RELATED SEARCHES
Sponsored Wine Tours Results:
Wine Tours: Wine Tasting, Napa, Tuscany, Niagara And Wine Country Tours
By:
Published: November 8, 2007
Crowds at large alcohol-industry wine tasting events tend to contain two types of people: wine enthusiasts and wine lovers. The enthusiasts are immediately identifiable at a tasting by their clipboards with built-in glass holders. Wine lovers seldom carry clipboards at a wine tasting, and they are generally there to get tipsy, sampling several different varieties in the process.
Enthusiasts, on the other hand, are there to rank wines and take notes on the subtleties of the different vintages on display.
It is the subtleties of wine that set the groups apart. Enthusiasts have worked hard to be able to recognize them, while wine lovers simply know what they like when they taste it. The less-formal group would probably enjoy learning the secrets of wine, if only they happened upon the right learning environment. Fortunately for wine lovers, vineyards all over the world welcome opportunities to enlighten their visitors. Wine tours are an excellent way for participants to elevate their knowledge on the subject. In addition, wine tours are great for getting a little tipsy in a variety of scenic surroundings.
There are more vineyards within the U.S. than most people realize; however, the wine-capitol of America is on its West Coast. California's Napa Valley and surrounding wine country offers dozens of opportunities for wine tours. Among the most popular of vineyards are the Chandon and Robert Mondavi Wineries. Chandon is perfect for fans of sparkling wine, and Mondavi has several varieties from which to sample. Visitors will find there are many operators of wine tours that cart tourists to these and other Napa vineyards. A chauffeured wine country tour of Napa Valley can cost as little as $75 per hour. Also, most drivers are knowledgeable about what the region has to offer. Tourists should inform their drivers of their wine preferences. Doing so will inform the drivers route, allowing for several wine tours in a single day.
An East Coast alternative to a Napa wine country tour may be found on the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario. Niagara hosts an impressive number of wineries, most of which host wine tours on a daily basis. Much like its West Coast counterpart, the Niagara wine region is just as scenic, but its colder climate allows for some unique wine tasting opportunities. Ice wine, for example, is made from grapes harvested after freezing on the vine. The Wine Council of Ontario hosts a terrific website regarding the regions' wineries and operators of wine tours. The site is a great guide for visitors to the Niagara wine country.
Anyone who possesses the wherewithal should consider a wine country tour of Italy. The European nation has several different regions, each producing wine with distinct characteristics. There are too many to see them all, but operators of Italian wine tours can transport visitors to four or five vineyards per day. Wine drinkers who enjoy Chianti will want focus their time in Tuscany. Operators of Italian wine tours divide Tuscany into three separate wine zones, each of which require around three days to explore. However, most will not wish to spend the entirety of a European vacation on wine tours. Try checking out one of the numerous wine shops within Tuscany for an impromptu wine tasting. Select a favorite and seek out one of the many operators of wine tours in the region to arrange for transportation.
Wine tours are as much about relaxation as they are about wine. Good wine tours in any of the regions described above will transport participants through beautiful surroundings with nothing to worry about except the next morning's headaches. Many wine tours offer opportunities to dine at selected wineries. Take advantage of such offers. A winery's chef will know better than anyone which of their wines pair best with certain foods. Of course, many people think they know which wine goes with what, but they really do not. Once diners encounter a winery chef's pairing in which the wine and food are perfect compliments for one another, they will be blown away. It is the kind of experience that converts wine lovers into wine enthusiasts. The newly converted enthusiast should be able to purchase one of those wineglass-holding clipboards for future wine tours and tastings.
Sources:
"Italy." Wine Trail Traveler – Winery and Vineyard Virtual Visitor Center. 7 Nov. 2007. http://winetrailtraveler.com/italy/italy.php.
Sullivan, Terry. "Chandon." Wine Trail Traveler – Winery and Vineyard Virtual Visitor Center. 7 Nov. 2007. http://winetrailtraveler.com/california/chandon.ph p.
Sullivan, Terry. "What To Expect When Visiting A Winery Tasting Room." Travel Web Dir – Resources for traveling people. 12 Oct. 2007. 7 Nov. 2007.
http://www.travelwebdir.com/travelarticles/What- To-Expect-When-Visiting-A-Winery-Tasting-Room-1107 />
"Travel the Wine Route – How to Play Your Trip." Wine Council of Ontario – Wines of Ontario. 7 Nov. 2007. http://winesofontario.org/html/trav_plan.htm.
"Travel the Wine Route – Niagara Peninsula: Niagara-On-The-Lake." Wine Council of Ontario – Wines of Ontario. 7 Nov. 2007. http://winesofontario.org/html/trav_notl.htm.
"Tuscany." Italian Wine Tours. 7 Nov. 2007. http://www.italianwinetours.com/wine%20tour%20in%2 0tuscany.htm.
It is the subtleties of wine that set the groups apart. Enthusiasts have worked hard to be able to recognize them, while wine lovers simply know what they like when they taste it. The less-formal group would probably enjoy learning the secrets of wine, if only they happened upon the right learning environment. Fortunately for wine lovers, vineyards all over the world welcome opportunities to enlighten their visitors. Wine tours are an excellent way for participants to elevate their knowledge on the subject. In addition, wine tours are great for getting a little tipsy in a variety of scenic surroundings.
There are more vineyards within the U.S. than most people realize; however, the wine-capitol of America is on its West Coast. California's Napa Valley and surrounding wine country offers dozens of opportunities for wine tours. Among the most popular of vineyards are the Chandon and Robert Mondavi Wineries. Chandon is perfect for fans of sparkling wine, and Mondavi has several varieties from which to sample. Visitors will find there are many operators of wine tours that cart tourists to these and other Napa vineyards. A chauffeured wine country tour of Napa Valley can cost as little as $75 per hour. Also, most drivers are knowledgeable about what the region has to offer. Tourists should inform their drivers of their wine preferences. Doing so will inform the drivers route, allowing for several wine tours in a single day.
An East Coast alternative to a Napa wine country tour may be found on the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario. Niagara hosts an impressive number of wineries, most of which host wine tours on a daily basis. Much like its West Coast counterpart, the Niagara wine region is just as scenic, but its colder climate allows for some unique wine tasting opportunities. Ice wine, for example, is made from grapes harvested after freezing on the vine. The Wine Council of Ontario hosts a terrific website regarding the regions' wineries and operators of wine tours. The site is a great guide for visitors to the Niagara wine country.
Anyone who possesses the wherewithal should consider a wine country tour of Italy. The European nation has several different regions, each producing wine with distinct characteristics. There are too many to see them all, but operators of Italian wine tours can transport visitors to four or five vineyards per day. Wine drinkers who enjoy Chianti will want focus their time in Tuscany. Operators of Italian wine tours divide Tuscany into three separate wine zones, each of which require around three days to explore. However, most will not wish to spend the entirety of a European vacation on wine tours. Try checking out one of the numerous wine shops within Tuscany for an impromptu wine tasting. Select a favorite and seek out one of the many operators of wine tours in the region to arrange for transportation.
Wine tours are as much about relaxation as they are about wine. Good wine tours in any of the regions described above will transport participants through beautiful surroundings with nothing to worry about except the next morning's headaches. Many wine tours offer opportunities to dine at selected wineries. Take advantage of such offers. A winery's chef will know better than anyone which of their wines pair best with certain foods. Of course, many people think they know which wine goes with what, but they really do not. Once diners encounter a winery chef's pairing in which the wine and food are perfect compliments for one another, they will be blown away. It is the kind of experience that converts wine lovers into wine enthusiasts. The newly converted enthusiast should be able to purchase one of those wineglass-holding clipboards for future wine tours and tastings.
Sources:
"Italy." Wine Trail Traveler – Winery and Vineyard Virtual Visitor Center. 7 Nov. 2007. http://winetrailtraveler.com/italy/italy.php.
Sullivan, Terry. "Chandon." Wine Trail Traveler – Winery and Vineyard Virtual Visitor Center. 7 Nov. 2007. http://winetrailtraveler.com/california/chandon.ph p.
Sullivan, Terry. "What To Expect When Visiting A Winery Tasting Room." Travel Web Dir – Resources for traveling people. 12 Oct. 2007. 7 Nov. 2007.
http://www.travelwebdir.com/travelarticles/What- To-Expect-When-Visiting-A-Winery-Tasting-Room-1107 />
"Travel the Wine Route – How to Play Your Trip." Wine Council of Ontario – Wines of Ontario. 7 Nov. 2007. http://winesofontario.org/html/trav_plan.htm.
"Travel the Wine Route – Niagara Peninsula: Niagara-On-The-Lake." Wine Council of Ontario – Wines of Ontario. 7 Nov. 2007. http://winesofontario.org/html/trav_notl.htm.
"Tuscany." Italian Wine Tours. 7 Nov. 2007. http://www.italianwinetours.com/wine%20tour%20in%2 0tuscany.htm.
Featured Wine Tours Products:
