Our Wine Tours

Overview

A tour of Chile and Argentina is a wine lovers dream and we are delighted to be able to offer, on behalf of Iberian Wine Tours (IBT) the opportunity to participate in a trip in March 2013 to coincide with the South American harvest? There are just six places remaining on this tour organised by Jeremy Shaw of IBT, an established tour operator, who I have worked with before on wine tours.  Jeremy is a longstanding devotee of Spanish wines and South America and the Andean wine delights and sights to be found there.

Chile and Argentina have revolutionized the wine world in recent years; Chile’s phylloxera free valleys, stacked like wine crates on the Andean map, lead the way in tasty and affordable wines across a huge range of styles.  Argentina’s longer standing wine industry has woken from its slumbers to create fabulous high end wines, epitomised by juicy Malbecs – the perfect partner to the local beef.

So, we’re going to make the most of the scenery, the weather and the harvest and we’d love you to join us.

Wine highlights: Lapostolle, Errazuriz, Altair, Polkura, Casa Marin, Zuccardi, Andeluna, Vistalba and O Fournier

Meals: several bodega lunches, dinners at La Playa in Santa Cruz, Azafran and La Bourgogne in Mendoza

Hotels: 4 star Hotel Viña La Playa in Santa Cruz and Bonaparte in Santiago, 5 star Diplomatic in Mendoza

Sights and sounds:  Pablo Neruda’s house at Isla Negra, an Andean mountain crossing by bus, the grape harvest at Zuccardi and options to enjoy tango and horseback riding

So, great wines, big skies, lovely people and adventure.

Price: £2495 including tax (deposit £450 to secure place)

This is an 8 night route. The price includes all accommodation, visits and tastings at wineries, an expert guide all breakfasts and 9 meals during the trip (for other meals you are free to make your own plans), all wine at meals, and local transport. Flights are not included.

If you are travelling by yourself there will be a single supplement of £450.

For those travelling from North America, Australia or Europe, the most practical and economical way to plan your trip is with a One World South America air pass. If your flights to and from South America are with a One World airline (e.g. British Airways, Iberia, American, LAN Chile, Qantas), you are entitled to book flights within South America at an advantageous rate on the airpass. Although there are restrictions, around your direction of travel, flight start at US$119 per sector.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Wednesday – 13 March

Assemble at the Bonaparte Hotel, Santiago http://bonaparte.cl/en/

~         Santiago to Isla Negra, then travel south along the coast to the San Antonio Valley and our first wine visit at Casa Marín.

~         Next, we travel through Colchagua Valley, the finer part of the Rapel Valley in the central wine region to Santa Cruz for the first 2 nights of the trip at Viña la Playa Bodega hotel.

Thursday – 14 March

~         Tour of the Polkura Bodega in the nearby town of Marchihue. http://www.polkura.cl/english/html/intro.html

~         Lunch and wine tour of Casa Lapostolle, one of the South America’s finest wines. http://en.lapostolle.com/

~         Evening free

Friday – 15 March

~         Return to Bonaparte Hotel in Santiago via the remarkable Altair winery (owned by the Dassault family from St Emilion), in the Cachapoal Valley with vineyards extending across the Andean foothills. We enjoy a tour and lunch at this winery  http://www.altairwines.com/index.php?id=2

~        Evening free

Saturday – 16 March

~        Visit Errazuriz Winery in the dramatic Aconcagua Valley north of Santiago . We enjoy a tour of the estate and a tasting before settling down to a very fine lunch in the dramatic setting of Chile’s wine aristocracy HQ.   http://www.errazuriz.com/errazuriz/

~         After lunch, return to the capital and in the early evening we meet for a group toast to our adventure in Chile, before going our separate ways for dinner on our last night in Chile.

Sunday – 17 March

~         Depart Santiago and head off on one of the most spectacular journeys in South America, across the Andes to Mendoza.

~         Lunch at the border and then continue the journey into Argentina, viewing great canyons and rivers among the soaring peaks.

~         Afternoon arrival at the 5* Diplomatic Hotel in Mendoza http://www.diplomatic.parksuites.net/

~         Dinner at the award winning La Bourgogne restaurant in the Diplomatic Hotel, For those who don’t fancy the road trip, we can arrange to pick you up at the airport in Mendoza after your morning flight from Santiago, and transfer you to the hotel (flights to be arranged by yourselves).

Monday – 18 March

Visit to Familia Zuccardi, the largest family owned bodega in Argentina in the Maipu region of Mendoza for a fun-filled morning helping with harvest, followed by a short tour of the winery before heading back to the hotel. http://www.familiazuccardi.com/home_en.php

~         Afternoon and evening free to explore cosmopolitan downtown Mendoza.

Tuesday – 19 March

~         Visit to the Uco Valley, a couple of hours south of Mendoza city, where we tour  O.Fournier , a futuristic bodega, including a visit to the biggest cellar in South America and a tasting of some of their top wines.

http://www.ofournier.com/web/ar_03_in.html

~         Travel north to the Tupungato region of the Uco Valley to visit the picturesque Andeluna Cellars for a short tour of the winery and vineyard followed by a magnificent lunch cooked in the open plan kitchen.

http://www.andeluna.com.ar/

~         Evening free to explore the shops and restaurants of Mendoza with an optional side trip to a local tango show to soak up the atmosphere of Argentina’s national dance.

Wednesday – 20 March

~         Free morning and afternoon to explore, or go white water rafting in the Andes, or horseback riding with a gaucho.

~        Late afternoon tasting at Carlos Pulenta’s  Vistalba Bodega. http://www.carlospulentawines.com/

From here we will travel for a very personal farewell dinner. Depending on numbers, we will either be at top chef Pablo Ranea’s own home in the foothills of the Andes or at his Azafran restaurant in Mendoza. Either way, we’ll enjoy a fabulous meal tasting some of our favourite wines. www.azafranresto.com.

Thursday – 21 March

~         End of tour.

The alternatives are to go west to Santiago, north to Salta, south to Patagonia or east to Buenos Aires!

Noble Vines is UK agent for Iberian Wine Tours, the tour operator for his Chile and Argentina wine tour.

If you interested in the tour and would like more details please e mail info@noblevines.co.uk or call us on 01932 828129

Sorry, there are currently no dates for this course

Langhe Tour

Noble Vines is able to offer an exclusive tour to The Langhe region in North West Italy, famous for its spectacular scenery and fabulous wines such as Barolo, Dogliani, Barbaresco, Gavi, Moscato, Barbera d’Asti and Roero. Through our Italian contacts we have secured good access to top wineries, one of which is located in a 16th century castle. The tour includes magnificent dining at top rated restaurants including a wine and truffle dinner. We propose the following itinerary based on a recent visit to the region and are able to tailor a tour for groups of 8 or more to match your specific requirements.

Outline itinerary

Day 1

•Arrive Turin Airport and transfer to the Langhe area

• Accommodation at Hotel Antico Borgo Monchiero or similar hotel

•Welcome Cocktails and dinner in hotel restaurant

Day 2

•Meeting with a vineyard specialist and walk in the vineyards with the wine producer of a local winery

•Visit and wine tasting to Podere Rocche dei Manzoni, an historical Barolo winery guided by an  oenologist.

•Light lunch based on typical dishes at the restaurant La Rei del Boscareto Resort, Serralunga d’Alba

•Meeting with truffle hunter at Monchiero who will lead the group in the woods to search for the famous hypogean fungus followed by a Workshop about truffles with an expert.

•Cocktails followed by a Gala Dinner at Ristorante Castello di Grinzane

Day 3

•Transfer to Barbaresco area, including a walk in Barbaresco village followed by a visit and tasting to Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy, a prestigious winery in Barbaresco.

•Light lunch based on typical dishes at Ristorante La Contea di Neive

•Visit and tasting in Az. Ag. Malvirà dei F.lli Damonte, a distinctive winery of Roero area.

•Visit to the Wine Bank and the village of Pollenzo, characterized by the warm, rose coloured hues of its fired bricks. A place of great fascination and one of the most beautiful examples of the Italian Gothic revival followed by dinner  at Guido in Pollenzo, a  Michelin star restaurant

Day 4

•Visit to La Morra the highest village in the heart of Barolo area where there are incomparable views of Lower Langa from the raised town square., followed by a visit to the Cappella del Brunate, a deconsecrated church restored and painted by the American artist Sol Le Witt

•Visit and tasting of exquisite wines of Domenico Clerico, one of the most famous winery in Barolo area.

•Light lunch based on typical dishes. Ristorante Enoclub, Alba followed by a visit and tasting at the Ceretto winery and a walk around the narrow streets of the capital of the Langhe

•Dinner at La Ciau del Tornavento, a fabulous Michelin star restaurant in Trieso

Day 5

•Depart hotel and transfer to Vignaioli di Santo Stefano for a tasting of Spumante and Moscato sparkling wines.

•Lunch based on typical dishes at the magnificent Ristorante San Marco Canelli before transfer to Turin Airport

Tour cost is £1,995 including return flights from London to Turin.

If you are interested in a wine tour to The Langhe Region please e mail info@noblevines.co.uk or call 01932 828129

MURCIA WINE STUDY TOUR - The New Spain: 15-20 April 2012

Discover the stunning Murcia Wine Region, complete the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Intermediate Level (2) course in wines and, of course, relax on the beach!

- Meet the winemakers in Yecla and Bullas

- Gain internationally recognised qualification: WSET Level 2

- Accommodation is in a beautiful, family owned 3*hotel: rooms are cabin-style and situated around the pool.

- Relax and enjoy the beach, a spot of sunbathing and of course some special sundowners.

- Feast on excellent quality traditional Spanish food and watch some flamenco

- Michelin* restaurant

Noble Vines Wine School and Iberian Wine Tours have put together a unique study tour to a very interesting and largely undiscovered wine region.  Designed for wine professionals and enthusiasts alike, this structured approach to learning about wine will ensure you get the best out of your holiday.  Not only will you complete the government accredited WSET Level 2 Wines and Spirits course, (this is optional, you don’t have to take the exam if you don’t wish to) but you will taste over 40 wines from all around the world and receive 18 hours of expert tuition.

Our experienced, professional, Spanish-speaking guide (resident here in Murcia) has excellent knowledge of the area and close relationships with the wine-makers, so you can visit the glorious, rugged sierras that are home to this fascinating region.  Speak to the winemakers themselves and discover their unusual wine-making techniques.

The Hotel Montepiedera in Dehesa de Campoamor is just 2 minutes from a beautiful, golden beach where you will have time to sunbathe, swim and watch the sun go down.

Visit the historic Caravaca de la Cruz, enjoy a flamenco night in Bullas, wander down to Campoamor’s own Michelin* restaurant, feast on the freshest seafood in the local fishing port and raise a glass at a delicious winemaker lunch at the Barahonda wine estate.

Tour price of £1,295 includes 5 nights accommodation (single occupancy), all transportation within Murcia from the moment you arrive at either Murcia or Alicante airport, meals and wine, visits and WSET course tuition and wines.

To book simply pay a deposit of 20% of the tour cost (£259) either online ( see below) or by cheque or bank transfer to Noble Vines LLP account:65891384 Code: 51-50-03 and complete the booking form. Contact us on 01932 828129 or e mail info@noblevines.co.uk to confirm availability

Sorry, there are currently no dates for this course

The Noble Vines team has been busy looking at the hidden side of Champagne. Not only will we take you to visit some big-brand Champagne Houses, but our experienced guide will also show you the smaller, family-run producers, where you can see their authentic methods of production for yourself and taste some super quality, great value Champagnes unavailable in the UK.

To register your interest or get more details please call: 01932 828129 or write toinfo@noblevines.co.uk.

Sorry, there are currently no dates for this course