The wine capital of France, Bordeaux, has been named the best European destination for 2015 in an online poll that drew hundreds of thousands of votes from 113 countries.

Taking 17 percent (42,396 votes)of the nearly 244,700 votes from around the world, the city of Bordeaux took the top spot from runners-up Lisbon and Athens, which came in second and third spots respectively.

Over three weeks, online voters helped whittle down a pre-determined list of 20 destinations to 10.

Conspicuously absent this year are perennial favorites such as Paris, London, Barcelona and Rome, although Paris and Rome are listed as the top 10 most romantic cities in the world in another poll.

With nicknames like “The Pearl of Aquitaine” and “Sleeping Beauty,” about 1,810 hectares of Bordeaux are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for serving as an "outstanding urban and architectural ensemble."

“Bordeaux has everything of a capital city without the disadvantages of it. I like Paris a lot, but Bordeaux is like Paris but with more nature, landscapes, and a relaxed rhythm of life,” wrote one fan.

The European Best Destinations group is based in Brussels and works to promote culture and tourism in Europe.

Here are the top 10 European destinations for 2015:

1. Bordeaux, France
2. Lisbon, Portugal
3. Athens, Greece
4. Valletta, Malta
5. Riga, Latvia
6. Zagreb, Croatia
7. Ljubljana, Slovenia
8. Innsbruck, Austria
9. Milan, Italy
10. Brussels, Belgium