A sense of place-the sights, sounds,
smells and spirit of a travel destination-can endear that area to a person
forever. For wine lovers, there is no better way to cement that connection than
to explore the world around those vines. As the wine market becomes ever more
global, packed with offerings ranging from the most storied wine regions to the
most offbeat, so does the wine traveler’s itinerary.
Whether your tastes lean toward the
rustic climbing trails of South Africa's Stellenbosch or a tour of a Puglian
castle, this list promises outstanding travel experiences and unforgettable
wines.
Tuscany, Italy
A cradle to the Italian Renaissance,
Tuscany has fueled a legacy of art, science and traditions in Italy. But it's
more so remembered the world over for its striking array of wine offerings.
Disparate regions cajoled on hilltop villages and numerous hamlets, makes
Tuscany an idyllic setting, perfect for a wine tasting spree!
Without a doubt, the universally
acclaimed Chianti,
Maremma and Rosso
wines are the most celebrated and the one to look forward to, when in Italy.
Here you will find different versions of the wine tailored to suit various
pocket sizes. But if you may, then do savor Chianti Classico for its world
class prowess. Other noted brands include the Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from the respective
regions of Montalcino and Montepulciano. Of these conventional wines, Brunello di Montalcino is the one that receives most accolades.
Tuscany offers a similar diverse
range in sights and scenic beauty. It is majorly comprised of two - art cities
like Florence (capital), Siena, Lucca and Pisa and the myriad countryside where
you can escape to castles, villas and vineyards. You will find ample options
for leisure and accommodation in apartments, special holiday homes, farmhouses
and villas to stay.
The cities of Florence and Pisa have
the major airports - Florence Airport Amerigo Vespucci (four kilometers from
the center of Florence) and Pisa International Airport Galileo Galilei (1.5km
south of Pisa city centre). From here, to move in and around Tuscan Wine, it is conveniently interlinked by trains and buses at
frequent intervals for major cities. Renting a car would be advisable, if you
plan on to explore the cruder, rustic areas. In addition to the flamboyance of
the architectural frescos, you could also go thermal bathing in the hot springs
of Saturnia, Maremma.
Just as a wine graces beautifully
with time, so has Tuscany evolved to be a thorough gourmand experience for the wine
connoisseurs, with time.
Provence, France
The French have introduced the world
to the art of fine dining. If anyone knows, a proper French meal or dinner
embodies five different courses to be served successively. Of which both the
wines, red and white, make up for crucial elements. Arguably, the most wine
producing nation - quantitative as well as qualitative - for France wine is a
culture; equally for the affluent and for the not-so-affluent.
Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, abridged
to Provence, is France's leading wine region, and a leader in the production of
Rose wine. Rose literally translating to pink! Originally, the wine was mild,
both in color and make, but the evolution over years and pertinent demands in
flavors have made Rose wine only bolder. The Rose wine is dry, light - as
opposed to being sweet - and a perfect, delightful companion for an afternoon
brunch of bread and cheese.
Of course, the region also produces
its variant of red and white wines. But you know what they say, when in Rome do
as the Romans. It's only plausible to relish in the crimson effervesce of the
Rose wine, here. Rose Wine is light on influence, inexpensive and one with a
strong lineage to back with. Estandon is believed to be the oldest brand in
Provence, possibly dating several centuries back. The next in the list has
powerful Hollywood connection - the Chateau Miraval - by Brad Pitt and Angelina
Jolie, in collaboration with the famous Perrin family of Chateau Beaucastel. To
mention a few others on the fingertips would be Whispering Angel, Esclans, Les
Clans, and Garrus; all by the Chateau d'Esclans estate.
The red wine of Bandol region is
particularly of great highlight since it's one of the most internationally
recognized wines, distinguished for its dark red hue and rich flashes of
cinnamon, vanilla, black fruit and leather; typically taking ten years to
mature fully.
On the backdrop of a snaking
coastline, Provence region assures bountiful watery experiences. So if you're a
beach lover, this makes for a perfect holiday destination to swear by. More so,
the Provence region inhabits few of the glamorous cities in France. Marseille,
Cannes, Toulon, Nice, Avignon and so on. Make sure if Cannes is on your bucket
list, then you do plan a holiday around the famed Cannes Film Festival, for the
obvious reasons. What counts even more breathtaking are the unending stretches
of lavender fields and the vineyards galore!
There are two major international
airports in the Provence area, interlinked to the domestic ones in Provence
itself, and all of France thereby. One international airport is at Marseille,
Marseille-Provence, and the other at Nice, named Nice-Cote d'Azur. The
interconnectivity of trains is fast and most reliable here in France while, if
the localities are to be believed the best way to experience Provence is by
road or on bicycle. The network of roads and highways is easily navigable with
a village at every ten minutes.
When in Nice, spare a day to stop by
the neighboring petite country Monaco, to be simply enthralled.
Champagne-Ardenne, France
Though wine flows through all of
France, one shouldn't forget to visit the Champagne-Ardenne region! Why? The
name itself is suggestive, for the Champagnes!! Yes, it was here that the birth
of champagne took place. And since then, there's been no looking back for
champagne that has become synonymous to Royalty.
Champagne-Ardenne is a north-eastern
region in France, close to Paris. To sum up on the region, it was always
inhabited by the royal league. Since, most of Champagne is countryside with
fortified structures at intervals, it's a fabulous trip to live the medieval
era all over again. The region is amassed by many ponds and lakes, so for those
enjoying fishing this might well be a complete travel package!
Champagne wine is the most savored
sparkling, bubbly wine all over the world. Here, there are multiple ways in
which the Champagne is made. Each style giving it is distinct flavor to the
wine. Brut, very dry but best quality; Extra-Dry, a little sweeter than Brut;
Sec, this one's medium-dry and is usually for parties and Champagne-breakfasts;
and Doux is the sweetest, a dessert-style champagne - All these makes are
acknowledged on the labels. One shouldn't worry about the brand, because you
can directly tour the vineyards and savor champagne firsthand. You can opt for
specialized champagne tours that'll take you to the finest vineyards and
wineries around.
The former capital of
Champagne-Ardenne, Reims should not be missed seeing. There you have the famous
Reims Cathedral, plus exotic underground cellar visits to better understand the
process of Champagne-making. Troyes has this 13th Century Gothic cathedral
decorated with fine stained glass. Three major rivers - Seine, Marne and Aube -
pass trough la Champagne so you'll have an option of river sailing, here.
Since Paris is the closest major
destination here, you can land at Paris and then catch a bus or rent a car to
Champagne-Ardenne. Accommodations are pretty sustainable both in terms of money
and home-styles.
Make sure you relish the cheese delicacies with champagne
accompanied.
Napa Valley, California
Set in the Bay area of California,
Napa Valley is the massive wine-producing region in USA, counted in one of the
world majors for wine destinations. It was very recently in 1970s that the Napa
Valley was recognized for its world class wine production, and since then it
has quickly climbed the stairs of phenomenal success and recognition worldwide.
There's not much hullabaloo over the
brands of wine here. Except, that wines here are distinguished on the basis of
which county the grapes were from. The commonest being the Napa County. The
others in the list are Sonoma County and Mendocino County. Most wineries here
in Napa Valley produce wines of multiple grape varieties, Chardonnay and
Cabernet Sauvignon being the most celebrated ones. Most wineries charge few
dollars less for simple tasting, but those like the Reserve room tastings offer
samples of expensive wines for a steal.
What one needs to understand here,
is that Napa Valley is a popular tourist destination world over. As such
excessive crowds will inevitable. More than 3 million visitors crowd the valley
each year, with the summers and the 'crush' periods from Septembers to Octobers
being the crowd pullers. As wine is the flavor of the region, great food had to
come complementary with it. Napa Valley sports several gourmet spots around.
Some expensive, some sober. But the food otherwise is of high quality without a
doubt. Of course, you'll find a major influence of French cuisine and that's
nothing to be complained of. Notable hotels to name a few will be V. Sattui,
Oakville Grocery in Oakville and Bouchon.
Other tourist attractions should
have the Napa Valley Wine Train on your list. It's an excursion drive
familiarizing with the much admired vineyards and wineries en route from Napa
to St. Helena. The picturesque outskirts of the Valley are a special lure to
this drive. For those seeking some exhilarating adventure, Napa Valley offers
bike riding into the valley while for those looking forward to recoup their
senses go for a bath in the hot springs or simply go crazy with the mud baths.
Yosemite National Park is another spot to visit too.
Napa Valley doesn't have any direct
landing facilities, so you will have to get down at one of the closest airports
in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose or Sacramento. Renting a car to Napa Valley
from one of these cities is the only viable option to explore this region.
Special limousine tours from San Francisco to Napa Valley can also be availed.
Hunter Valley, Australia
Hunter Valley, in the state of New
South Wales, is the premier wine producing region in Australia. Like most
wine-producing places, Hunter Valley too boats of quaint scenic beauty, with
rich and never-ending stretches of vineyards. The region's most iconic offering
in the list of wines is the Hunter Valley Semillon, a white wine that is crisp
and dry, with a mild lemony, grassy tang. But when fully matured, it has a
natural zing of honey and vanilla to it. Other famous wines making it to the
international list are the Chardonnay and Shiraz. The Chardonnay is a white
wine that is found everywhere in Australia but almost every producer has his
own punch of varying degree given to it. Shiraz is another notable, but red
wine from this region.
There are two airports closest to
the Hunter Valley. Sydney, which has dedicated cab/taxi services to Hunter
Valley and Newcastle, which has a domestic airport,
For fun and leisure activities, you
could opt for sports like golf, cycling, horse riding and a ride in the Hot Air
balloons. You also have option to choose to go to day-spas, or sway in the
nightlife.
Barossa Valley, Australia
Australia has more than one wine
destination to savor. To the south of Australia lies the Barossa Valley - our
next prospective wine region on the list. About an hour's drive from Adelaide,
Barossa Valley has carved a niche for itself in the wine destination regions of
the world, with myriad wineries here having 'Cellar Doors' offering free wine
tastings clubbed with purchasable food and beer.
The Barossa Valley is heavily
influenced by the German culture, the strokes of which can be seen in their
housing style! This Germanic influence is also overshadowed in the style of
wines produced here. Since its initiation, the Barossa Valley has been notably
identified for its production of Shiraz wine, and as such sidelined for its
lack of its variety. But it was only until the 1980s that the Shiraz was
universally acknowledged for its exclusivity and branded as the Barossa Shiraz,
a red wine amalgamating rich chocolate and spices.
Because of its extensive and
untouched legacy, most wineries here in the Valley are 100-150 years old. With
the kind of German food served here, it's advisable to have a glass of red
wine, and only red wine, to complement it. Of course the age-old, vintage cafes
and dining restaurants should be a major attraction for most visiting this
place. The residents of Valley have started celebrated a week-long Barossa
Valley Vintage Festival to demarcate the prominence of the Valley in the global
wine industry. The event is organized biannually and draws wine enthusiast from
all over the world. Another festival named the Barossa Gourmet Weekend, a
two-day food and wine celebratory event, is held in August every year.
As mentioned before, the city of
Adelaide is the nearest major hub to the Barossa Valley. Adelaide airport has
both, international as well as domestic flight terminals. So either ways, once
you land in Adelaide you could hire a taxi or take a bus to the Barossa Valley.
By car it shouldn't take you more than 60 minutes to reach the Valley en route
through the scenic beauty offered by the breathtaking Adelaide hills comprising
of eye-soothing farmlands, orchards and gardens.
Barossa proposes many budgeted
accommodations starting form as cheap as 24AU$.
Marlborough Region, New Zealand
New Zealand is home to the most
coveted grape variety, Sauvignon Blanc. The climatic conditions and the
prolific soils have set the stage perfect for a delectable wine production that
will be revered throughout the world.
The tiny land boasts of over 40
cellar doors here and an extensive gamut of wine varieties. You can go for the
resident red wine which is a blend of many grape varieties like the Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, etc. though these wines do not exhibit any particular fashion
of taste. The other style of wine is more peculiar to this region, produced
from the Pinot Noir grapes and called by the same name. It is a fruit-driven
red wine, whose greater quality wines are more subtle, with earthly flavors’.
The other make styles are white wines made from the quintessential Sauvignon
Blanc type.
Strikingly, this New Zealand region
has more on platter in terms of natural aura and one sure can't miss talking
about the Marlborough Sounds. Marlborough turns out to be nature's gift to humanity
with a vivacious mix of birds and dolphins gracing the waters. It also supports
a number of water sports like kayaking, sailing and it's a birdwatcher's
paradise and a nature lover's haven.
Commuting to Marlborough is easy
from Blenheim Airport, Woodbourne. In and around the New Zealand the public
transport seems minimal. So it's only suitable to rent a car.
