Wine tourism provides an alternative to the usual types of travel, ensuring more space, less crowded destinations, and best of all, a constant flow of wine.
What’s more, although many hotels have closed throughout various Covid lockdowns, vineyards have continued to function.
And with good reason. Vineyards are situated within vast acres of land, far from large, crowded cities. Furthermore, over the years many vineyards have diversified and created their own award-winning on-site hotels and restaurants which include entry to visit the wine production process and enjoy tastings along the way.
With travel restarting in Europe, Winerist.com offers three overnight breaks for visitors to both relax and enjoy time in a vineyard and drink wine along the way.
Italy – Tuscany – 2-night break
Italy is one of the most visited destinations in the world. This unique two-night break combines the very best of Italian hospitality with visits to local Tuscan vineyards.
Guests stay in a medieval castle in the heart of Tuscany surrounded by 40 hectares of vineyards and olive groves. During the stay guests will have the opportunity to discover the local vineyards with an exclusive walking tour and enjoy a wine tasting in the magical atmosphere of Castello di Vicarello. The tasting includes three of the wines from Vicarello’s award-winning vineyards (Merah, Terre Di Vico, and Castello Di Vicarello) accompanied by Tuscan culinary specialties.
How much: From €779 per person including two night accommodation and breakfast, vineyard walking tour, wine tasting and use of the hotel leisure facilities. Fly to Pisa, flights not included.
France – Chinon – 2-night break
Over two nights and three days, Winerist proposes a food and wine experience that showcases the very best of France in the beautiful Loire Valley. This is a self-drive getaway set in the historic medieval town of Chinon
The break includes a tour of a local wine estate and cellar and a tasting of red, white and rose Chinon wines. In keeping with the theme, Winerist has also created a cooking experience on the second day with a chef who spent 20 years honing her skills in various famous Parisian restaurants.
Here guests will create regional dishes and explore a typical Chinon farmhouse and garden, topped off with lunch. The break also includes accommodation in a family-run 15th century limestone mansion and allows time to explore the historic town.
How much: From €300 per person including two night accommodation and breakfast, winery visit and wine tasting, cooking class and homemade lunch and Chinon fortress access. Fly to Nantes, flights not included.
Moldova – Central and South – 3-night break
This unique three-night break introduces an often overlooked wine destination which boasts five vineyard visits and some fantastic wine tasting.
Over four days, guests will discover this tiny south eastern European country which produces and exports an impressively large amount of wine. One of the packages includes visits to Milestii Mici Winery where guests will descend to 80m below sea level into the largest network of underground wine caves in the world.
Measuring roughly 200km and holding an impressive collection of more than two million bottles, these caves have made it into the Guinness Book of Records. Venturing to the south of Moldova, day three will be a full day of wine and outdoor activities. This trip combines larger wineries and smaller family-owned ones including Et Cetera.
Having explored the wonderful Moldovan countryside, the final stop on the tour is ATU winery, the first urban winery in Moldova, located in the nation’s capital.
How much: From €343 per person including three night accommodation and breakfast, five wine excursions and tastings, transfers and several meals. Fly to Chisinau, flights not included.
