Vacations Among the Vines
Treat your taste buds and savor the sights
on these four wine country tours
By Jennifer Davoren
Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau
But there's a way to enjoy your next sip of vino even more. Visit the places that produce your favorite vintages, and you'll come home with a better understanding of the passion, experience and motivations behind each bottle.
The four escorted tours highlighted here explore the age-old art of winemaking as well as the culture, cuisine and fascinating history of the host countries, serving up a panoramic view of your chosen destination. Even better, you'll be treated to the temperate climate, easygoing attitude and peaceful, rolling pasturelands that make wine country such a scenic, atmospheric spot for a vacation.
For detailed itineraries, departure dates and pricing, visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 680-2858.
Portugal and Spain
The 11-day "Douro River Valley" itinerary from Uniworld River Cruises begins with guided sightseeing in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. After snapping photos of imposing Belem Tower and the Gothic Jeronimos Monastery, guests head north to the city of Porto and begin their wine-sipping sailing adventure aboard the Douro Queen, a 130-passenger vessel launched in 2005.
While in Porto, the "City of Bridges," guests view the hillside homes and UNESCO honored sites. In Bitetos, travelers dine at a 14th-century monastery, and in Lamego, they take in the 11th-century castle and a fine collection of baroque buildings.
Guests also learn about Portugal's greatest culinary contribution: port, a lush wine that got its start in the Douro Valley. In Pinhao, Uniworld travelers visit the Vintage House Wine Academy, where the history of the local grape trade is traced to the 17th century. The Academy hosts travelers for a thorough exploration of the port-making process before guests sample the sweet wine, which often is served with desserts.
The "Douro River Valley" vacation also makes a short stopover in Spain. In Salamanca, a lovingly preserved medieval city, the tour visits a university founded in 1218, and participants enjoy a traditional lunch near Plaza Mayor, a popular public square constructed of golden sandstone.
Details: Departures currently are offered through Oct. 29. Prices start at $2,309 per person, plus airfare, and include all shipboard meals, two nights in a Lisbon hotel with breakfast, two lunches and one dinner in port, and scheduled wine tastings.
Italy
The simply named "8 Day Tuscany" tour from Gate 1 Travel wraps the mouthwatering lures of the country and the awe-inspiring art of the city into a single Italian escape. Montecatini -- a small town reminiscent of England's Bath, thanks to its cluster of tourist-friendly health spas -- is your home base for the entire trip.
Participants begin their vacation with a brief history lesson on Tuscany's contributions to the Renaissance art scene; afterward, the group journeys to the walled city of Lucca for a walking tour amid the medieval architecture. Other striking buildings await in Pisa, where travelers visit the famed "Leaning Tower" as well as the city university, home to Europe's oldest academic botanical garden; the Baptistery of St. John, a 12th-century structure; and the Duomo, the largest Romanesque church in the region.
You'll also travel to the heart of the Tuscan countryside. A farm hosts you for a vineyard tour and a traditional Italian dinner complete with olive oil tastings and wine sampling.
The sixth day is spent in Florence, the capital of Tuscany and considered by many to be Italy's artistic center. Standouts in the city include the Uffizi Gallery, home to Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus" and self-portraits by Rembrandt; the Galleria dell'Accademia, where Michelangelo's "David" greets visitors; and Bargello Palace, whose National Museum includes an exhibit dedicated to gold, gemstones and the art of diamond cutting.
This tour is especially suited to travelers who want to break free of the group and do some exploring on their own. The final day and a half of the trip is reserved for independent sightseeing, followed by a farewell dinner for everyone.
Details: Departures currently are offered through Nov. 14. Prices start at $999 per person, plus airfare, and include daily breakfasts, three dinners and a wine tasting.
Chile and Argentina
Guests might pick up a few chefs' secrets on "Chile and Argentina Gourmet Adventure" a 10-day vacation with G.A.P. Adventures. This trip amply explores food and drink native to South America, where tasty tidbits join the tango in a single intoxicating destination.
The tour takes off from the Chilean capital, Santiago, where a number of renowned wineries spring from the rich, volcanic soil. After dipping into the Maipo Valley, a base for vineyards specializing in hearty Chilean reds, G.A.P. guests cross the Andes to reach Mendoza in Argentina. Your time in the mountain-ringed city, which has produced more than 1,200 wineries that bottle nearly 1 billion liters of wine each year, includes more vineyard tours and a cooking class.
On the seventh day of the trip, G.A.P. guests wing their way to Buenos Aires for tours of a turn-of-the-century farmhouse, a barbecue demonstration and samples of another favorite Argentinean beverage, mate, which many liken to strong coffee. Free time in the city allows travelers to visit San Telmo, host of a weekly art and antique market, or try a walking tour amid the aged colonial buildings. A farewell meal in Buenos Aires completes the vacation.
Details: Departures currently are offered through Dec. 19, 2010. Prices start at $1,379 per person, plus airfare, and include daily breakfasts, two lunches and several wine tastings.
California
Napa or Sonoma: Which valley lays claim to the Golden State's best wineries? Guests of Collette Vacations' seven-day tour, "California's Wine Country" can weigh in on the grape debate after a thorough exploration of both regions.
This escorted vacation begins in San Francisco, where a full day of guided sightseeing includes a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge and dinner on Fisherman's Wharf, the city's seafood center. On the third day, the tour takes a scenic detour through Muir Woods, home to a towering forest of centuries-old redwood trees, on its way to Viansa Winery and Italian Marketplace. This hilltop tourist center doubles as an epicurean education facility, where Collette guests will be treated to a lecture on food and wine pairings and the grape's place in Napa Valley culture.
The next day, it's time to ride the rails and continue the lesson on California wines. An excursion aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train offers a sumptuous seasonal lunch menu and whisks passengers across acres of rolling, vineyard-covered hills. Later, the tour continues to the city of Sonoma.
Your time in Sonoma Valley includes a visit to the Kendall Jackson Wine Center, where a tour reveals the behind-the-scenes tricks of the winemaker's trade; a stop at a Korbel cellar, where sparkling wines are made; and a trip to Bodega Bay, the fishing village made famous by the Alfred Hitchcock thriller "The Birds."
Guests head to the town of Glen Ellen to explore an olive farm and the intricate process that extracts the fruit's oil. This is followed by a chocolate truffle sampling, an examination of an artisanal cheese shop and a chance to browse the stores housed in the adobe structures of Sonoma Plaza.
Details: Departures currently are offered through April 15, 2011. Prices start at $2,049 per person, plus airfare, and include six breakfasts, one lunch, three dinners and tastings of wine, cheese, chocolate and olive oil.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in July/August 2009.
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 680-2858 for current rates and details.