Top 5 North Iceland Wine Tours: Reviews & Recommendations

Top 5 North Iceland Wine Tours: Reviews & Recommendations

North Iceland, that stunning area known rather a lot for its otherworldly landscapes than its vineyards, might sound, in some respects, like an unlikely place to search for a wine tour, you know? Yet, it seems it’s there, tucked away between the glaciers and fjords, offering completely unique experiences for wine enthusiasts, and well, adventure-seekers, you see. Imagine sipping on some carefully selected wines while overlooking the dramatic vistas of the Arctic, that is just so something, alright? These tours often pair tasting sessions with trips into the Icelandic countryside, too it’s almost that it shows the blend of Iceland’s breathtaking beauty and that sophistication of wine tasting that, really, no one expected, I guess.

North Iceland vineyards

1. Arctic Grapevine Exploration

First on the list is the Arctic Grapevine Exploration, just a tour that’s got people talking for the right reasons. This tour seems to focus on wines crafted in, or very influenced by, cold-climate regions, that is what creates the right experience for people who want to try the wines there, at their prime. But here is a recommendation, maybe consider bringing layers with you when touring and tasting the wine. You will need to keep warm with the icy weather when going from place to place and layering up your clothing is key.

Arctic Grapevine Exploration

The tour starts by bringing participants to a geothermally heated greenhouse which produces a surprising harvest of grapes. From that starting point, you get to hear about how Icelandic innovators use green energy to push the boundaries of winemaking in rather cold areas.

Wine lovers also visit a nearby tasting room where they sample some rare wines which are selected to showcase a surprising twist, how they complement the icy, stark landscape that just surrounds them. They pair cheeses and chocolates, very locally sourced from North Iceland, that they select in small shops. I guess this complements the complexity that each wine showcases when tasting.

Read our full review: Arctic Grapevine Exploration Full Review and Details

What People Are Saying: Guests pretty much rave about the guide’s passion and knowledge and that originality about wine in such a cold area. People seem to love it because it’s surprising how they manage to turn Iceland, that seemingly infertile area for wine, to harvest grapes and produce some nice blends.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Arctic Grapevine Exploration)

2. Akureyri Wine & Cultural Tour

Next up we have the Akureyri Wine & Cultural Tour, which provides, as a matter of fact, more than just the wine because it also offers insights into the culture of North Iceland’s capital, like your hometown tour that you always see. This tour seems ideal for anyone who wants to combine their appreciation of fine wines with just a little bit of learning more about local history. The experience balances tastings of import wines along with learning how they get perfectly paired with local food and with the history behind the food and the area, in some respects.

Akureyri Wine & Cultural Tour

The Akureyri Wine & Cultural Tour commences at a prominent location inside the city’s old town, I see. I guess there you might be surrounded by historical architecture and it helps you know the beginnings of that place. These tours seem to take you through important points of Akureyri as tour guides talk you through Icelandic history. They mostly talk about old stories on how Iceland came to be what it is today.

Halfway there, tourists seem to have an stop at a charming venue where people sample wine pairings with special Icelandic snacks and cuisine. That makes the tourists immerse themselves in the culture of wine while diving into its old history. Each type of wine showcases its origins and is tied very carefully to dishes served. The tour emphasizes seasonal choices while ensuring guests experience some flavors from that North Atlantic which characterizes that culture of wines.

Read our full review: Akureyri Wine & Cultural Tour Full Review and Details

What People Are Saying: Tourists mention that the history taught about Iceland, paired up with wine and snack breaks is the correct way to do this trip, honestly. They praise the balance of flavor tasting and story telling and recommend those who love Icelandic stories to attend, if they like some snacks and tasty wine while doing it, of course.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Akureyri Wine & Cultural Tour)

3. Wine Tasting in a Geothermal Greenhouse

Imagine this: you are tasting wine in some location, however, not inside some dimly lit cellar, yet within an Icelandic geothermal greenhouse, you see. The Wine Tasting inside of the Geothermal Greenhouse is truly an exploration of just how sustainable practices intertwine alongside viticulture with Iceland, arguably. Participants get the chance to witness that creative way locals develop vines despite challenges they might face to grow grapes in such an harsh landscape.

Wine Tasting in Geothermal Greenhouse

In most cases, trips start at Reykholt which has long traditions inside of Icelandic agricultural. From what I’ve read online, tourists go through sustainable ecosystems within the greenhouse which shows how exactly geothermal heating and energy is harnessed to extend the plant growing seasons there. I guess those wine-growers also have figured this out and incorporated into this culture, seemingly. It’s a match.

As the tourists move further into that heart of said greenhouse, they’re met up with those aromas from some ripe grapevines plus some freshly potted plants all combined together. People are given that option to participate in an formal wine tasting that showcases unique Icelandic wines combined carefully by experts within viticulture. That selection will sometimes include blends crafted there within a geothermal greenhouse and will give a snapshot on the experiment being done regarding flavor possibilities and the growing environment.

Read our full review: Wine Tasting in Geothermal Greenhouse Full Review and Details

What People Are Saying: Feedback mentions being mesmerized from the synthesis for sustainability combined alongside innovation used inside Icelandic winemaking methods. Tourists seem impressed at how they converted a standard geothermal process that turned the country on its head as a result.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Wine Tasting in Geothermal Greenhouse)

4. Boutique Winery Visit & Tasting near Lake Mývatn

Near pretty Lake Mývatn, is that rather boutique winery which adds character for wine making inside a rather geothermal region. It offers just that rather close peek behind making wines inside North Iceland near just one rather gorgeous Lake. Tourists love a mix from both wine production combined alongside spectacular Icelandic nature, you know?

Boutique Winery Visit & Tasting near Lake Mývatn

That Boutique Winery Tour starts that moment visitors move through those scenic landscapes around Mývatn on the journey down to that destination. What I am getting at is they have to learn just how different the ground is because geothermal landscapes greatly contrast those Icelandic terrain, typically. Visits start with some walking trip round about a winery, you know? A guide leads them, explaining viticulture practices plus some rather geothermal tech used.

Post this tour, tourist get a warm invite inside a cellar, for wine samplings together with cheeses which are carefully local. Wine samplers can range anywhere between those vintage wines aged carefully or current, unique brands of grapes that tell the story of Northern winemaking.

Read our full review: Boutique Winery Visit & Tasting near Lake Mývatn Full Review and Details

What People Are Saying: Reviews will tend highlight great wines with knowledge provided regarding the making for wines plus an extremely personalized approach to winery operation. You might tend to be impressed from those passion regarding winemaking demonstrated and you might feel motivated when appreciating Iceland more.

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Boutique Winery Visit & Tasting near Lake Mývatn)

5. Northern Lights Wine Experience

Consider a rather tour which gets carefully built on, arguably, not only sampling great wines however is hoping for an chance in catching just that mysterious and, like, sought for Northern Lights, seriously. You can join the North Lights Wine Experience where its appeal lies behind melding some Icelandic beauty along with pleasure towards wines. It is an opportunity which will bring one together from, I guess, a vineyard towards witnessing lights just right above our skyline if everyone gets some great conditions that specific day, like your birthday!

Northern Lights Wine Experience

Visits often commence through mid evening by simply gathering at a rather premier area somewhere right near, you know, Northern Iceland where wine lovers get shuttled off together in hopes of discovering some Northern Lights while having their samplings ready with everything they will require as well while taking those landscapes inside. If everything seems clear and it gets set just good, those chances just get much brighter than normal.

Even should said Lights keep shy inside these events (since Aurora watching isn’t all that predictable when visiting Iceland during mid fall), that experience will always remain memorable with Iceland since it will offer rather Icelandic landscape during nighttime but tasting rare Iceland wines together in one trip inside these very icy plains.

Read our full review: Northern Lights Wine Experience Full Review and Details

What People Are Saying: People may mention something rather special that they felt while sampling top notch wine just when underneath shimmering Northern Lights especially during such dark Arctic landscape at times yet inside total, that ambiance becomes too perfect! Tourists are suggesting all will cherish an blend of fun together in one place, seemingly, which are hardly matched especially during just clear winter evenings underneath star studded nights near North Iceland. If there seems great solar activities there inside Iceland, even if aurora watching wasn’t too successful this night yet everyone kept something unique inside our journey especially having a cozy climate inside one!

See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Northern Lights Wine Experience)