So you want to take a tropical vay-cay but have found yourself stuck in that 9 to 5 grind, yeah? I know that feeling well, Thurstqueen, but don’t let it get you down. If you’re looking to take a liquid vacation or simply want a bottle of wine that’s perfect for laying out by the pool - hit up Island Wines!

There are loads of incredible Islands around the world that produce top-notch expressions of white, red, pink and orange wines! Check out this list for some Islands that should be on your radar this year to help you level up your wine game.

DESTINATION 1: THE CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN

GOOD FOR: SALTY CRISP WHITES, SMOKY & INKY REDS

The Canary Islands have been making wine since the 1600s, and are known for their distinctive black volcanic soils. There are a grand total of eight main islands, and wine is made within 10 DOs on seven of the islands.

The climate here is what makes the wines so distinctive. Picture a relatively dry, desert region with a cooling influence from The Atlantic Ocean. Because the islands are relatively isolated from the rest of the world, there are some plantings of vines here that have escaped the phylloxera epidemic and date back to well over 200 years old.

The most popular grapes that are planted here are Listán Blanco (Palomino) Listan Negro, Malvasía Volcánica, Malvasia Aromática, Albillo Criollo, Negramoll, Viariego Negro and Baboso Negro. You’re most likely to see the grapes Listan Blanco and Liston Negro out in the wild.

There are plenty of red wines made in this region with a process called Carbonic Maceration, which is commonly used in Beaujolais. These resulting reds are inky, yet gossamer light — picture the rich fruit of a Malbec with a softer, airy quality.

DESTINATION 2: SICILY, ITALY

GOOD FOR: FLORAL & FLINTY WHITES, JUICY CALI-ESQUE REDS

Followers that date back to the OG Thurstqueen days -back when this blog was chock full of gifs and memes that made no sense - will be well aware of my love for Sicily, more specifically Mt. Etna. This Volcanic Island off the southern coast of Italy is a treasure-trove for white, red, and even rosé-lovers. Wines from Etna have received quite a bit of hype since I posted that blog a couple years ago, and prices are creeping up.

Yet with all that in mind, you can still find some extraordinary values here. Like the Canary Islands in Spain, Sicily has a mosaic of different soil types. Mt. Etna is home to volcanic soils, yet in other parts of Sicily expect to find chalk and limestone. These soils yield a distinctive mineral quality to the wines that come out of this region, and keep the vines cool in the blistering island heat.

You can find plenty of different grapes in Sicily, from high acid white grapes like Grillo and Catarratto (a white grape that makes excellent orange wines,) to inky and leathery variations like Nero d’Avola and Frapatto. On the Etna DOC, you’ll find the grape Nerello Mascalese which really appeals to folks who love grapes like Grenache, and Carricante a white minty fresh floral grape.

DESTINATION 3: AGEAN ISLANDS, GREECE

GOOD FOR: MINTY FRESH WHITES, TROPICAL ORANGE WINES, HIGH ACID REDS

The Aegean Islands are composed of the islands of Crete, Rhodes, Samos and Santorini. Wine production in the Aegean Islands dates back to 5000 B.C, and ancient wine presses have been discovered on islands like Crete.

These islands are the ideal site for growing wine with their mild Mediterranean climate, lack of heavy humidity, and dry soil types which put just the right amount of stress on the vines in this region.

The most popular wine that comes from the Aegean Islands is Assyrtiko from Santorini, which is having a moment in the sun. Assyrtiko is a crisp, mineral-driven white with a salty tang that begs to be paired with fish tacos and beachside imbibing. If you’re looking for an Assyrtiko you can easily find, hit up this old Thurstqueen post and peep one from Total Wine and More.

For folks looking to venture further down the Aegean Island rabbit hole, check out other white grapes like Muscat, Athiri, Malvasia and Savatiano. There are also red varietals like Limnio, and Mandilaria - a very tannic grape big red lovers will really vibe with.

DESTINATION 4: TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

GOOD FOR: RIESLING & BURGUNDIAN GRAPES (AKA PINIOT NOIR AND CHARDY)

With its cooler climate moderated by coastal breezes and diverse array of soils, Tasmania is one of those up-and-coming “it regions,” for Pinot Noir.

Wine geeks and hipster Somms alike have fallen hardcore for Tasmanian Pinot because it drinks like some of the Burgundies of yore - aka pre climate change. Riesling is another grape that typically thrives in cooler climates, yet does beautifully well within the Island of Tasmania.

The island itself is incredibly mountainous, with craggy cliffs that shelter vines from extreme weather. The Ocean acts as a moderating influence on the vines, keeping things nice and cool.

Historically, vines were brought to Tasmania in the 18th Century on the HMS Bounty. The first successful plantings really started to take off in the 1950s, however. Despite the fact that per capita, Tasmanian wine production is skyrocketing with 230 vineyards on the island, it’s still a great spot to hit up for wine if boutique wineries are your thing. If you’re all about cooler climate expressions of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling - Tasmania is definitely a place that should be on your list.

DESTINATION 5: SARDINIA, ITALY

GOOD FOR: FLORAL CITRUS-DRIVEN WHITES, GRENACHE-LOVERS

Sardinian wine is probably one of the best values around. With floral, crisp and thirst quenching expressions of Vermentino and friendly, rustic, and charming expressions of a local red grape called Cannonau, it’s hard not to crush hardcore on this Island region off the coast of Italy.

The majority of the soils on this island are made of granite, and the vines of Vermentino, Malvasia, Semidano, Monica and Cannonau thrive on these soils. The bright sunlight reflects off those clear coastal waters, giving the grapevines even more sun exposure.

If Grenache is one of your favorite grapes - or you just love Spanish and Languedoc wines in general - you absolutely have to check out Cannonau. This bright red, leathery grape has loads of spice aromas and is actually the same exact grape as Grenache. Cannonau is going to be a bit more herbal and spicy than your typical Grenache, especially those plump fruity ones from Southern California.

Sardinia also has great expressions of Orange Wine as well, and Vermentino tastes great with just a little bit of that extended skin contact. These wines just taste like Summer and are perfect for al fresco dining excursions!

PICK OF THE WEEK: LOS BERMEJOS LISTAN NEGRO MACERACIÓN CARBONICA

Summer just got sultry. This 100% Listan Negro is inky, peppery, smoky and spicy. Picture loads of juicy AF blackberries coupled with leather and a little bit of smoke. The carbonic maceration adds a little bit of lift to what would otherwise be a massively brooding wine.

If you’re a huge fan of Côt or Malbec, you have to check out this expression of Listan Negro from the Canary Islands based producer, Los Bermejos. The winery literally looks like it’s on the surface of the moon or something, and is in what is considered to be one of the most inhospitable places in the world.

We know that stressed out grapes yield fantastic wines, and I can imagine these grapes have to deal with loads of stressors from the raging coastal winds and extreme temperature fluctuations of the island. The result? Friggin’ delicious wine that’s perfect for barbecues of any and all kinds. Bring this to a summer grill out and get prepared to make plenty of friends.

MAKING A SPLASH: THURSTQUEEN SHARES 5 ISLAND WINE REGIONS THAT TASTE LIKE SUMMER IN A BOTTLE