There's certainly nothing wrong with the classic wine country experience: tours through the barrel-filled cellars, tastings overlooking the lush, rolling vineyards.
But once you've been there and done that, it might be time to try something a little -- or a lot -- less traditional.
From underwater wine cellars in Croatia to wine-tasting cabanas in Sonoma, we've handpicked 10 wineries around the globe that are taking wine tourism to a whole new level.
Former prison: Throw in a tasting room inside a former prison built in the 1850s to hold inmates awaiting transportation to the large county jail and you’ve got a wine-tasting experience unlike any other.
Tank Garage Winery, Napa Valley,California: Tank Garage Winery is built inside an abandoned 1930s gas station. It’s decorated with old gas pumps,vintage Indian motorbikes and countless auto-related relics.
Napa Valley may have more than 400 wineries to choose from, but none of them are as cool as Tank Garage Winery.
It's built inside an abandoned 1930s gas station, and it won't let you forget it: It's decorated with old gas pumps, vintage Indian motorbikes and countless auto-related relics.
Even the tasting room pays homage to its roots: It's located inside a former auto repair garage and is aptly named the Lubrication Tank.
Design aside, the wine itself is delicious -- think crisp, citrusy whites and bold, spicy reds, packaged in vintage bottles as eclectic and quirky as the winery itself.
Design aside, the wine itself is delicious think crisp, citrusy whites and bold, spicy reds, packaged in vintage bottles as eclectic and quirky as the winery itself.
Bodegas El Grifo, Canary Islands: The arid, volcanic island of Lanzarote might not look like typical wine country? But it’s surprisingly to growing Malvasia grapes.
An arid volcanic island covered in lava isn't exactly the first place that springs to mind when you think of wine country.
But Lanzarote's lunar, jet-black landscape has been surprisingly hospitable to growing Malvasia grapes (though, admittedly, not much else).
The island's oldest and best winery is Bodegas El Grifo, established more than 200 years ago.
Here, you can explore its unusual lava gravel vineyards for yourself and sample some of its unique and award-winning Malvasia wine.
Volcanic wine: Lanzarote’s oldest and best winery is Bodegas El Grifo, established more than 200 years ago. Here, you can explore its lava gravel vineyards and sample its award-wining wine.
Chillon Castle, Switzerland: This historic castle, made famous by the writings of Lord Byron and Henry James, is one of Switzerland’s most popular attractions but it also doubles as a winery.
This historic castle, made famous by the writings of Lord Byron and Henry James, is one of Switzerland's most popular attractions.
But what many tourists don't know is that it has also doubled as a winery since 2011.
The castle -- flanked by three acres of lush, terraced vineyards -- turns out delicious white and red wine blends, including the excellent Clos de Chillon Grand Cru.
Beneath the castle, you'll also find an underground wine cellar with more than forty barrels (and growing).
The cellars: Chillon Castle flanked by three acres of lush, terraced vineyards has been turning out delicious white and red wine blends since 2011, including the excellent Closs de Chillon Grand Cru.
Edivo Vina Winery, Croatia: The newly opened Edivo Viva winery is located underwater, off the coast of Drace on the Peljesac Peninsula.
About an hour's drive from Dubrovnik, oenophiles can dive into one of the world's most unique wineries -- literally.
The newly opened Edivo Viva winery is located underwater, off the coast of Drače on the Pelješac Peninsula.
Its wines -- stored in tightly-corked amphorae -- are aged for one to two years in a sunken boat that acts as an underwater cellar.
According to the owners, the ocean's naturally cool temperature and complete silence vastly improves the quality of the wine.
Sunken treasure: Its wines stored in tightly corked amphorae are aged for one to two years in a sunken boat that acts as an underwater cellar.
Cantine Marisa Cuomo, Italy: There may be thousands of wineries in Italy, but none are quite as dramatic as Marisa Cuomo, perched high on a cliff on the Amalfi Coast, 1300 feet above the sea level.
There may be thousands of wineries in Italy, but none are quite as dramatic as Marisa Cuomo, perched high on a cliff on the Amalfi Coast, 1,300 feet above sea level.
Unlike the rolling, lush vineyards of Tuscany or Umbria, the winery's cantilevered vines cling to the limestone cliff face overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Its wine cellar -- also carved directly into the cliff face -- is equally impressive and filled with some of southern Italy's finest white wines.
Italy’s clifftop winery: Unlike the rolling, lush vineyards of Tuscany or Umbria, the winery’s cantilevered vines cling to the limestone cliff face overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Ruffino Santedame, Italy: Santedame might look like your typical Tuscan winery, but it’s built on an historic Benedictine monastery.
With its cypress-lined drive and rolling vineyards, Santedame might look like your typical Tuscan winery.
But it's not: It's built on an historic Benedictine monastery and features a 15th-century chapel, the Cappella di Santedame, adorned with magnificent frescoes of the Madonna.
The wines produced here are as impressive as the winery itself: think powerful Sangioveses and bold, juicy Super Tuscans.
But what you're here for is the Santedame Chianti, the winery's excellent namesake wine. Tthe bottle even features the same Madonna fresco you'll find inside the chapel.
Tuscan chapel: Santedame features a 15th century chapel, the Cappella di Santedame, adorned with magnificent frescoes of the Madonna
Vena Cava, Mexico: Architects Alejandro D’Acosta and Claudia Turrent took a handful of abandoned fishing vessels, flipped them upside down and built a winery beneath.
Nestled in the Guadalupe Valley -- dubbed the Napa of Mexico -- you'll find the strange and beautiful Vena Cava winery, built inside a fishing boat.
Several fishing boats, technically: Architects Alejandro D'Acosta and Claudia Turrent took a handful of abandoned vessels from a nearby Ensenada port, flipped them upside down and built the winery beneath.
The watertight boat hulls keep the wines cool and dry in the desert valley heat, and the overall temperature of the winery naturally regulated.
In keeping with the theme of sustainability, all wine made at Vena Cava is completely organic and produced without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.
The science bit: The watertight boat hulls keep the wines cool and dry in the desert valley heat and the overall temperature of the winery naturally regulated.
Viansa Winery Sonoma Valley, California: At Sonoma’s picturesque Viansa winery, guests can skip the traditional indoor tasting experience to sit and sip in sleek, open-air canabas decked out with plush lounge pillows.
Who needs an ocean view when you can sip cold rosé in a beach-style cabana overlooking California wine country?
At Sonoma's picturesque Viansa winery, guests can skip the traditional indoor tasting experience to sit -- and sip -- in sleek, open-air cabanas decked out with plush lounge pillows.
But be warned: The cabanas are perched so high up, you'll feel as if you're floating amidst the winery's 35-acre vineyards.
Added bonus: the Italian-inspired winery has its own pizza oven, which turns out authentic wood-fired pizzas you can enjoy during or after the tasting.
California Wine Country: The beach-style cabanas offer a bird’s-eye-view over the winery’s 35 acre vineyards. As an added bonus, the Italian inspired winery also has its own pizza oven.
Sottomarino Winery, San Francisco, California: Sottomarino Winery is housed in an old submarine training vessel on a man-made island in San Francisco.
Housed in an old submarine training vessel on a man-made island, Sottomarino is a winery you won't soon forget.
Guests can sip Italian wine varietals "underwater" in the USS Buttercup submarine itself, built by the navy to train submarine crews during World War II.
Besides sampling wine, guests can also admire vintage submarine parts and authentic historic markings made during the war.
Need to get some air? The top-level submarine deck offers an open-air wine tasting experience, plus spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay waterfront.
Soak in the history: Besides sampling wine, guest can also admire vintage submarine parts and authentic historic markings made during World War II.
