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Whether you are a beginner, wine enthusiast or a wine connoisseur, it isn’t just the taste of wine that you will come to love - it is the sense that you are delving deep into the roots of a destination. For many of the places featured in this blog, wine has been a long-standing part of their history and culture. We believe that this should be shared and celebrated, which is why we have selected our top 5 destinations/properties for wine experiences.
La Casona at Matetic Vineyards – The Central Valley, Chile
Winemaking in Chile dates back over 400 years and is now (thankfully) enjoyed by us all. Due to a combination of volcanic and fluvial soils and the long, dry growing season in the valleys of Maule, Maipo, Casablanca and Colchagua, conditions for winemaking are just about ideal. Eager to share their expertise, many of the hacienda-styled vineyards offer tours, wine-tasting and accommodation on their estates.
Matetic is a small but expanding vineyard with a growing reputation for its organic wines. Located in a 11,000-hectare estate between Santiago and Valparaiso, La Casona is a beautiful colonial house that has opened 8 rooms for its guests, each room named after the red and white grapes cultivated.
Cavas Wine Lodge – Mendoza, Argentina
Set amidst the foothills and high plains of the Andes, Mendoza is the undisputed heartland of winemaking with over 1,200 wineries, many specialising in the local grape, Malbec. A harvest usually takes place from February to April, but on the first week of March the city celebrates wine in the Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia: where a spectacle of dancers, performers and an impressive firework display takes place.
We love the Cavas Wine Lodge because it is a pioneer of luxury vineyard tourism, nestling within a 55-acre vineyard, with views over snow peaked mountains. Better yet, this award-winning lodge is just a 30-minute drive from the centre of Mendoza.
Quinta da Pacheca – Douro, Northern Portugal
The Douro is well renowned for its port, though today sweet, fortified wine isn’t its only speciality: the region also has a growing reputation for excellent red and white wine.
Vineyards criss-cross across the region like contour lines and UNESCO has granted the Alto Douro Wine Region as a World Heritage site, recognising the people’s unique relationship with the natural environment and the significance of winemaking in this region.
Surrounded by 36 acres of estate, and a vineyard which has been running for 116 years, the Quinta de Pacheca is one of the oldest wine producers in the Douro region. Owner managed by the Serpa Pimentel family, the Quinta offers unique accommodation in a historical setting. Here, visitors can stay in a giant barrel - used in the 280-year-old estate, made from pinewood and equipped with all the comfort and amenities of a traditional room. Stay in any one of the 15 rooms we offer, each featuring spectacular vineyard views.
Fattoria Lavacchio – Florence, Tuscany
Tuscany is home to some of the world’s most notable wine regions: accounting for 33 DOC and 9 DOCG wines (the highest recognition that can be awarded to wine) including Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Vernaccia di San Gimignana.
Fields of vineyards and olive groves in the Florentine hills of Montefiesole surround the Fattoria Lavacchio. This is a charming agriturismo that has been a firm favourite with Sunvil guests and our reservation team for more than a decade. Here, you can go on a tour of the 21 hectares estate and taste the wines that are produced.
Sun Rocks – Firostefani, Santorini
Greece is the renowned birthplace of Dionysos - ‘the god of wine’, and wine is associated not only with the nutritional habits of those who live in Greece but also with religious, social and cultural traditions of the Greeks.
Vineyards adorn the Greek countryside, both in the mainland and islands – with September being the month of harvest. In Santorini you can appreciate wine harvested from grapes grown amongst volcanic soil.
Stay at the Sun Rocks Hotel, home to the 'Elia restaurant' which serves Aegan-inspired dishes with accompanying vintage Greek wines.
If any of these destinations whet your appetite for a wine-tasting holiday, contact our Travel Experts on 020 8758 4758.
Written by Nicole Cunningham.
18th February 2019
Sunvil's holidays are designed by passionate travellers just like you. Our reservations experts and product teams, many of whom have been with us for many years, are passionate about our destinations and, through their personal, first-hand knowledge can answer any questions that you may have. They are well qualified to advise and recommend, based on your own holiday criteria. We can point you to those special, little-known places, some not found even in guidebooks.
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