for their sunset tour on summer evenings, where you can experience the castle, its historic Italian gardens and enjoy dinner at their restaurant, Osteria del Castello. The Tuscan dishes served here pair perfectly with their wines. Particularly worth a try is Castello di Brolio, their signature wine, produced with a meticulous selection of their grapes grown at a specific aspect and altitude. Set in a restored Tuscan farmhouse, the agriturismo here is a special place to stay, surrounded by the estate's green rows of vineyards.

Stemming from its Spanish roots when vine cuttings were brought to Santiago del Estero in 1557, Argentina has become the fifth biggest producer of wine globally. Visiting its vineyards, which stretch from the mountainous Mendoza region, where premium Malbecs are grown at high altitudes, to the low-lying hills south of capital Buenos Aires, is a VIP experience you'll never forget.

Familia Zuccardi (photo) In renowned province Mendoza, where 60% of Argentine wine is produced, Familia Zuccardi is a celebrated family-run bodega that is committed to educating visitors about the production of its wine - which is made with a complex understanding of tradition and modern techniques. The focus here is on premium Malbecs, which are made with top quality grapes grown in the fertile Uco Valley. This winery favours a holistic approach - and focuses not just on altitude, but on terroir - the natural terrain of the vineyard. In Uco Valley, crystal mountain streams flow down from the Andes, and these are harnessed in the wine production as well as in the stone fermentation vessels (gathered from the ground around.) A tour here focuses not only on tasting their vintages, but on discovering the characteristics of the soil and how it influences their wine. Their restaurant, Piedra Infinita Cocina, is a romantic place to linger, with all seating facing the majestic Andes mountains.

Bodega Carmelo Patti

One of the greatest boutique wineries in the Mendoza region, wine here is produced by the skillful hands of its namesake, Carmelo Patti. Often referred to as the most passionate winemaker in the entire region, Patti crafts his wine by hand in a bodega located in his garage. Travel to Lujan de Cuyo, a quaint town located close to Mendoza, and enjoy a tour of the bodega led by Patti himself. Let him guide you enthusiastically through his meticulous process, and don't leave without trying his award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, poured straight from the barrel.

The Vines of Mendoza, Uco Valley

Crafting more than 300 unique vintages each year, this winery in Mendoza's Uco Valley is the perfect place for a romantic retreat. With an 180 degree view of the Andes snow-covered peaks, visitors can enjoy their show-stopping Recuerdo, a malbec made with grapes from collective estates, on their cosy outdoor patio. The team here provide hands-on tours and workshops, where you can learn how to blend wine and the ins-and-outs of barrel fermentation. More than just a vineyard, The Vines of Mendoza is also a luxury resort, and you can stay onsite in their rooms with mountain views and log fires. While enjoying their premium wines, explore the rugged landscape around on horseback or enjoy a yoga class outdoors.

Bodegas Lopez

This is where some of the greatest red wine in Argentina is produced, namely the Bodegas Lopez Montchenot, which has won awards all over the world. It's also a stunning winery located just outside of Mendoza. The building itself was built in the Spanish colonial style, and stepping beyond the cream exterior, you can experience a special tour through a particularly atmospheric winery. Reach it easily by tram from Mendoza, and wander through the atmospheric brick passages, where vintages are stacked and antique wine-making tools and equipment are displayed. This is also one of the oldest family-run bodegas in Argentina, at an impressive 113 years old.

O, Fournier

Located outside of Mendoza, in scenic Uco Valley, Bodega O Fournier produces premium wines against a backdrop of stunning, snow-capped mountains. This family run bodega is housed in futuristic architecture, and uses the building itself in its wine production techniques. The wine here is made with a unique gravity-flow system, where harvested grapes are transported up to the upper levels of the building on ramps. Following this, they are deposited into holes in the ground, where they slowly travel to an underground barrel room. Taste their signature Malbec, aged in oak barrels, along with expertly cooked local produce in renowned onsite restaurant “Urban.”

In scenic New Zealand, vineyards stretch across the length of the country. While the wineries here are comparatively new to the global scene, what they lack in history they more than make up for in quality of technique and ingredients. With parts of New Zealand at the same latitude as Sicily, a wine tour of the country is worth the long-haul flight. Visit tasting terraces with stunning views of the country's legendary landscape, or taste wines direct from the cellar door in candlelit barns.

Stonyridge Vineyard, Waiheke Island (photo)

Nestled into scenic Waiheke Island - known for art, food and wine - Stonyridge Vineyard produces award-winning Cabernet-blends using refined French techniques. It's an easy hop over here from Auckland (35 minutes by ferry), but the island feels a world away from the city, with its picturesque valleys and romantic vineyards. Visit the Veranda cafe, and taste their vintage wines beneath olive trees and a canopy of vines, or nibble on homegrown olives and watch the sun set over the sea. On winter evenings, try the Stonyridge Cabernet Franc Merlot, and be warmed by Christmas cake aromas and vanilla notes.

Villa Maria Winery, Auckland

Located conveniently close to Auckland's airport, the Villa Maria Winery is perfectly situated for a layover. Not only does the winery offer exquisite wines at their cellar door, including their passionfruit flavoured Lightly Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, they also host outdoor concerts in summer - with music ranging from jazz to classical. Their quality wines are best enjoyed outdoors during hazy summer evenings, but the winery also offers two tours a day, with a background history of the winery and a walk through the bottling hall.

Mission Estate Winery, Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay, on New Zealand's North Island, is home to some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlots in the country. Mission Estate is a must-visit vineyard - it's the country's oldest winery and also one of the most scenic, overlooking the Art Deco town of Napier and burrowed into the green Taradale hills. Wander among its historic outhouses (it was established in 1851) and sample or purchase their wines straight from the cellar door. Sample their Reserve Merlot, with dark plum and cedar flavours, topped with thyme and clove notes. Many a romantic evening has been spent on the terrace, which overlooks the rolling hills and rows of vineyards.

Cloudy Bay Vineyards, Marlborough

It's no surprise that the open, sun-soaked valleys of Marlborough are where some of the best wines in New Zealand are produced. Located at the uppermost tip of the South Island, the green hills of Wairau Valley are home to Cloudy Bay, a winery set over seven different vineyards. The vineyard is celebrated for its prized Sauvignon Blanc, with an exquisitely fruity taste and delicate lime and nectarine accents. Their cellar door is a romantic setting; come in the summer to sip wine outdoors, or in the winter months enjoy a cosy evening for two in front of a crackling log fire.

Rippon Vineyard and Winery, Central Otago

A long-standing family run vineyard, Rippon Vineyard and Winery is located on the shores of the stunning Lake Wanaka. Its location in Central Otago, one of the foremost wine regions of New Zealand, ensures top quality flavours as vines are nourished by the long sunshine hours and continental climate. The vineyard is farmed carefully using biodynamic methods, producing flavoursome Pinot Noir varieties, which mix dark berry flavours with floral top notes. These are best enjoyed outside with a plate of local cheese, enjoying the lakeside views and the Southern Alps mountain ranges beyond. Tastings are fairly informal, with five to seven varieties of their vintages available each day.

Whether you choose to visit a contemporary spa in London, or escape to a country retreat in one of the UK's areas of outstanding natural beauty, you can be sure that the one of a kind treatments and luxurious facilities will soothe you. Mixing technology with tradition, these spas are the perfect place for a weekend away with your friends or partner.

ESPA life at Corinthia, London

Located in contemporary hotel Corinthia, ESPA life is one of London's most luxurious spas. The spa's pioneering approach brings together wellness experts from all over the world, from Chinese medicine acupuncturists to herbalists and personal trainers, and uses the unique space - spread over four floors - to rejuvenate visitors to the capital. Visit the Thermal Floor for an amphitheatre sauna, ice fountain and private sleep pods, then take a trip to a private treatment room for signatures like the Harmonising Rose Salt Ritual, a full body massage using warmed Himalayan salt stones.

Chewton Glen, the New Forest

In bucolic Hampshire, Chewton Glen is a five-star country house hotel with VIP spa facilities. The historic rooms are home to a hydrotherapy spa pool, aromatherapy saunas and crystal steam rooms - all guaranteed to soothe you. Treatment-wise, OSKIA's rich body products were created especially for the spa, and infuse your skin with scents straight from the surrounding woodland. Try the Cedar Back Recovery, which concentrates on relieving tension using warmed lava stones and a massage with cedar oil; or the Coastal Cocoon Indulgence, where skin is polished with a sea salt and water mint scented scrub before a green clay body wrap draws out impurities.

Gilpin Lake Hotel and Lake House, the Lake District (photo)

Recognised as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2017, the Lake District is a beautiful area, famous for its stunning mountains and reflective lakes. It's also the perfect place for a spa break, where sore limbs from country walks can be rejuvenated by luxurious treatments. Stay at one of the VIP spa lodges, where each room has its own ensuite spa with rainmaker showers and steam rooms inside, and saunas and hydrotherapy hot tubs outside. Their Lake House Spa is a similarly stunning place to enjoy a relaxing ritual; the wooden treatment room is raised three metres into the tree canopy, overlooking a private lake. Their Swedish Massage soothes you with a blend of essential oils, or try the Holistic Facial, which uses dried oats and rose petals to calm and repair your skin.

Lucknam Park, the Cotswolds

This elegant mansion is one of the UK's finest hotels, located in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds. Its spa is located in the manicured grounds of the hotel, overlooking the walled gardens and ancient trees. Hide away in one of the thermal cabins, like the Japanese Salt or Amethyst Room, or float in the outdoor salt water plunge pool. To really take a break, try the Dry Floatation with Body Envelopment - an ultra-hydrating goat butter body treatment is applied before you are cocooned into a floatation tank, to enjoy a feeling of soothing weightlessness and warmth.

Cowshed Spa at Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire

For luxurious treatments with a rustic feel, the Cowshed Spa in Oxfordshire is the perfect place to relax. A quintessentially British brand, their products combine quality essential oils with playful humour. Try the bespoke Cowshed Relaxing Moody Massage, where you can choose between one of their six signature moods - the Moody Cow massage balances you with scents of rose geranium, linden blossom and frankincense. The Soho Farmhouse provides VIP facilities; including ice rooms, steam rooms, saunas and outdoor hot tubs.