A new report from International Living, details the best places to retire and five great wine-producing regions to retire to. In many of the best retirement destinations overseas, not only is the cost of living lower than in Australia, but the wine produced locally is top-class too.
5 Great Places to Retire to Where the Wine is Good
International Living Australiaโs report explores five best places to retire in retirement areas for wine lovers: Italy, Bali, Spain, Thailand and France. They all offer good-value living, dreamy surroundings, a relaxed pace of life and affordable living.
Italy
Wine is produced in just about every part of Italy, with each region claiming for its wines a special taste and character. Small wonder Italians are extremely proud of their wines.
Umbria, the region that lies between Rome and Florence at Italyโs geographic centre, has an endless supply of attractive towns and picture-postcard landscapes that seems to encapsulate the best scenery and aspects of Italian life into one land-locked region.
Although Umbria may not make wines as famous as its neighbour, Tuscany, its winemaking can be traced back to the Benedictine monks. The vine-striped hills produce excellent winesโSagrantino di Montefalco ranks up there among the most noted vintages and Orvieto is perfect for summer enjoyment.
Orvieto, a crisp and peachy white wine produced in the town of the same name, is one the better-known Umbrian wines and it accounts for nearly 80% of all DOC wine (a quality assurance label for Italian wines) made here.
Except for its lack of a coastline, Umbria offers everything that Tuscany does, but at a much more affordable price point. All told, retirees could have a pretty charming life in Umbria with a budget of around $2,110 a month, which makes it one of the best places to retire if you’re on a budget.
Bali
โThe island of Bali isnโt known as a world-famous wine destination, but that doesnโt mean you wonโt find decent wine produced here,โ says International Livingโs Bali Correspondent, Josephine Brierley. โIn recent years, Bali winemakers have been resourceful, using a mix of local and imported grapes to create fresh, crisp wines which are both appealing and affordable.
Since 1994, Hatten wines have been making wine in Bali despite the criticโs and the tropical climate. Proving a champion, voted by the Asian Wine Review, they were announced the winner of the 2017 Asian Winery of the Year.
Their Two Island label produces wines using grapes imported from Australia and vinified in Bali. The vineyard is located close to the popular expat retirement haven, Lovina, on the north of the islandโa quiet town known for its laid-back lifestyle.
Northern Bali offers ideal conditions for growing grapes due to the rich volcanic soil and dry climate. Here, farmers have been harvesting grapes for over 100 years.
โThe crisp taste of the Pinot Grigio is extremely pleasant on a hot day,โ says Josephine. โWhile a Reserve Red pairs well with the traditional Indonesian dish of Beef Rendang.
โOf course, another native to Bali is Sababay Winery. They also offer guided tours of their winery in Gianyar where retirees can learn more about Balinese wine.โ
The tropical climate of Bali has enticed retirees for many years. Offering a relaxed, simple lifestyle with world-class dining at very affordable prices. Here, retirees can enjoy a comfortable life with a budget of around $1800 a month.
Bali is high on the list as one of the best places to retire for Australian retirees.
France
French wines hold what is arguably the most revered cultural status of all. With a history dating back to the Middle Ages, there are 12 major wine-growing regions in France, the most famous being Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. Itโs thanks to France that we have well-known grapes like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
Bordeaux is a wine-loverโs paradise, with everything from world-famous estates to small cellars barely known outside of France.
Boasting some of the finest wines in the world, it is also home to a special marathon in Mรฉdocโa wine region just outside Bordeaux. Known as โthe longest marathon in the world,โ the Wine Marathon du Mรฉdoc is like no other. The marathoners don crazy costumes to match a theme that changes each year, then run 26.2 winding miles though scenic vineyards, downing wine, oysters, steak and ice cream at the refreshment points along the way.
โBordeaux offers good value for money compared to Paris,โ says expat, Barbara Diggs. โItโs a nice alternative to the high prices of the capital, if you want to be in a city in France. The real savings kick is if youโre there long-term. You can find furnished properties of 65 square metres to rent in the centre of the city for around $2,500 to $2,6500 a month. Itโll be less the further you are away from the pretty centre.โ
Thailand
โA flourishing wine industry in Thailand? Who would have thought?โ says ILโs Thailand Correspondent, Michael Cullen. โSure, the โOld Worldโ wine regions of Europe and the โNew Worldโ wines from California, Argentina, Chile, Australia and New Zealand take the limelight. Yet, going against this โnormโ export quality wines are now produced in commercial volumes in Vietnam, Thailand and Indiaโwith Thailand leading the way.

โInternational wine writer Frank Norel coined the term โNew Latitudeโ wines back in 2003 to describe this new trend. One of Thailandโs most ambitious ventures is Siam Winery, founded by Thai businessman and heir to the Red Bull stable. The entrepreneur is developing Thailand’s wine culture with the Monsoon Valley label high up on the export list.
โBut wine lovers have to be quick to get their hands on each new seasonโs award winners because around 70% of the yearโs harvest goes directly into Europe, 20% to Japan and Hong Kongโnot leaving much for local consumer.โ
Michael recommends two key regions in Thailand to live close to great vineyards which are two of the best places to retire when it comes to wine.
โKhao Yai is just two hours north-west of Thailandโs Capital, Bangkok, and home to GranMonte Vineyard,โ he says. โThis region is a true foodie and nature-lovers paradise and in my view a โmust visitโ even without the vineyards. Here, you can rent with outstanding views of Thailandโs oldest and most significant national park in modern, fully furnished apartments for as little as $900 a month.
โOr consider my home town of Hua Hin on Thailandโs Royal Coastโjust three hours south of Bangkokโhome to the Monsoon Valley Vineyards. The city itself runs parallel to the beach, which is lined with fancy hotels and seafood restaurants. Hua Hin has an artsy feel. Expats can rent a fully furnished pool villa, big enough for the family, from $1,060 a month.โ
Spain
Spainโs La Rioja province is in the north, set in the Ebro river valley and at the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains is another one of the best places to retire if you’re after good wine.
The wines produced here are considered among the best in Spain, if not the world. About 85% are reds and come from several grapes, including Tempranillo and Garnacha, which are usually blended to create a classic Rioja vino tinto.

Vineyards cover the region. But the wineries, where the grapes are crushed and the new wine is aged in oak barrels, are clustered in Haro and the provincial capital, Logroรฑo. This modern town, with its historic city centre, is a great home base for exploring the regionโs natural beauty and for sampling wines. And donโt miss the tapas bars on quiet back streetsโthese snacks are the perfect pairing for a glass of wine.
At the heart of the Ebro Valley, and with a population of around 150,000, Logroรฑo is surrounded by mountains but still well connected. Itโs just three hours from the centre of historic Madrid and four from lively Barcelona.
A wonderful reality of living in La Rioja is how much further a dollar stretches than at home. A bottle of good wine can be had for around $4. $620 rents a furnished, three-bedroom apartment. That provides enough space for a couple to spread outโwith a spare room for guests.
Itโs less than $3 for the bus fare to the pueblos (villages) with the best bodegas, where you can spend an entire afternoon touring, tasting and talking to the bodega owners.
More information on retirement overseas havens, and the best places to retire can be found at: International Living
You might enjoy this video about the 10 best places to retire in the world from the Wall Street Journal.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this rundown of the best places to retire where the wine is good, but please share with us – where would you like to retire to overseas if you had the choice, and why?

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Hi Jo, Italy and Spain would be on my list if I could retire there. My husband is originally from Italy and when we became a couple he always said he wanted to retire to Spain. Aren’t we lucky to be able to travel to these places and enjoy them? Thank you for linking up and sharing at #MLSTL and enjoy the rest of your week. xx
Hi Sue, no wonder your hubby has a pull to go back to Europe. I think Italy or Spain would be lovely, just such a long way away from grandies, hey! Thanks for popping by x
Hi Johanna, a month in Bordeaux sounds like heaven. Italy and Spain are right up there as well. Not on the list and still very reasonable to visit/stay is Portugal. If you like port, that is the place to be. Germany and Australia have excellent wines, but not so economical to stay long term. I do love wine and I love tasting wines when we travel, so this post is right up my ally. Thanks for sharing. #mlstl
Hi Suzanne, thanks for the tips. I’ve often thought Portugal would be a wonderful retirement destination too ๐
I’m not a wine drinker – I just can’t get past the fact that it tastes like vinegar to me (I’m such a Pleb!) Despite my lack of wine appreciation, I think all five destinations would make for a lovely retirement – my only proviso is that I’d like enough spare cash to be able to fly the family over for regular visits – And I’d go for Europe over Bali/Thailand as my preference ๐
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM ๐
Hi Leanne, I wish wine tasted like vinegar for me! My hips would thank me for it! I agree, if we retired anywhere else we would have to be astonishingly rich to fly the family to see us on a regular basis!
Hi Jo, what fun…a beautiful place to live, retirement and great wine! As an American girl who has never flown over the ocean, I just dream about these places, so it’s great fun to learn some specifics of life in these amazing countries. Shared on SM. #MLSTL
Hi Candi, thank you. I know it is fun to read about these places and ideas even if we never get to do them!
Hi Johanna, another great place full of wine and a great community and a cheaper lifestyle is Tumbarumba NSW!! We are a champion cool climate wine area and have four distinct seasons – something to think about! I’ve just been looking at doing a cycling tour in Umbria, so now I’m extra keen ๐ . Thanks for sharing these great areas. I’ve pinned for #mlstl
Hi Debbie, thank you. Oh I so want to check out Tumbarumba – your photos always look stunning!
I haven’t been to any of those places sadly! But Italy and France appeal the most to me, though I’d like to visit the other two! I never would have thought of Bali and Thailand as wine countries though! Lol Enjoy the rest of your week Jo! xo
Thanks Min, ohh yes, Italy or France would absolutely be my dream destinations – 6 months in each really like a swallow!
You had me at “where the wine is good”. I’ve often fantasised about a little place in France, or Tuscany, so this post was right up my alley. Visiting from #MLSTL
Hi Jo, oh me too – and I’m a busy little house hunter on the internet! Lol!
Wow, some surprises there. I think Italy would be my first choice. #MLSTL shared on SM
Hi Donna, I know, there were a couple of surprises weren’t there! I agree, Italy would be divine.
Wine in Bali and Thailand? Who would have thought this. I still think Australia and New Zealand produce some the best wines, but maybe I’m biased! If I were to retire anywhere different I would choose Italy. I absolutely love this country.
Ohh me too Kathy. Italy – the food, the scenery, the light, the history – and the Wine!
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