Choose the Scenic Route: Luxury Road Trips in Wine Country
Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me.
Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road
After two years of lockdowns and uncertainty and flipping through travel books dreaming of planning our next trip, it’s time to embrace travel and all its pleasures once more.
People are gearing up to return to their favourite destinations and to discover new places and different types of travel. Splashing out on a luxury break is high on many people’s agenda, as are longer holidays. No longer we will take travel for granted.
A fantastic way of enjoying a luxury getaway and really getting to the heart of a destination is by taking a road trip in wine country. A luxury wine road trip will immerse you in the history, aroma and flavours of viticulture – while enjoying the freedom of the open road, travelling through spectacular countryside, staying in luxurious accommodation, and sampling a region’s gastronomy.
Here are some enticing luxury wine road trips to fuel your imagination.
Road Tripping in Burgundy: Dijon to Beaune
Our first luxury wine road trip packs a multitude of delicious food and wine experiences into just five days – perfect for a long weekend away. Beginning in the capital of Burgundy, Dijon, this luxury Burgundy wine tour highlights the best of the Bourgogne Côte d’Or, as you travel south to Beaune, the wine capital of the region.
The tour includes two full days chauffeured wine tours, one sampling the fruity, full-bodied Pinot Noirs in the Côte de Nuits, and the other tasting the crisp golden Chardonnays of the Côte de Beaune. Vineyard lunches, gourmet food markets, five-star hotels, and a dedicated mustard tasting complete this mouth-watering adventure.
Luxury Wine Road Trip from Champagne to Bordeaux
But why stop at a single wine region? For a longer break that traverses four of France’s most celebrated wine regions, our luxury 10-day self-drive holiday takes you from Champagne to the Loire Valley via Burgundy and Bordeaux.
Pop the corks and start as you mean to go on, with tastings at three boutique Champagne estates before tucking into a Michelin-starred champenoise lunch. As you travel south, you’ll sample the famed Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or, and base yourself at a luxury spa hotel in Bordeaux while sampling the region’s Grand Crus and indulging in yet another Michelin-starred meal. Round off your adventure in style by checking into a private chateau near Tours, to compare the Anjou Noir and Anjou Blanc regions of the Loire Valley, and drive through some of the most beautiful vineyards in France.
Self-Drive Wine Tour in Spain: San Sebastián, Rioja and Ribera
Our final luxury wine road trip is a feast for gourmands. Known as the food capital of Europe, San Sebastián is home to no less than 19 Michelin stars spread over 11 restaurants! So it’s the perfect place to begin your wine tour of northern Spain.
You’ll discover three different wine regions, tasting the Txakoli wines of the Basque Country, before comparing renowned Rioja reds with the intense, bold flavours of neighbouring Ribero del Duero. A variety of superb meals, from Michelin-starred dinners to delightful bites of pintxos, and the famed suckling lamb of Ribero del Duero will enhance your appreciation of these fine vintages.
The art and architecture of Bilbao along with picturesque driving routes and five-star hotels provide the icing on the cake for this epicurean adventure.
All our luxury wine road trips can be arranged to suit your tastes – and all include chauffeured wine tours, so you can enjoy the tastings without worrying about driving! To book your bespoke wine road trip, contact sales@smoothred.com or call +44 208 877 4940 for more information.
