Like Wine? We’ve Got the Trips for You

November 16, 2020 | By Peg Kern

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For those of you who can’t think “vacation” without thinking “winery” – we’ve got you covered! Most of our itineraries take place in areas where wine production is a key part of the local gastronomic scene (although there are of course exceptions). If you are interested in doing a food and wine tour that focusses a little more heavily on wine, here are a few options for you to consider:

Best of Bordeaux
This is one of our most romantic trips, perfect for a couple celebrating a special anniversary or simply wanting to spend time together. Picture this: dinner in the majestic opera house of Bordeaux; chateau winery visits (and tastings in the Medoc and St. Emilion areas; a dinner cruise on the Garonne river; and an excursion to harvest oysters on a traditional “pinasse” boat. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

Antinori’s Noble Tuscany
One of my favorite itineraries, this one is great for couples or for friends traveling together. The estate is gorgeous, nestled among the vines of the Antinori family in the Chianti region, looking out over the famed Tignanello vineyards. When I was there over hte winter the farmers were out pruning the vines – what a sight!

For wine connoisseurs, the Antinori family needs no introduction. For those less versed in Italian wines, suffice it to say they are one of the premier wine producing family in Italy, and have been for some 26 generations! The 4 and 6-night itineraries both include visits to their traditional winery at Badia a Passignano (the Abbey of Passignano where the Vallombrosian monks still reside but in whose cellars the Chianti Classico Riserva is aged) as well as to their state-of-the-art new winery. This last was constructed in total harmony with the Chianti landscape – it is built into the hill, and covered with vines so that it seems almost a part of land.

A Taste of Traverse City and Old Mission Peninsula
Michigan for wine? It might sound crazy to the uninitiated, but the micro-climate around Mission Peninsula is a top wine-producing region in the US, with wines that rival (and at times surpass) those of California and Oregon. This wonderful three-night itinerary starts at just $595 per person in low season. You stay at a beautiful B&B and take cooking classes with the owner. You can even (in season) have a light fare cooking class on board their 42-foot Catalina sailboat! And don’t forget that Traverse City has won awards for being one of the best small towns in America and a real foodie destination.