There is wine tasting, then there is wine tasting. There is nothing wrong with visiting a vineyard, gazing at the manicured rows of vines and marveling at the large barrels before sitting down at a table to taste the produce. Add to that a superb location, a good restaurant offering wine pairings or an unusual souvenir shop, and you’ve got that little something extra.

But there are places that go even further so as not to get bored while tasting your wine. Some offer an unusual way of tasting wine; others offer a unique way of making wine or a place just as exciting as the wine itself.

Here is a list of great experiences that even your non-wine travel companions will enjoy. If you are looking for a truly memorable experience, read on.

1. Medoc Castles Marathon, France

Let’s start with probably the weirdest way to drink wine: by running a marathon. Each year the Medoc Castles Marathon takes place in and around the town of Pauillac in the Bordeaux wine region. The runners, often in disguise, take to the track to cover 26 miles punctuated by 23 stops. At each stop, they sample some of the region’s best cheeses and other snacks and drink a glass of wine. Needless to say, closer to the finish line there are hardly any runners left and people are walking in various states of intoxication, but they are full of joy! For an unusual event with friends and great memories made along the way, why not try it?

Pro tip: While you’re in the area, head to Cap Ferret, just west of Bordeaux, for some of the best beaches in France.

2. Franschhoek Wine Tram, South Africa

Much smarter than running is sitting in a double-decker tram as it travels through the South African wine country and stops at regular intervals for you to explore the vineyards. It’s a safe and leisurely way to taste wine, with transfers from Cape Town to the tram stop and back, leaving you worry-free of drinking and driving. This is a hop-on hop-off tram, so you can move on to the next winery or stop for longer at one with a good restaurant for lunch.

Professional advice: There are many tram routes take in various vineyards, so it pays to do your research before you start sampling.

3. Underwater wine tasting, San Francisco

Yes, it’s a bit of a gimmick, but it’s all about unusual places and ways to taste wines. And the Sottomarino wine estate, which hosts tastings at a former US Navy training submarine on Treasure Island near San Francisco, is about as unusual as it gets. Sottomarino Means “underwater” in Italian, and the wines are grown from Italian varieties in California. Treasure Island, a man-made island built in the 1930s for the Golden Gate International Exhibition, has lovely views of the San Francisco skyline and is a great day out.

Pro tip: Learn more about the island at Treasure Island Museum before heading back to town.

4. Cave Royale, France

Built in the 18th century for the steward of King Louis XV, this cellar next to the Louvre is a historic setting, unique and very suitable for wine tasting. It’s a complete sensory experience! Discover French wines on a guided tour or self-guided tour, during a private wine tasting, or during a dinner with wine pairings in one of the underground rooms. You will even meet the resident oenologist.

Professional advice: Once you’ve learned and tasted it, why not hunt down some of Paris’ hidden vineyards to complete your experience?

5. Underwater Winery, Croatia

Located about an hour north of Dubrovnik on Croatia’s beautiful coastline, you’ll find a truly different wine cellar. Underground we’re used to, but submarine? Edivo Vina stores its bottles, sealed in amphorae, deep in the Adriatic, and, if you feel like it, you can don your scuba gear and dive in to retrieve your bottle. There is even a sunken ship nearby. It would seem that the even temperatures and the calm underwater benefit the wine – you can see it for yourself when you are back on dry land.

Pro tip: You can also book a private wine tour on the peninsula and be dropped off safely at your hotel at the end of the day.

6. Icewine, Canada

Originating in Germany and Austria, Icewine is a product of mild riesling or white vidal. This is called ice wine because the grapes are left on the vines until the end of winter and are allowed to freeze, making them much sweeter. The Ice House cellar in Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of Ontario’s many wineries, but it’s the only one that produces Icewine, even selling Icewine slushies. Sounds perfect for a summer day, doesn’t it?

Pro tip: This winery is a few miles from Niagara Falls – you can decide if the falls or the wine is the main attraction.

7. Wine and chocolate, Australia

Hahndorf, just inside Adelaide in South Australia, is a quaint former German colony that transports you to Bavaria, with southern German architecture, restaurants, and events. It’s a good place for a day, and you can add to the fun by booking a wine and chocolate pairing at the Hahndorf Hill Winery. At this perfect event for chocolate and wine lovers, you can taste not only local wines, but also Australian and French chocolates made from cocoa beans grown in Australia.

It’s great fun to spend the day wandering around little Hahndorf, shopping for local treats like their superb honey, then relaxing over chocolate and wine before heading to a local restaurant for a good German sausage.

Professional advice: Hahndorf is the gateway to the charming Fleurieu Peninsula and just 15 miles from Kangaroo Island, a must visit in the state.

8. Vineyard Cycling Tour, Italy

Umbria, a province in the heart of Italy located roughly halfway between Florence and Rome, is dotted with vineyards and vineyards. The region is best explored by bicycle. Umbria by bike offers various cycling routes, but the Montefalco vineyard circuit is by far the most cultivated. You’ll travel approximately 60 miles through five main wine regions, stopping at each to taste the produce. Running between March and November, the tour is suitable for novice cyclists, with trails mostly on asphalt. Different bicycles are available for hire, even electric, to make your life easier.

Professional advice: This is a round-trip tour starting and ending in Montefalco, so why not book yourself a room at the charming Orto degli Angeli, a palace with a magnificent garden and four-poster beds. It is the ideal place to relax after a day of cycling.

9. Residential wine residence, Portugal

If buying a chateau in France to run your own vineyard is a bit out of reach, you can always buy a holiday home in the Algarve in Portugal to try and run your own vineyard. The vines is a new concept of turnkey properties in the vineyards. Along with your vacation home, and within sight, you can own or rent your own private vineyard and start producing your personal brand. Local experts are on hand to teach you everything you need.

Professional advice: The Vines are located along the Algarve Wine Route at the southern limit of Portugal. It’s a perfect road trip, winding between beaches and coastal towns and some vineyards.

10. Tasting of the South Pacific, Tahiti

A vineyard on an island in the South Sea? Yes – on Rangiroa Atoll, more than 3000 km from any continent, there is a vineyard. Tahitian wine was founded by a Frenchman in the 1990s and today produces some 3,000 cases of wine from two or three harvests each year. It’s a 55 minute flight from Tahiti itself, so getting to the vineyard takes dedication, but it’s a truly special wine experience. Rangiroa is also a great place for scuba diving, for beaches and for an idyllic getaway thousands of miles from civilization.

Professional advice: This remote region of the world lends itself perfectly to cruise, which will allow you to discover more than one island while you’re at it. Choices range from single cruises and Paul Gaugin-inspired excursions to budget boat trips.