Gastronomic Getaways for Lovers of Fine Food & Wine
An appreciation of fine wine goes hand-in-hand with a love of gastronomy. So it’s little surprise that there’s huge appetite for gourmet food and wine tours.
Culinary tourism is more than sampling amazing food and award-winning vintages. It gives you a deeper insight into the gastronomic traditions of a region, something shaped by its culture, character, history, religion and geographic location.
And it just so happens that wine regions offer the perfect ingredients for an amazing foodie break. Because these luscious landscapes are also ideal for cultivating other produce, such as olive oil, cheese, charcuterie, fruit and vegetables, chocolate, and more.
We include incredible gastronomic experiences on all our wine tours, but there are some regions guaranteed to send you to foodie heaven. For inspiration, here are some fabulous culinary journeys designed to tantalise your taste buds and connect you with some of Europe’s finest flavours.
A Taste of France
French cuisine is regarded as some of the finest in the world, and each region offers local specialities that simply must be sampled in their place of origin. Head to Marseille for an authentic taste of bouillabaisse, Burgundy for boeuf bourguignon, and Languedoc-Roussillon for delicious oysters washed down with a crisp Picpoul.
The world-famous wine region of Bordeaux is home to a dish less well known around the world, but equally delicious: lamproie a la bordelaise. This delicacy is made from lamprey eels flambéed in cognac and cooked in a rich red wine sauce blended with the blood of the fish.
Our luxury French tour of Bordeaux and the Bay of Arcachon connects you with some of the region’s finest flavours courtesy of vineyard visits, Michelin-starred meals and a trip to an oyster farm. It’s the perfect opportunity to sample this local delicacy.
For foodies, there’s one French destination that’s simply unmissable. Bursting with Michelin-starred kitchens and incredible culinary traditions, and close to the wine regions of Beaujolais and Cotes de Rhone, Lyon is a pilgrimage site for gourmets – and our Lyon gourmet experience offers the perfect introduction to the gastronomic capital of France.
Experience the Unique Flavours of Piedmont
Wine lovers from across the world are drawn to Piedmont in the northwest of Italy, for its full-bodied reds, Barolo and Barbaresco. But this prolific winemaking region is also renowned for its gastronomic delights.
Home to the original Slow Food Movement, foodies travel to Piedmont to savour its incredible hazelnuts, delicious cheese such as Gorgonzola and Castelmagno, the best risotto rice, and porcini mushrooms. But the region is perhaps best known for its fabled white and black truffles.
Our Piedmont wine and truffle experience takes you on a culinary journey like no other, combining visits to some of the region’s finest vineyards with truffle hunting and some magnificent meals, from a Michelin-starred tasting menu to a rustic lunch with a professional truffle hunter.
A Mouth-Watering Road Trip in Northern Spain
The north of Spain is food heaven for epicureans, and our San Sebastián to Valladolid tapas and wine experience combines the best of the region.
One of the world’s finest dining destinations, San Sebastián is a Spanish culinary superstar. Packed full of Michelin-starred eateries, the city has a reputation for creative Basque cuisine and those delicious little pintxos.
World-famous La Rioja and its up-and-coming neighbour Ribera del Duero are two of Spain’s most prominent wine regions. And there’s plenty to tempt foodies too, with a buzzing tapas scene and Ribera del Duero’s famed suckling lamb.
The road trip ends in Valladolid, where there’s time for a final tapas tour (or two) before heading home with a full belly and a very happy heart!
To find out more about any of our mouth-watering food and wine experiences or to book a tour, contact sales@smoothred.com or call +44 208 877 4940. All our gastronomic getaways can be tailored to suit your tastes.
