It’s an oenophile’s dream to taste favourite vintages on their own terroir. As a lover of food and wine myself, I’m experienced when it comes to enjoying the world’s most amazing wine destinations. (It’s a tough job, but I’ll go to great lengths to ensure time well spent for my travellers.) And when it comes to pairing Virtuoso hotels with the world’s top wine destinations, well, I’m a pro.
The World’s Most Amazing Wine Destinations
Wine is found on almost every continent, although admittedly some wines are better than others. From the foothills of the Andes Mountains to the gently rolling hills of Southern France and the coastal plains of New Zealand, we know exactly where to go. From our journeys, here are a few of our favourite wine tours with Virtuoso-preferred partners.
Mendoza, Argentina
Step out of your room and into a vineyard at Casa de Uco, a wine resort in the Uco Valley. In the foothills of the Andes, under a brilliant blue sky, you can taste wines in their natural habitat. Learn how much difference even subtle changes in the landscape make to grapes growing within a few hundred yards of each other. Make your own blend at The Vines Resort & Spa, where you can also ride with the gauchos. There’s plenty of great steak and fresh produce to pair with your Malbec.
Margaret River, Australia
While the Barossa Valley, the Hunter Valley, and the Yarra Valley might be some of Australia’s more well-known wine regions, its safe to say that those in the know consider Western Australia’s Margaret River one of the world’s most amazing wine destinations. With a unique climate and almost-pristine air currents, Margs produces exceptional Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons. Stay in Perth, Australia and make it a day trip, or relax in comfort at a local inn and taste your way around WA’s southerly-most region.
Marlborough, New Zealand
New Zealand has several top wine destinations, but Marlborough tops most people’s lists. Abercrombie & Kent’s Wine in the Wilderness private tour whisks you away to a remote beach in Abel Tasman National Park. A hike in between a gourmet lunch and a dinner loaded with seafood and local wine helps you burn off the calories while taking in some majestic scenery.
Visit a handful wineries outside Picton on ShoreTrips’ 6-hour Marlborough Wine Country Immersion tour. After lunch at one of the world’s southernmost wineries, you’ll stop off at a boutique chocolate shop. It makes for a perfect day trip or shore excursion.
(And, shameless plug – if you want to get more out of your New Zealand adventure, reach out. I can tailor a two week+ trip to New Zealand with the main focus on food and wine.)
Napa & Sonoma, California
With accommodations at Meadowood Resort and Vineyard and Farmhouse Inn over the course of five days, American Excursionist’s Napa & Sonoma for Connoisseurs leaves no leaf unturned as you get tasting tips from a master sommelier and spend a morning among the vines. At meal times, savour the fruit of those vines at Michelin-starred restaurants as they complement farm-to-table delights. Wine is tops on the list of activities, but cheese and seafood are wonderful in supporting roles.
France
Bordeaux. Burgundy. Champagne. Côtes du Rhone. France has more than its share of excellent wine regions. Chocolatine’s Tour de France of Wine features vintages from six of those regions at a tasting just footsteps from the Louvre in Paris. In 2 hours, your sommelier will teach you everything from how to read a label to which grapes grow in which regions and why they thrive there. Even if it all goes in one ear and out the other, at the very least you’ll get to taste some extraordinary wines.
To further immerse yourself in the French wines, head for one of the many boutique properties in France and stay overnight among the vines.
Cape Winelands, South Africa
An hour outside Cape Town lie some absolutely gorgeous landscapes that producing world-class wines. The 26-room Mont Rochelle hotel and vineyard offers A Romance Getaway in the Cape Winelands that includes a picnic lunch with a tasting of three varietals. To help you relax even further, there’s also a couples’ hammam session featuring Cape Malay spices and essential oils. Combine the three-night stay with a honeymoon safari or just a break from the city during a Cape Town trip.
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Wine and food go hand in hand with exceptional travel experiences. When you book with an experienced travel advisor, you are guaranteed to have an amazing time from start to finish. As a wine lover myself, I’m all about sharing the best vineyards I’ve come across in my travels.
Are you ready to get out and experience some of the world’s most amazing wine destinations? Email me today to schedule a complimentary consultation! Not yet? Pin this >>> for future reference!
