Autumn among the vines in Beaune, part of Burgundy in France.
October 24, 2016

As The Seasons Change…

Adam Stebbings
Founder & CEO

So you may have noticed that, in the last few weeks, we’ve departed the summer once and for all.

The sun’s not showing up as much as anyone would like, the day’s are getting perilously short and everything’s all become rather cold. Sadly, as we enter autumn and winter, the opportunities for a bit of sun and sea are going to become few and far between (although there’s always America!) – but don’t throw away your boarding pass just yet. The post-harvest seasons are as wonderful a time as any to visit Europe’s wine regions, and we’ve got more than a handful of seasonal trips to satiate any late wanderlust you might be feeling.

Table of contents

A church in the commune of Chénas, engulfed by the autumnal leaves and vineyards of Beaujolais, on an overcast day in the Rhône Valley, France.

Autumn itself, of course, is a busy time in the vineyards, but, like here in the UK, it’s also a time for cosy evenings in, festivals and fireworks and, of course, the deepest red wines you can find. Burgundy is going to be your best bet for the latter – the third Thursday of November sees the region celebrate the year’s Beaujolais Nouveau wine, and this trip in particular will give you an in-depth look at one of the world’s finest wine festivals. Elsewhere, this Tuscan and Florentine experience should let you soak up the last of the year’s warmth whilst enjoying some of the best cuisine on the planet. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with a spa experience in Bordeaux, set amongst the gorgeous, yellowing vineyards of the quintessential wine region.

As winter sets in, some of our more exciting trips come into their own. Switzerland is a relatively new destination for us here at SmoothRed, and the colder time of year is the very best time to visit – the Swiss do Christmas better than most (think of the chocolate) and, of course, ski season is at its peak. If you’re after something a bit more traditional, there’s always our Champagne luxury Christmas escape – perfect for stocking up on some bubbly for the big day itself – or a good old Bordeaux winter warmer.

Whenever you choose to go away – and wherever you end up – these trips are bound to make the last days of 2016 something to remember. Give us a call or fire an e-mail over, and we’ll sort out the rest.

Panoramic sunset over a vineyard landscape in Bordeaux, France.
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