The great grape escape? It’s a mouthful alright but that is exactly what a vineyard tour means – a chance to sip and stay in the most scenic places of the world and at the same time exalt in the face of a fine bottle of excellent wine.
If you are up for a relaxing vacation where nothing is required of you besides to enjoy the grand view of the rural landscape and a glass of your favorite bubbly or red, then a tour of the wine regions of the world might just be what you are looking for.
With areas that are located away from the hectic urban life, vineyards present you with the ideal escape, whether you are in the mood for a simple but enjoyable walk through rows and rows of grape vines or a quiet evening over an excellent dinner, and wine, of course.
A vineyard tour is a great way for you to sample the authentic vineyard life. Many tour operators offer demonstrations of how wine is made – from the time the grapes are handpicked (to avoid crushing the fruit and squashing the inner part against the purply red pigment of the skin) to when they are actually crushed and finally bottled.
And if this is not included in the package, many vineyards are more than willing to show you an impromptu display of how grapes travel a long way from vines to the wine glass.
Wine tasting is yet another perk to touring the wine regions. It is a whole new experience tasting wines with you standing in a relaxed atmosphere on the very soil where the vine was cultivated and with the very people who helped grow these vines.
Certainly, it is different from tasting wine in some hotel in some part of the city with strangers all around, wine snobs and wine wannabes included. In a vineyard tour, you get to savor the wine and the place where it was born.
In many wine region vacations, vineyards usually offer guided tours of their facilities, lasting anywhere from an hour to half a day, before concluding with a wine tasting.
Traditionally, vineyards offer wine tasting only as a complimentary, but as more and more people begin to appreciate the subtleties of wine and oenology in general, wineries are also beginning to charge a small fee for a broader range of wines to taste.
Going on a tour through the wine regions of the world gives you a chance to learn about the wine making process. As a result, wineries benefit from the publicity. Offset the two and you get a guided tour with tremendous value.
Vine and Wine for an Excellent Time
The best time to visit the wine regions for a vineyard tour is, of course, during harvest season. This is when the vineyards are most alive as workers start picking the grapes and loading them in waiting trucks to be brought to the winery.
However, most wineries are open year-round, giving you more leeway in terms of when to leave home for a sip and a taste.
Visiting vineyards during off seasons is a good idea. There are fewer people so you won’t feel cramped and have a real good time relaxing in the quiet scenery of rolling hills and valleys.
As an added benefit, off season is also the time to take advantage of lower airfares, reduced room rates, and other bargains one can find at low peak.
Top Wine Regions to Visit
From the elegance of France’s classic castle scenes and Tuscany’s sun-kissed vineyards to Western US soils where America’s marvelous wine regions stretch from California to Oregon and finally to Canada’s Niagara region, a lesser known wine producing area but touting scenic wonders to rival many of European sherry and port centers.
And if that is not enough to satisfy your appetite for more wine regions to visit, head on to the Southern Hemisphere where the coveted harvest season springs forth as the winter in the north draws to a close.
Here are the top wine regions to visit when you go on your next vineyard tour:
Andalucía
The sun is not the only thing that sizzles during Spain’s summer season. Andalucía, Spain’s most famous wine region, also sizzles, in the way glorious sunset does, as the prime tourist season draws to a close and bottles of the finest sherries are uncorked to cap the season off.
The vinicultural tradition of Spain owes much to this southwestern province and its best product – sherry. Sure, the English may be credited for making this drink such a success overseas, but Andalucía is the birthplace of this much revered drink. Its official name? D.O. Jerez-Xérès-Sherry-Manzanilla de Sanlúcar de Barrameda. A mouthful to pronounce but its moniker, Jerez, is thankfully short.
But Sherry is not the only wine that you can find here. With more vineyard acreage than anywhere in the world, Andalucía offers you some of the most diverse wine region tours in Europe and the finest arrays of wines.
So where do you start?
Most Andalucía vineyard tours start off in Seville and head to Jerez de Frontera, the Sherry capital of the world. Traveling through the snaking mountains offers you a unique chance to experience Spain’s warm Mediterranean transform into the frozen north. And at the end of the road, you find the famous Andalucían Pueblo Blanco (White Village), appearing like great white apparitions nestled against a backdrop of black mountains.
Wine tours in Spain are virtually untouched by tourists so if you want a hassle-free, tourist-free Andalucían vineyard tour, this is it.
California
Known for its wine tasting tourism and sublimely flavored vintages, California is the largest wine producing area in the United States.
Its prime wine regions, Sonoma and Napa Valley, are internationally recognized not only for their excellent bottles but for their explosive wine tourism, a fact that is bolstered yet again by the release of the popular film Sideways (2004), showcasing the state’s Santa Barbara wineries.
So why do people love to visit California’s wine regions?
Once you see the place, the answer is obvious. Many of California’s wineries are family-owned and small enough to give that quaint country appeal. Neatly tucked away in the scenic rolling vineyards, the word to aptly describe the whole atmosphere is: cozy.
Most visitors discover these wineries only by stumbling over them as they tour the whole region, looking to sample many of California’s excellent vintages.
Loire Valley
This is arguably the most beautiful wine region in the world – France’s Loire Valley that is famous for its regal chateaux and excellent choices of white and red wines. The great Loire River sinuously makes its way through the famed fertile valley seeped in rich history and viticulture and more than seventy appellations.
But for the best vineyards in the Loire, head on to the almost exclusively south-facing slopes where the vines get a chance to capture the last glimpse of the sun’s rays.
Vouvray and Savennières are the first two locales that come to mind but there are also many great vineyards found on the left bank of the Loire, such as the ones at Coteaux du Layon, Passavant-sur-Layon down Chalonnes, and Sèvre-et-Maine.
People used to consider the Loire Valley as the “northern limit of wine” but with global warming, that may no longer be true.
Today, the Loire continues to produce excellent wines, throwing forth a vibrant plethora of whites in all styles – crisp, refreshing, rich, oak-influenced, fine, mineral, sweet, hedonistic, and botrytised – and many fine reds.
Hunter Valley
Spring comes to the Down Under state as the northerly winter closes. As such, this is often the best season to visit some of Australia’s great wine regions. Hunter Valley is located in the South Wales Valley just two hours north of Sydney.
With first-rate vintages and over 60 wineries, this wine region also offers fantastic views of verdant vineyards and their shops and restaurants.
Most of the wineries in Hunter Valley offer free wine tasting, boutique-style, and guided strolls through the vineyard.
But if you feel like you want to sit back and let someone else take the reins, then you are also going to enjoy the horse drawn carriages offered. And at the end of it all, a picnic lunch served with authentic Australian wine.
Champagne in the early morning while on a hot air balloon is a great way to take in the sunrise. You will get a view of this scenic wine region like no other and even spot kangaroos hopping about as you soar over their sleeping area.
There are also mini coaches, mini buses, vintage cars, limousines, bicycles, or even double decker buses, all available for you to explore this beautiful location and enjoy the fruit of Australia’s vines.
There are, of course, several more wine regions dotting the whole world that if we were to create a multi-colored map of them, the result would be a fine mesh of colors and lines. So for the unforgettable scenic route to discovering the bounties of the world’s wine regions – take a wine tour now!
Touring the Wine Regions
Staying Safe While Vacationing in Mexico
Taking precaution for your safety is the best way to prevent a tragedy from occurring while vacationing in Mexico. By taking the time to familiarize yourself with safety precautions, you should be able to have a safe and enjoyable vacation while in Mexico.
When traveling, it is important to make sure that you do not bring large amounts of cash, excess credit cards, or flashy jewelry with you. You will already draw attention to yourself, just because you are a tourist; don’t draw additional attention to yourself by flashing large amounts of cash when out on the town. There are many people who are looking for unsuspecting targets. You need to protect yourself from those who are out to rob or hurt you. Use common sense and behave wisely while in Mexico. Doing so will likely lower your chances of becoming a victim of crime.
Though it is very important to make sure that you are using good judgment and common sense to protect yourself from becoming a victim of a crime, it is also important to make sure that you protect yourself physically while in Mexico as well. One way to prevent an illness is to watch what you are drinking. When you are traveling to Mexico, be sure to only drink bottled water. The water found in the United States is different than the water found in Mexico. To protect yourself and prevent any serious illnesses, you urged to only drink bottled water.
Along with water, you should also make sure that you use safety precautions with the food that you eat. If you are staying in a hotel resort or taking a cruise, your food will most likely be covered with your package. These foods are deemed safe. However, there are times that you may want to take advantage of the local food. When doing so, you should practice safe handling instructions for food, like you do back home. Take the time to thoroughly clean fruits and vegetables before eating them. If you are going to eat dairy products from the locals, there is a good possibility that the products are non-pasteurized. This means that you should always use caution when choosing what foods you eat in Mexico.
Health insurance is another important factor to consider when you are visiting Mexico. If you become sick or injured, you will need to know if your insurance will cover the costs of your healthcare. Not all health insurance companies provide coverage to those vacationing in Mexico. You are advised to check with your individual insurance carrier to see if you will be covered while in Mexico. If not, it may be possible that you can add additional coverage to your policy. You can also purchase temporary health insurance that will cover you while you are on vacation. Whatever health insurance method you choose, make sure that you take care of your health insurance needs before you embark on your journey.
When vacationing in Mexico, it is always important to remember that things are not the same they may be back at your home. To stay safe, on a number of different levels, you are encouraged to keep the above mentioned precautions in mind. For additional information on staying healthy in Mexico, you may want to speak with your family physician. When dealing with your health, it is better to take extra precautions than no precautions at all.
Shopping in Mexico: Tips for Travelers
Mexico is a wonderful place to visit and is known for its wonderful resorts, beaches, and rich history. It is also known for great bargains and exquisite boutiques. When visiting Mexico, many tourists are excited to browse through the various shopping centers.
When shopping in Mexico, it is important to understand that there are strict rules that are enforced regarding the purchases that can be made in Mexico, as well as what can be brought back in to the United States. Before you leave, it may be wise to review the United States Customs and Border Protection rules. These rules will let you know what you can purchase in Mexico and bring home with you.
Endangered species are not allowed to be purchased and brought back into the United States. Since Mexico has such a wide range of wildlife, there are many products that are available for sale there. Many of these products are considered illegal and will be taken by United States Customs and Border Patrol. You may be given a fine if you purchase these items and try to bring them over the border; however, additional action may be taken. When it doubt you are encouraged to stay away from wild animals that are for sale. In addition to the animals themselves, you should be wary of goods that may have been made by these animals.
Crocodiles are on the endangered species list. Though it may seem enticing to have a new pair of Crocodile boots or a purse, you should avoid these items at all costs. You will find that the government takes these violations seriously. They will make routine checks at inspection points looking for any items that are deemed endangered. Stuffed wildlife is also forbidden, so if you see any of these and they look appealing, resist the urge to purchase them and leave them be.
Mexican birds are colorful and exotic. For those who deal with live trade, it may seem that purchasing exotic parrots from Mexico is a wonderful idea, but you need to think again. Purchasing birds from Mexico is also considered violation. To remain on the safe side, you should avoid purchasing any wildlife or wildlife products. Even stuffed birds are against the law. Even you may see these in abundance at shops and street markets, do your homework, and pass them up. There are many other wonderful souvenirs that you can purchase that are legal and will pass through the border.
Antiquities and glazed ceramics are beautiful and appealing to many tourists. Yet, Mexico considers their antiques to be property of the government. This means that if you uncover any artifacts and try to bring them back to the United States, you will be prosecuted for theft and maybe even face additional charges. It is best to leave any authentic looking artifacts in Mexico where they belong.
Glazed ceramics look beautiful and may be a wonderful addition to your home décor. However, many of the ceramics made and found in Mexico are made with lead. It is for this reason that you should avoid purchasing glazed ceramics from Mexico. If you do make the purchase, you need to make sure that everyone in your household is aware of the potential dangers.
While it may seem as if you are prohibited from purchasing many items sold in Mexican shops, there are additional items that you can purchase. When shopping in Mexico it is important that you follow all rules and regulations. Staying on the safe side will ensure that you can enjoy you Mexico vacation without any complications.
