What’s better than going on holiday? Going on a holiday that involves lots of wine! Whether you are the professional type who swills and spits or, like me can’t stand the thought of wasting something so beautiful and swallows it, there are lots of different experience to be had.
We are all familiar with the famous regions of Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australasia, but are we missing something? Why not try one of these more unusual ideas.
What about the ultimate in luxury, a chauffer driven tour of the Margaret River in a 1955 Bentley. Western Australia is one of the New World’s latest producers, it may be a relatively small producer, but its 80 small boutique wineries have landed themselves a whole host of awards for both cabernets and chardonnays.
The Bentley adds a sense of grandeur to your wine tasting experience, and if you’re like me, you won’t have to worry about spitting out your wine because you’ll have a chauffer to take you back to your hotel.
Luxury and budget trips for wine lovers
Don’t like to waste a drop, why stop there; try using the pips and skins too. Remember how Cleopatra bathed in ass’s milk, well the Spa Hotel Marques de Riscal in the heart of Rioja country in Spain offers treatments based on grape extract. Or, why not head for the Buon Gusto festival in Gessopalena, Abruzzo, Italy.
This area is not only famous for its earthy Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, but some of the award winning cheeses dipped and matured in grape must, very, very tasty!
We all know that you shouldn’t drink and drive, but what about taking to ‘Route de Cidre’, a 25 mile bicycle circuit through the heart of the Pay D’Auge in Normandy. Wobble your way past orchards, villages, and ample places to rest and enjoy ‘Cru de Cambremer’ a local bitter cider, Calvados or Pommeau an Aperitif.
Does your homemade wine taste like battery acid? Then visit the Montana Brancott winery in Marlborough, New Zealand, where they offer a five day course on viniculture, you also get to sample some of their most delicious vintages.
If you are interested in wine you know that conditions need to be ideal to produce something good, soil, precipitation and sunshine are paramount but ….. British born businessman and former managing Director of Shell, Allan Walkden –Davis has planted award winning vines of Shiraz and Merlot on the edge of the Namib Dessert in Namibia, an area which receives hardly any rain at all.
What to go on holiday but short on cash, why not volunteer on an estate at harvest time. This used to be just one of those things that students did, but now all kinds of visitors have cottoned on to the fact that you can have free board and lodgings whist enjoying the sunshine and picking grapes.
If you’re looking for hotels for your wine holiday, use our free hotel comparison tool to find the best hotel deals in a matter of seconds.
Wow! I am an avid fan of wine and this article has really got me going! The Spa Hotel Marques de Riscal sounds so exciting, I wan to to visit it right away! And the 1955 Bentley tour also is a dream come true! I will visit Australia and New Zealand at the earliest. Thanks for letting me know.
I think I’d add to the list of recommendations with a visit to Caduceus Cellars in Jerome, Arizona. Not only is Jerome a fantastic little (former) mining town, but there are plenty of haunted sites for ghost hunters.
And, of course, the fantastic wines being produced by Caduceus! 🙂
Great recommendations. I always enjoy an interesting and unique wine tour experience. This sounds really inviting. My favorite place is Santa Barbara because it’s closer from where I live. But I’m also trying to explore new places so this one goes in my list.
Sounds like my dream holiday. Have to try this one out. If you get someone to give to wine on your holiday what could be better.
In truth i am not a wine fan, but your article makes me want to try it and maybe enjoy some of the better qaulity wines that are available, rather than the rubbish you can buy in the supermarket. Plus, trying these wines on a holiday or break in the sunshine will make them taste even better 🙂
I live in Melbourne Australia. During our winter we can surf in the morning (need a good wetsuit), ski during the day (3 hour drive from the beach) and dine at vineyards at night. So how about a Surfing/Skiing/Wining holiday down here?
Thanks for the tips. Just a single advice, don’t be drunk with wine for especially if you are driving. We all know that wine has a good effect to the body but too much of it would be a great mess.
When I think about holidays, the first thing that enters my mind is wine. Wine drinking with my friends and family is a good bonding activity to do during holidays. I think this year I’ll recommend to my family to try that unique wine tour experience for a change.
Great suggestion for a holiday trip with my colleagues. We tried beach party, holiday shopping and other but I think wine tour would be one great experience for us. Enjoying the great taste of wine in a great place would be so relaxing for us.
Never thought of taking a vacation like this before. Great idea. I am a huge fan of wine.
What a great article!
I especially like your tip about offering to volunteer at an estate during harvest time.
There’s no way I would’ve thought about that on my own. Please keep up the good work and great tips!
Also would like to add to the list of great wine regions to visit. The Clare Valley and Barossa Valley are simply amazing. Both have a great range of wines that are available with the Clare Valley’s specialty being Riesling and the Barossa having a wide range of red and white wines available throughout. Definately worth a visit.
Great article!
What better combination for a trip than great location and great wine 🙂
Nice post. I’m from Spain, so I know well the region of Rioja, the land with name of wine.
But don’t forget other spanish place as good as Rioja: Ribera del Duero.
If Rioja is a classic wine, in Ribera del Duero we can try more elegant and modern wines. Just two names should be enough for wine lovers: Pingus and Vega Sicilia. Both of them are from Ribera.
Indeed, great recommendations on the trip. What do you recommend on a hotel at Margaret River though? I am very interested.
In regards,
Sarah
Yep, absolutely right! Enjoy wine holidays responsibly!
Sorry, if this comment can be a little out of this topic, but please, read it till the end! I’m from Ukraine, from Lviv, most beautiful and old city of Ukraine and Europe. I like my city very much and I want all the world to know about it and come to visit it! You will not regret it! Our history is more than 1000 years old!It’s worth visiting.
Of course, regarding vine, our country is not far from Romenia, where you can taste some vine and next day go for a trip to Lviv.
Great Article! For incredible Luxury Wine Tour in one of the most beautiful Italian regions, weekend of adventure and best gastronomy in Spain, I’d like to invite you to check our page.
Great article
Your are absolutely right ! I think wine is a part of holiday !! Cheers
Regards
Gurkha Encounters
Hi guys,
Thanks for the comment and useful tips. I hope you understand that we are unable to add your link in this comment. Nice try though. 😉
These Wine trips sound like some of the best in the world. Amazingly enough I traveled to the Kalagadi in Namibia recently and stopped off at Shiraz and Merlot. The place is very beautiful and I would’ve had a taste if I wasn’t driving. But I recommend it for anyone going there.
Nice wine trips!
I recommend also Portugal… Douro, Alentejo and Dao.
I visited Abruzzo in Italy and i may say that is a vine paradise, and they have very good food also. Only downside on these trips is that you need to have someone to drive.
Couldn’t agree more! 🙂 Not good to drink and drive!