Fine Tuning in Tri-Valley California
Continuing his journey from Tuolumne County to San Francisco, Mark Bibby Jackson pops in on Tri-Valley California and discovers a thing or two about fine wines. “I can detect tobacco…
Travel Topics
Continuing his journey from Tuolumne County to San Francisco, Mark Bibby Jackson pops in on Tri-Valley California and discovers a thing or two about fine wines. “I can detect tobacco…
From horse riding in the rural village of Molinos to visiting local wineries in the beautiful Cafayate and viewing the Brazilian side of the Iguazú Falls, this 12-night Northern Argentina holiday allows visitors…
With summer slipping away in the UK, plan something upbeat for autumn. Armenians are passionate about their wines, and understandably so: their history of viticulture dates back thousands of years…
Throughout southern Spain the annual grape harvest is celebrated with festivals. The most vibrant of these is held in the city of Jerez de la Frontera, where the Vendimia Grape…
If the arrival of summer conjures images of sipping wine al fresco with the backdrop of California’s Pacific Coastline, travellers should look no further than Santa Barbara – also known…
Five years ago the Dubrovnik Festiwine event started as a celebration of the region’s wine. Now it has grown to an international wine fair attracting top winemakers from far and…
Travellers with a thirst for holiday destinations where great-tasting wine is one of the key criteria will be fully satisfied with travel expert Expedia’s new resource, which reveals the best…
From wine connoisseurs and buffs to the lay person who likes a glass of plonk, wine has given a great deal of pleasure over the ages and can really complement food. The oldest known winery was discovered in Armenia in 4,100 BC, so wine drinkers have been going for quite a long time.
Wine tasting
Tasting wines can be fun. You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy an evening tasting, but it does help to have someone to talk you through them. Some tasting sessions are five star, with as many as ten courses of food accompanied by expertly chosen wines. These are often organised by an informed sommelier in a luxury hotel or at a vineyard.
Champagne
The French are clear that champagne grapes must be grown in the champagne region of France. They see prosecco, cava and other sparkling wines as a pale imitation of the original. A tour can be taken starting at Reims, in Northern France with the participants tasting the bubbly at various vineyards and cellars on a champagne route travelling through the idyllic rolling hills and vineyards.
Wine Tours
Tours are available in many countries and regions, including California, Tuscany, Spain, Hungary, South Africa and Australia. Some of the most popular grapes today are gamay, shiraz, tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon. Pinot noir has been immortalised by the film Sideways.
Chile is renowned for the quality of its wine, and one of the best festivals to participate in during your travels through the country is the Fiesta de la Vendimia, when the grapes are harvested.