Foodie Travel: Eight must-visit vineyards and wineries
Wine Lovers Plan your Travel around these Eight must-visit Vineyards and Wineries around the World
For all of the wine lovers out there we have listed 8 vibrant vineyards and wineries around the world that boast breathtaking views and even better beverages.
UK & EUROPE VINEYARDS AND WINERIES
Vale of Glamorgan: Llanerch
Overview: Llanerch is a stylish Hotel in the Welsh countryside of the Vale of Glamorgan, nestled on a vineyard with an award winning restaurant and cookery school. This year, Llanerch will be launching its new project, "The Tasting Room", a new bespoke area to host vineyard tours in the summer months. At weekends, the space will host Tasting Dinners, showcasing the very best Welsh food with delicious wine to match. The Tasting Room will complement the existing 4* Silver AA Hotel rooms and two Rosette restaurants to put Llanerch on the map for luxury vineyard stays.
Package: Wine Escape from £220 incl overnight stay, vineyard tour, dinner allowance, full Welsh breakfast and ½ bottle of wine on arrival
Hotel lead in rate: £144 per night
Getting there: The nearest train station is Pontyclun
Slovenia: Dolenjska Wine Cottages
Overview: Situated in the south of Slovenia, Dolenjska is famous for its hills and vineyards. Many locals have their own vineyard cottages and in the past, their doors would be permanently open to their closest friends as places to get together after the peak of the grape harvest season. The tradition continues today and there are around 40 vineyard cottages which invite tourists to experience the landscape and wine culture of Dolenjska. Not only do visitors receive keys to cottages but also to wine cellars full of barrels where they can sample the best wines of the region. There are around 15,000 wine cottages and wine cellars in Dolenjska.
Package: Vineyard Cottage Vercek in Dolenjska region is fitted with one bedroom, a bathroom, bed linen, towels, a TV, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a terrace with garden views.
Hotel lead in rate: £66
Getting there: The nearest airport is Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, 44.1 miles from the accommodation. There are non-stop services available with several airlines from London Gatwick, Luton and Heathrow with Easyjet, Wizz Air and British Airways.
USA VINEYARDS AND WINERIES
Colorado: Wine Country Inn
Overview: Known as Colorado Wine Country, Palisade houses two-thirds of Colorado’s vineyard acreage and more than a quarter of the state's wineries. Nestled in the Grand Valley, Palisade sits above artesian wells which provide more irrigation for grape cultivation; the sunny microclimate, dry air and cool nights team together to produce plump grapes for the area's wineries.
At the heart of Palisade, the Wine Country Inn offers an authentic vineyard experience. Harvested on the property, the Inn’s wine is crushed and bottled by Grande River Vineyards. With 80 tastefully appointed guest rooms, amenities include afternoon tastings of private labelled wine, deluxe breakfast and cuisine. The venue has a hot tub, large outdoor pool, and sensational spa services.
Package: As well as the breathtaking views and delicious wine, the ‘Passion in Palisade’ package includes romantic incentives to get couples ‘in the mood’. With a bottle of private labelled wine, logo glasses, a logo opener, and house-made truffles, the package also includes a rose petal turndown, not to mention a wine reception and deluxe breakfast.
Hotel lead in rate: $119
Getting there: The nearest major airport is Grand Junction Regional Airport, 12 miles from the centre of Palisade. Direct flights from London to Denver are available with British Airways, American Airlines and United.
Seattle: Woodinville Wine Country
Overview: With more than 130 wineries, 50 restaurants and a host of boutiques Woodinville Wine Country has so much to offer wine enthusiasts. Across four distinctive districts, the wineries each have their own personalities; the Hollywood district is alive with restaurants and tasting rooms. whilst the Warehouse District allows visitors to have a behind-the-scenes view of wine production. The West Valley District offers a more relaxing approach, and Downtown boasts new additions to food, drink and shopping. For visitors wanting to make the most out of their visit, there’s numerous hotels available with an array of amenities, from laidback Archer Hotel to the Hyatt Regency Bellevue on Seattle’s Eastside for those wanting to experience everything the city has to offer.
Package: Woodinville Wine Country’s ‘Passport to Taste’ gives travellers access to a number of local wineries where they can receive complimentary tasting flights and benefit from discounts on bottle purchases. From $79.99, valid for one year.
Hotel lead in rate: Hyatt Regency Bellevue from £185
Getting there: The nearest airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport,around 14.9 miles from the Hyatt Regency and 28 miles from Woodinville Wine Country. Direct flights from London to Seattle available with British Airways and American Airlines.
SLO CAL, California: CASS Winery
Overview: CASS Winery in California’s SLO CAL region recently opened the GENESEO INN, a luxury boutique hotel nestled in the rolling hills of Paso Robles wine country. Built of industrial shipping crates perched above the vines on CASS Winery's 145 acres of vineyard, the experience allows guests to “breathe in the vineyard views.” The winery aims to hone in on what makes Paso and SLO CAL so special and have combined small group activities with the best agritourism and wine tasting activities— beekeeping, olive oil harvesting and chef demonstrations as part of CAMP CASS. There are also retreats for those looking for a deeper dive into a specific programme.
Package: Rates from $420.00 (approx £317) per night
Getting there: British Airways flies direct from LHR to LAX from £344 during January, February and March 2022. CASS Winery is an approx. three hour and 30 minute drive from LAX.
SLO CAL, California: Hoyt Family Vineyards
Overview: Owned and run by former 90s Power Ranger Caroline Hoyt, there are two cabin retreats at Hoyt Family Vineyards where guests can stay surrounded by the vines. Each cabin has a vintage farmhouse aesthetic and is suitable for four to five guests. After a day of wine tasting or exploring the vineyard, guests can enjoy grilling dinner on the barbeque and relaxing in the hot tub and by the fire pit with s’mores. The vineyard also offers an ATV Vineyard Tour Experience, where guests can try the different grape varietals, pet the goats and view the chickens on their 100+ acre tour.
Package: Room rates are currently being updated. A taste and tour costs £15pp.
Getting there: British Airways flies direct from LHR to LAX from £344 during January, February and March 2022. Hoyt Family Vineyards is an approx. three hour and 30 minute drive from LAX.
Sonoma: Montage Healdsburg
Overview: The Montage Healdsburg is located in the heart of California’s world-renowned wine country in Sonoma County. Situated on 258 acres of rolling vineyards and oak tree groves, the Montage features 130 bungalow-style guestrooms, 11,500-square-foot spa, a zero-edge resort pool, and three restaurants inspired by the region’s culinary heritage. With one-third of each space dedicated to outdoor living on a balcony or deck, the guestrooms and suites blend contemporary influence with environmentally conscious design.
Package: Rooms from £865 per night
Getting there: British Airways flies direct from LHR to LAX from £344 during January, February and March 2022.
REST OF WORLD
The Islands of Tahiti: Vin de Tahiti
Overview: The Islands of Tahiti is home to one of the first vineyards in the South Pacific. The world exclusive Vin de Tahiti is produced by Domaine Dominique Auroy, a one of a kind vineyard that grows vines on the Rangiroa atoll, a remote island located in the heart of the vast South Pacific Ocean, more than 3,107 miles (5,000 km) from the closest continent.Originally established in 1992, it wasn’t until 2000 that Dominique Auroy produced the first wine grown on the estate. Due to the high humidity of its climate, the only winery in French Polynesia is located on the Rangiroa atoll, thanks to its relatively dry climate. Though the climate on Rangiroa varies widely from the world’s other wine regions, the soil is similar to Burgundy due to minerals naturally secreted by coral reefs. The most widely used wine grapes on Tahiti are Cardigan (red) and Muscat Hamburg (white). Both varieties are known for their ability to survive heat. Oenophiles can visit and experience the seaside vineyard for themselves, with a tour and tasting session.
Package: Enjoy a one hour tour for £35 per person. Upon arrival, guests are given an introduction to the Rangiroa Wine before viewing the impressive wine cellar. At the end of the tour, guests will taste a number of Rangiroa wines and a type of rum made from sugar cane called 'Mana'o'.
Hotel lead in rate: Stay in one of the incredible villas and bungalows at the luxurious Kia Ora Resort & Spa, Rangiroa. Beach suites have their own Jacuzzi whilst the garden villas feature an enclosed yard with a private plunge pool. Prices from £280 per night.
Getting there: Fly with Air Tahiti Nui from Paris to Papeete via LAX, return flights from £1,800 per person.
Japan: The hidden wine region of Koshu Valley
Overview: An hour and a half from Tokyo lies the wine world’s best-kept secret: the Koshu Valley. Framed by Mt. Fuji and the Japanese Alps, the area boasts dramatic vistas and long hours of sunshine, with 70 wineries nestled in a valley blanketed with grapes. The Shirayuri Winery is family-run and headed by 3rd generation winemakers who studied in France, making wine from a wide variety of Japanese grape varieties and some international, as well as plum and cherry wine. There is also a glass production workshop on site.
Package: Take a guided tour of the Koshu region with an expat resident who’s forged strong relationships across the wine-making community. Visitors will visit four family-run wineries, each with a distinct history and atmosphere from traditional Japanese to French-inspired. At each stop, explore the wine-making process from grape to bottle, and of course, try several glasses.
Learn how Japan has been making wine since the late 1800s, what the makers are trying to achieve with their wine, and how it has begun to impact the international wine industry.
Hotel lead in rate: Suzuki-en B&B offers one night for £33 (breakfast included)
Getting there: Haneda (HND) is the nearest airport, approximately 2.5 hours away by public transport. Direct flights from London to Tokyo are available with JAL and British Airways.
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