Wine tasting weekends
Treat yourself to a wine tasting weekend in France, Italy or Spain and get a feel for the wide variety of wine produced in these countries. French wine and spirit exports were
valued at over €10 billion in 2011, an increase of over 10%. Grape crops are dependent on soil and climatic conditions, and are grown in the Loire and Rhone valleys, Bordeaux and Champagne regions of France, offering great opportunities for enjoying wine tasting weekends and wine tours. France produces some the best wine in Europe and you can try all types of wine from dark deep full bodied table wines to light sparkling wines and champagne. There are over 7,000 Champagne Houses in the Champagne region, so you have plenty of choice when selecting your wine tasting weekend. Combine a wine tasting weekend with sight seeing at some of France’s iconic hot spots such as the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower.
In Italy, you can explore the delights of the rolling Tuscan countryside between the Apennine ridge and the Tyrrhenian Sea during your wine tasting weekend. The Italian National Statistics office reported an increase of 12% of Italian wine in 2011 equating to more than €4.4 billion and 22% of the global market. Central Tuscany is renowned for its magnificent countryside, favored destination for artists and writers, and famous vineyards in the Chianti Classico region. You can choose from wine tasting tours of the whole Chianti region, or focus on one region and the delights of a wine tasting weekend combined with regional food while soaking up the local atmosphere.
Exports of Spanish wine grew by a phenomenal 26% in 2011 with a turnover of €2.2 billion, as reported by Spanish Wine News in March 2012. Spain has over 2.9 million acres of planted grapes for wine production so there are plenty of opportunities for wine tasting tours and wine tasting holidays. The best known wine producing area is Rioja which produces red wine with white wine being produced in Galicia. Being close to the north coast and the Picos de Europa, the Rioja region has plenty to offer in terms of sight seeing and activities to complement your wine tasting weekend. If you venture to Andalucia, you can try the fortified wines of Jerez, or one of the family run vineyards of which there are many. Spanish wine tours can include wine festivals which are prevalent all over Spain during the summer months.
Whether you choose a wine tasting weekend in France, Spain or Italy, you will be guaranteed weekend to remember. In France you can stay in fabulous chateaux, in comfortable farmhouses in Italy or in hacienda in Spain. Enjoy the local environment, get to know the locals and try wines which are not exported. Wine tasting weekends are great ways to familiarize yourself with different wines, while learning about the local culture and history. Whether you are a novice or a wine connoisseur, you will learn something new about viticulture during your wine tasting weekend and appreciate the wine production process. You may even be able to impart some of your new found knowledge at your next dinner party!