The Best Wine Trip in Europe

 In our previous Blog, we focused on the beer-loving members of your group. Now, it is time to outline a sophisticated wine-tasting tour in Europe. A wine trip even provides great opportunities to taste fantastic local cuisine, thus even the sulky beer drinkers will find something to enjoy.

With such a long history of wine, Europe creates endless opportunities to taste, discover and explore. We found it difficult to narrow down the selection, as each country is home to several wine-making areas. To receive a good overall impression of the variety of viticulture Europe has to offer, we finally decided to start the trip in the "birthplace" of most wines: Italy. [Photo Courtesy of The Wine Cellar Insider]

 The Roman Empire brought grapes and grapevines to Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, and many other regions. Therefore, we think it is only fitting that your group start right in the center of the ancient empire: Rome. Begin the day with a city trip and enjoy the vivid life in the Eternal City - a definite must. Make sure to control the alcohol consumption, as your team should be up bright and early the next morning; you'll be headed to one of the most famous wine regions in Italy: Tuscany. About 180 kilometres to the north of Rome, in Montepulciano, you'll find a wonderful wine: the Chianti. In the "old days," Chianti was the basket-bottle wine, served on a red-checkered tablecloth and complete with romantic candles. In order to have this experience, you should visit the famous Avignonesi Winery, a fine producer from Montepulciano founded in 1377. They will be happy to show your team around and share some of the secrets to winemaking, Tuscan cuisine or the Sangiovese grape. Or, your group can simply relax and enjoy a delicious Tuscan meal accompanied by one of their fine wines in a heartbreakingly beautiful Tuscan landscape. Psst, they also make Grappa! Your team will be happily snoring on the way back to Rome.[Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia]

 As a second destination, we suggest Germany – yes, again, but this time not for beer. The Germans first began to grow wine when the Romans brought vines in the year 100 BC. By the 1600s, the Germans were already famous for their white wines. Germany's Rhine Wines are mentioned in Hamlet and other Shakespeare plays, so the wine is well worth trying. After a short flight from Rome, you're team will find themselves in Frankfurt. A coach transfer should be waiting to take your group to the Wine Museum on the Rhine, located in Brömserburg. Before your team starts to shiver at the word "museum," reassure them there is nothing to worry about; it is going to be a really enjoyable program. The museum is housed in an old monastery on the Rhine River. With narrow steps, stone arches and an open-air patio, the place has a special atmosphere. Outside, lining the entry way, wooden wine presses date back to the 1500s. They have quite a selection of German wines available for tasting, including wines from the famous Riesling and Gewurztraminer grapes. When you arrive back in Frankfurt, your team will love the crazy nightlife in the German metropol. [Photo Courtesy of Apartment Therapy]

After the Riesling experience, head West to the lovely, but chaotic city of Bordeaux, France; it is a short flight from Frankfurt. Try not to lose time by window shopping in wine tourist-traps, but instead spend time in the lovely small town of Saint-Emilion. This is an extremely-well preserved village about 60 kilometres from Bordeaux, so it's easy to make a coach day-trip and walk along the medieval streets. St. Emilion is literally encircled by vineyards, and some of the wine estates around St. Emilion were first planted by the Romans. As many of the world-renowned estates are within walking distance of the village, you can make a tasteful trip to wineries like Chateau Ausone, Chateau Bel Air, Clos Fourtet, Chateau Canon, or Chateau Beauséjour Duffau. Your team will be tired, but happy at the end of the day. C'est la vie! [Photo Courtesy of Wine Terroirs]

 Say goodbye to Bordeaux and the French landscape and travel to the Rioja region in North Spain. The most easily accessible city in the neighborhood is Bilbao, which is a perfect location to continue the wine trip. Then, explore the wonderful landscapes of the region by coach. We highly recommend the Dinastía Vivanco Museum of the Culture of Wine, a massive wine museum outside the medieval walled town of Briones in Rioja Alta. The museum, located right next to the winery, has a fascinating collection of glass wine bottles as they evolved, gradually, into their current forms, starting with ancient Roman examples. The museum also features a mind-boggling collection of over 5000 imaginative (and sometimes naughty) corkscrews, dating back to the late 1700s. Taste a fantastic selection of wines accompanied by traditional dishes. The famous Rioja wines and the local atmosphere will definitely make even the shyest member of your team sing. [Photo Courtesy of Spanish Wines]

  There is still one more destination to go. Although your team may not want to leave Spain, we encourage you and your group to visit Porto, located in the northern part of Portugal in the Douro River valley. Yes, we are ending our trip on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, in the country of the one and only Port. Port wine can only be produced in this specific valley, therefore, a variety of winemakers are located here. Whether you prefer to visit big-name port wineries, such as Calem and Sandeman, or smaller ones like Cockburn’s or Croft, you should plan on getting pretty toasted with your team. Complete the experience with some chocolate and blue cheese, as it is traditionally served with this type of wine. Atlantic sunset is included in the package. Saude! [Photo Courtesy of PCDN]