6 European Road Trips for Wine Lovers
“We can’t stop here, this is wine country!” – Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Languedoc-Roussillon (1972)
Okay, no, that’s not a real book. And yes, we altered that quote slightly. Look, it’s fitting with the topic at hand, okay? Let’s just get on with it.
The South Coast of France
Languedoc and the French Riviera are very different places. One is a land of rusticity; of charming simplicity and rural warmth. The other is a land of opulent splendour, dotted with centres of metropolitan magnificence. To journey from the historical, cobbled citadel of Carcassonne to the illuminated boardwalks of Cannes is to experience two halves of France. And if you want to really do it in style, do it in a classic car. It’ll be like something out of a film.
Carcassonne to Cannes by Classic Car: http://bit.ly/1JmjGBH
Champagne to Chablis
A simple one, this, but with plenty of scope to expand. Start in Reims, drain the cellars of Champagne for all they’re worth, then head down through the beautiful French countryside to Burgundy. Proceed immediately to drain the cellars of Burgundy for all they’re worth. Because of the highly convenient nature of the geography of France’s wine regions, too, you could alter this however you like – start in Paris, perhaps, or even continue on from Burgundy down through the Rhône to Provence. Add on the road trip we detailed above (in reverse, perhaps) and you’ve got yourself a… slightly longer road trip.
Champagne to Chablis: http://bit.ly/1J46jKz
Piedmont to Tuscany
Cruise down the western coast of Italy, stopping off at Alba, Asti and Florence on the way. One heck of a range of wines and we’re quite sure there are no short supply of gorgeous traditional villas to sleep in on the way down. Cinque Terre is also pretty conveniently located between the two – a region that is not only stunningly beautiful, but also has some pretty choice roads for driving enthusiasts.
The Italian Collection: Piedmont to Tuscany: http://bit.ly/1I86Igi
The Amalfi Coast
If you love a challenge, this is the one for you. Amalfi’s roads are notoriously difficult to drive on, due to their narrowness and the sheer cliffs which drop down to the sea, but it’s a region which well rewards those brave enough to travel its roads. The ocean views are nothing short of jaw-dropping, and it’s a great opportunity to get out of Amalfi itself and visit the smaller towns and villages which are scattered along the coast.
Amalfi Coast Wine Experience: http://bit.ly/1M9gQFg
Rioja to Ribera
Logroño, Haro, Aranda del Duero and then maybe up to Bilbao – it’s a route that will take you through the finest wine regions in Spain. If that’s not enough, you could always keep heading westwards – go far enough and you’ll end up in Porto. There are worse places to end up.
The Spanish Wine Collection: Ribera & Rioja: http://bit.ly/1LpqJ0O
Lisbon to Puglia, via literally everywhere
Okay, we know what you’re thinking. But just imagine it. You start in Lisbon, head up to Porto, then east into Spain – through Ribera, Rioja, along to Barcelona – and up into France. From there, you head across Bordeaux, the Loire, east to Paris, then down through Champagne, Burgundy, the Rhône (Alsace is pretty out of the way, but we suppose if you’ve got the time to do this then you can probably manage a detour), Languedoc and along the French Riviera and Provence. Then, cross over into Italy and head down from Piedmont to Tuscany via Cinque Terre, south towards Amalfi and finish in Puglia. It’ll probably take a few months, sure, but the whole thing will probably be so unforgettable that even your great-grandchildren will remember it.
Obviously we don’t have this one on the site because it’s a bit mad, but if you’re actually up for it, we can sort this for you. Call us on +44 (0)20 8877 4940 or e-mail one of our team at sales@smoothred.co.uk
