Signature Luxury Travel & Style
WINE EXPERIENCES
Nicola McClean uncovers a selection of unique experiences around the world designed for wine connoisseurs.
Delve into tastings, harvesting and vineyard tours designed for the most passionate wine-lovers
WINE AND GOURMET FERRARI TOUR, ITALY
Pienza for an authentic Italian coffee break. Guests return to the Avignonesi winery and visit the La Stella and La Tonda vineyards, with an exclusive tour of the vineyards and cellars. After the tour, guests indulge in the ultimate ‘wine-lover lunch’ prepared by the winery chefs and served on the panoramic terrace. All courses are paired with four premium wines including the renowned Avignonesi Vi Santo. The tour is available from 19 March to 23 November. avignonesi.it/en
DELAIRE GRAFF ESTATE, SOUTH AFRICA
Lavish surrounds, standout service and sweeping views overlooking South Africa’s Stellenbosch Valley make for an exceptional winery experience at Delaire Graff Estate, near Cape Town. Specialising in Bordeaux reds and Chardonnay grapes, guests sample a range of wines in tutoraccompanied tastings in the art-filled Wine Lounge. During summer, guests can relax on the outdoor terrace before strolling the manicured gardens or, in winter, settle in by the fire in the cosy lounge. delaire.co.za
SWAN RIVER SEAPLANE TO LEEUWIN ESTATE
The Ultimate Leeuwin Experience is one of the most exclusive winery tours in Margaret River. After arriving by seaplane, guests embark on a behindthe-scenes tour of the facility, sampling wines and discovering the secrets of Leeuwin Estate’s success. Take a wander through the newly renovated art gallery, tasting the premium ‘art series’ wines. Enjoy a seven-course degustation lunch with matching wines before a final tour through the vines on the way back to the seaplane. The tour launches in October 2018 and continues year round. swanriverseaplanes.com.au
BAROSSA DAIMLER TOURS
Cruise around the Barossa Valley in a rare 1962 Daimler with award-winning guide John Baldwin with this Ultimate Tour. At Penfolds, taste the current Grange on offer at the bar, then try your hand at wine-making with a ‘Make Your Own Blend’ of Rhône-style reds, taking home a bottle of your blend. A two-course lunch is served at Vintners Bar & Grill, followed by a VIP tour and premium wine tasting at Torbreck Wines. Next up is a tour of historic winery, Seppeltsfield, home to the world’s only continuous collection of fortified wines dating back to 1878; you’ll get a taste from the barrel of your birth year, as well as a sample of the 100-year-old Tawny. The tour concludes with a sumptuous afternoon tea at Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop. barossadaimlertours.com.au
GASTRONOMY, VINEYARDS & GRANDS CRUS
Step aboard Ponant megayacht L’Austral in Lisbon for a nine-night gastronomic and oenological cruise in partnership with Artémis Domaines to Portsmouth, exploring the vineyards of Bordeaux along the way. From the Port of Leixões in Portugal, you’ll sail to Saint-Jeande-Luz before exploring La Cité du Vin, the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, the Pauillac wine region and Château Latour, one of the oldest winemakers in the Médoc. With a renowned chef and sommelier on board, you’ll indulge in high-end wines and gourmet fare throughout your voyage to Portsmouth. The cruise takes place from 13 April to 22 April 2019. au.ponant.com
BORDEAUX PRESTIGE TOUR
With luxury accommodation and exclusive gala dinners at Bordeaux’s Château Pape Clément, wine enthusiasts are in for a treat. This personalised
French Wine Explorers tour promises VIP tastings at Bordeaux’s greatest estates, including Premiers Crus wines at Château Mouton-Rothschild, as well as rare access into Château d’Yquem in Sauternes and the legendary châteaux of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. Guests also indulge in Deuxièmes Crus wines at Pichon Comtesse or Léoville-Las Cases. The November tour is limited to small-group bookings, offering a highly personalised winery experience. wine-tours-france.com
VIK CHILE
Perched on a hilltop with sweeping views of the Andes, Vik Chile’s threeday Harvest Season Experience is a must for wine enthusiasts. On arrival guests receive welcome drinks in the Zen Garden followed by a terrace lunch and a sunset yoga class on the pool deck. For dinner, savour a four-course meal with matching wines and taste three vintages from the VIK cellars. The next day at sunrise guests can choose to horse ride or mountain bike through the vineyards, enjoying a picnic breakfast along the way. A signature spa massage and afternoon trek through the vineyards awakens the senses before a four-course dinner with paired wines. The ultimate treat comes after midnight on an exclusive tour learning about the VIK wine-making philosophy. Guests get hands-on among vines with a headlight, scissors and gloves picking grapes. vikchile.com
THE VINES RESORT & SPA, MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
Located at the base of the Andes, The Vines Resort & Spa offers an authentic experience of wine-making, cuisine and culture. Get your hands dirty learning how to barbecue Argentinestyle at award-winning chef Francis Mallmann’s Siete Fuegos, or make your own wine. A sunset cocktail and horse ride in the Andes is a memorable experience, and there are multi-course menus accompanied by matching wines. The best time to visit is harvest season in March and April, but various wine-based activities are offered year-round. vinesresortandspa.com
CASTELLO DI AMOROSA, NAPA VALLEY
This medieval-inspired castle’s premium Diamante offering treats guests to a private tour, a two-night stay, exclusive tastings of Reserve wines and a private blending session where you can make your own Super Tuscan Blend. An Italian lunch in the library follows, with rare matching wines accompanying each dish. A photographer is on hand to capture meaningful moments, with guests presented with a personalised album at the end of the tour to take home. Guests also take away oils and vinegars from the estate, a box of premium imported cigars, a barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon bottled specifically for them, a French oak barrel with a personalised barrelhead and a one-year membership in Cinquecento Cavalieri Wine Club with seating for two at the Club’s annual Winemaker’s Dinner included. castellodiamorosa.com