WINE REGION TRAVEL & CHATEAU VISITS

Although there is always an underlying educational benefit, these wine region travel opportunities are each designed to be an enriching 'experience of a lifetime' for a couple or small group of friends.

Example: European Fine Wine Weekend Tour

This is an en experience encompassing ALL THREE fine wine regions of France, in one trip, offering a time-efficient event with a “wow factor” that could only be accomplished by a privileged few, and by using private aviation.

Key features:

• Three day fine wine tour visiting the three most prestigious wine destinations in the world; Burgundy, The Rhone Valley and Bordeaux
• Chateaux and wineries to be visited:
  Chateau Margaux, Chateau Pavie, Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Le Montrachet, Domaine Olivier Leflaive, Domaine Etienne Guigal in Cote Rotie.
• Luxury Accommodation at Relais and Chateaux properties:
  • Domaine Olivier Leflaive
  • Maison Pic Valence- Rhone Valley
    A third star, the Chef of the Year award and a score of 18 out of 20 in the Gault Millau guide have made Anne-Sophie Pic France’s most successful award-winning chef today
  • Château Pavie - The Residence
    Chateau Pavie offers the most luxurious accommodation in Bordeaux that is situated right in the vineyard. In addition the proprietor also owns the Hostellerie de Plaisance in the village, which has the acclaim of two Michelin stars for its gastronomy and is also a luxury hotel

Day One: Burgundy

• Private Jet departure from London Biggin Hill Airport at 8.30 am, arrival in Dijon at 11 am local time.
• Limousine transfer and tour of the Cote de Nuits, brasserie lunch in Nuits St Georges, in advance of arrival at Domaine Romanee Conti, Vosne Romanee
• Tour of the domaine, including a tasting with the cellar master
• Limousine transfer to Maison Olivier Leflaive, Puligny Montrachet arriving at 5pm
• 6.30pm - Tutored tasting of red and white burgundy wines, conducted by Stephen Williams and Olivier Leflaive, to include wines from both Domaine de la Romanee Conti and Leflaive, complimented with other examples of fine red and white burgundy
• Dinner at Maison Leflaive

Day 2: Rhone Valley

• Breakfast followed by morning departure from hotel at 8.30 am for Limousine transfer to Chalons sur Saone airport, 15 minute flight to Lyon airport and Limousine transfer to Cote Rotie
• Private visit to Maison Guigal including tour of the vineyards of Cote Rotie
• Tutored tasting themes; The development of vinification techniques in the late 20th Century tasting of legendary vintages of single vineyard Guigal wines, followed by lunch in the cellar
• Transfer
  Approximately 1 hr by limousine to Maison Pic, Valence
• Gastronomic fine wine dinner at the hotel featuring the best of the Rhone Valley to include Guigal’s Cote-Rotie and J.L Chave Hermitage and Chapoutier’s Hermitage La Chappelle

 Day 3: Bordeaux

• Breakfast followed by morning departure from hotel at 9 am for private jet flight from Valence to Bordeaux (50mins)
  
  Helicopter transfer (15 mins) to Chateau Pavie in St Emilion
• Lunch and masterclass at Chateau Pavie – theme; matury profiles of left and right bank wines, cabernet-v-merlot, ageing characteristics of the right bank
• Optional road tour of St Emilion and Pomerol chateaux (Petrus, Cheval Blanc etc) or tour of the historic monuments of St Emilion, the monolithic church etc
• Light dinner/free evening

 Day 4: Château Margaux

• Breakfast
•  9.30 am Helicopter transfer from St Emilion to Chateau Margaux
• Tour of the chateau, meeting with either Paul Pontallier (wine maker) or Corine Mentzelopoulos (Proprietor)
• 11.00am Masterclass featuring Chateau Margaux, theme; Viticultural developments, and the influence of climate change in the past twenty years.
• 12.30 pm Lunch at Chateau Margaux hosted by the above
• 3.00pm Helicopter transfer to Merignac airport
• 4pm Departure to London
• 4.45pm London time arrival in London.

The above arrangements are typical and all subject to verification of availability with the individuals, wineries, and suggested hotels. This can be confirmed upon receipt of the clients in-principle acceptance.

Please contact us to discuss your interest in bespoke wine travel.