food & drink tourism destinations

Throughgrapevine the

Wine tourism is on the rise so, let it add sparkle to your sales, writes Laura French

@laurafrench121

glass of vino rarely goes A wine-themed break doesn’t Roads holidays or Back-Roads s amiss, but it’s even better have to mean the full shebang Touring’s southern Europe and

day A i paired with spectacular scenery, though; whether clients are stays and the Med trips are bursting with glorious sunshine, local culture looking for a multi-country trip scenic vineyard stops promising and good food. In fact, what’s with the occasional tasting, a tipple-themed tours fine wine, tasty nibbles and all- not to love about wine tourism? river cruise with a viticultural provide a boost to round easy living. It’s little wonder the sector twist, or an in-depth stay at a the verdant, rural For those shorter on time, nahan; premier hol

e is doing so well right now, with vineyard, they’ll find their match – suggest a wine-focused l regions of Europe cc wine cruises, vineyard stays and and you’ll find your hook to help excursion instead – they can tipple-themed tours filling every sell a destination with a fresh still pick up a few bottles at

; BOB M brochure and providing a boost approach that no self-respecting cellar-door prices to relive the to the verdant, rural regions of wine fan could resist. Specialist operators such as experience at home. And where Europe and beyond. Arblaster & Clarke will plot out a better to sip a sultry than y cruises rit These holidays are growing w STOP: VINEYARD VISITS route that takes in the best wine in the heart of the Argentinian b e l in interest, according to Clare are a common feature experiences in the region, ranging capital, Buenos Aires? ; ce i Urban Adventures has an d Tobin, chief commercial officer at of many escorted tours, stopping from Europe and Australia to r Olympic Holidays. “Wine tourism off for a tasting or a talk with the South America and South Africa. evening tour around the city na u is increasingly popular, and a visit vintner – and with someone else But many mainstream operators that focuses on the edgier to a or exploring a nearby to do the driving, guests need put food and drink at the heart of side of Argentinian , fano l wine route can really add to a not worry about having their their tours too: the likes of Insight stopping everywhere from an : ste s holiday,” she says. glass refilled more than once. Vacations’ slower-paced Country art gallery to a vintner store PICTURE

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for unique tasting experiences in unusual locations (Malbec Trail of Palermo, from £86). Booking those add-ons means boosting commission, of course, so don’t stop there. In California, a number of providers offer day tours around the Napa Valley. Funway Holidays has an excursion on the restored, Pullman-suite Wine Train, where a four-course meal is served against a backdrop of rolling vineyards, quaint farmhouses and blooming valleys, with prices from £67 per person. Combining the Napa Valley with the Sonoma Valley – known above: Napa Valley, California as the birthplace of Californian

wine, and home to some of the left: Cape Winelands, South Africa country’s oldest vineyards – Attraction World’s Redwoods & Wine Country Escape takes in three , which range from a family-owned boutique to a large-scale production plant. For the best experience, Funway’s product manager Malcolm Davies recommends a little different suggest Croatia. a little with an overnight stay. Tuscany that remains the go-to visiting in autumn when it’s TOP TIP The Dalmatian Coast lays claim South Africa’s Cape Winelands for agro-tourism, according to ASK THE season and the cabernet, Win a case of wine to some of the country’s best are an ideal option for doing just Laura Mason, product manager EXPERT and pinot are with Fred Olsen Cruise produce, and TravelCube’s that, with a handful of boutique for Citalia. Among the operator’s in production. “Encourage clients Lines new all-inclusive Dubrovnik, Korcula and Peljesac hotels scattered among its many best-selling properties here to pre-book,” he adds. “Popular dri nks upgrade. Tour delves into the heart of vineyards. is the 38-room country hotel Louise Heatley, wineries can reach maximum comp.travelweekly. it, meandering through the “The country sells well for Borgo Tre Rose, set in a medieval head of product capacity during busy times.” co.uk/FredWine picturesque vineyards and rocky wine tourism for lots of reasons,” building on a wine estate in and contracting, Closer to home there’s plenty slopes of the Peljesac peninsula says John Parker, South Africa , among the scenic Great Rail going on too, but for something before moving on to the island product manager for Premier Val di Chiana hills. “They produce Journeys of Korcula, birthplace of explorer Holidays. “A wide variety of wine their own wine and guests can Tours that Marco Polo, in a day-long trip estates, from the modern to the do tastings and have tours of the include visits to from the capital with traditional, can be discovered vineyards,” she says. vineyards and included (from £51). here, and it also offers excellent Down in Sicily, the operator wine tastings are Even more offbeat is Slovakia, value for money.” has added two vineyard-based always popular. worth recommending to those For another authentic wine properties for 2018 in response As our tours after an alternative, with a experience in the region, to growing interest: Relais Santa attract a lot of budding wine scene peeping out Gold Medal suggests staying Anastasia, a medieval abbey single travellers, from medieval castles and historic at Leeu Estate’s boutique near Cefalu; and Capofaro, where wine tastings are villages. Do Something Different’s hotel, Le Quartier Francais, guests get the chance to work a great way for Small Carpathian Wine Tour from in Franschhoek. Guests can on the vineyard (from pruning to these customers Bratislava takes in its highlights, visit the estate’s wine studio harvesting) on the vine-covered to relax and not least the Red Stone Castle, and family-run vineyard for an island of Salina. get to know an ancient fortress and home to immersive, educational wine It’s not the only place visitors each other. And historic wine cellars that provide tasting experience with the can get involved with the harvest. wine regions an insight into the viticulture of pros, or enjoy a bottle over a Over in Portugal, the Six Senses are ubiquitous yesteryear (from £124). gourmet dinner, and it’s all easily Douro Valley, converted from with beautiful accessible from Cape Town. a former 19th-century manor scenery, making w STAY: WAKE UP TO If it’s more Old World house, offers the chance for them some left: Urban WINELANDS that get your clients going guests to try out planting, of our most Adventures’ If you’ve got more hardcore though, suggest Italy. Veneto, stomping and blending while picturesque Malbec Trail connoisseurs on your hands Piedmont and Lombardy are learning how Douro wine is tours. of Palermo though, suggest lingering on all worthy contenders, but it’s produced. There’s also a

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right: Danube Dreams, which includes two Relais Santa Anastasia nights in Prague alongside visits to Vienna, Deggendorf, Linz, Melk and below: Durnstein, with a wine appreciation Dinner on a departure on October 29, 2018. Viking River Cruises Longship Those into the deep reds might be more swayed by a meander through Bordeaux. For that, look to Viking River Cruises’ eight-day Chateaux, Rivers and Wine trip, which takes passengers to Cadillac, Libourne, Bourg and beyond with excursions ranging from sampling sweet dessert wines in to touring a traditional brandy house in Cognac, and dining at a historic chateau in Blaye. It’s not just river cruise lines homing in on the trend; ocean ships have long been known for serving fine wines, but Celebrity Cruises has stepped sample Wine Academy at the hotel, alongside things up a gear thanks to its recent product excursions to the historic Quinta Nova partnership with The Wine Show. and Quinta do Castro vineyards. The Wine tourism is The link-up includes shore excursions property even has its own mountain- curated by the TV show’s team – Seven nights’ top nearby, where visitors definitely on the up from the renowned Torres Estate in self-catering in can try aged port with a backdrop of here, and wineries are Barcelona to the iconic Pallavicini a studio at the lush, tumbling hills. frequently the epitome family in Italy – alongside tastings Nicholas and It’s worth looking beyond the more of Cypriot hospitality and, on Celebrity Eclipse, an in-room Maria Cottages, obvious options too. should be interactive experience where guests Anogyra, starts at on the radar thanks to a developing tune in to a specially produced film as £547 per person viticulture scene that’s moved away they sip from four selected wines. with Sunvil, from the classic, centuries-old Passengers will even have the including flights towards opportunity to learn direct from the from Luton more modern tastes, according to dinners led by experts in the field. show’s hosts, Joe Fatorrini and Amelia to and Noel Josephides, chairman of Sunvil. They’re selling well, according to Singer, on selected departures (the car hire. The “The Cypriot wine industry has grown David Binns, head of product and next is on October 9, when Singer price is based and matured,” he says. “Wine tourism commercial, with the French rivers and will be onboard the 11-night Best of on two sharing, is definitely on the up here, and the Wachau Valley in Austria coming Western Mediterranean trip). departing wineries are frequently the epitome out strongest. For those looking to Mingling with the stars over a glass October 2. of Cypriot hospitality.” explore the latter, suggest the 10-day or three at sea? That’s the life. sunvil.co.uk Many vineyards are concentrated around the foothills of the Troodos Avalon Mountains. For those looking to Waterways’ explore in characterful surrounds, 10-day Danube recommend the Nicholas and Maria Dreams cruise Cottages in the village of Anogyra. costs from £2,137 It’s a cluster of stone-built apartments per person set in a restored 300-year-old house, including a and makes a good base for exploring private home the many wine routes and hamlets that pick-up service, colour the area. return flights, two nights’ bed w SAIL: WINE CRUISES and breakfast Perhaps the biggest trend of the in Prague, a moment, though, is on the cruise front, ER

seven-night river with river and ocean lines getting in LL

on the game. Among the former MI IR

cruise (on a full- A board basis) and is Avalon Waterways, which offers transfers. dedicated wine-themed departures on avalonwaterways. several of its itineraries with onboard

com tastings, lectures and wine-pairing ALA ST PICTURE:

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