A bottle of Chablis wine, beside two filled glasses and flowers on a small wooden table under a tent, looking out at the vibrant, hilly views in burgundy, France.

February 5, 2015

February for Wine Lovers

Founder & CEO

“In victory, you deserve Champagne. In defeat you need it” – Napoleon Bonaparte

Having survived a ‘dry’ January I’m definitely going to be celebrating this month!

And I’m also very excited to announce our sparkly new website. Take a look at www.smoothred.co.uk It’s filled with inspiration on where to head for 2015 and features a ‘trip finder’ allowing you to quickly find tours available in your chosen location. You can also easily browse all our European tours with over 70 tempting trips on offer! We have also included a wider choice of trips; everything from a day trip to Bordeaux to three week self drive holidays across Europe to an ultimate private jet wine holiday.The perfect antidote to a dry January?

Primitivo and the secret delights in the heel of Italy…

Sure to tempt your taste buds, we’ve launched a number of Food & Wine tours this year, perfect for the inner gourmet in you. This month the spot-light is firmly on a lesser known region of Italy, Puglia, known as the heel of Italy. This is the land of Primitivo wine – a clone of Zinfandel – and is a delightful area to visit and explore. With its locally made mozzarella cheese, rustic foods, fantastic wines and UNESCO sites including Matera, Sassi city of stones and Alberobello, the city of the fairy-tale trulli houses, you’ll feel a million miles away from a grey February. In some places it’s rare to hear a foreign voice but watch out in July and August, Puglia suddenly becomes a huge party destination, with sagre (festivals, usually involving food), concerts and events, and thousands of Italian tourists heading down for their annual break. Partito!

Looking for a group getaway?

If you are keen to holiday with friends or join a group wine tour, head to Barcelona where we have just introduced short three day breaks. The city is not only the home of Sagrada Familia – a Giant Basilica designed by the master architect Antonio Gaudí but a city bursting with vibrancy, with tapas bars to experience and delight in and fantastic wines to taste and savour. You’ll get to enjoy a full day chauffeured wine tour to Penedès, located less than an hour from Barcelona, and one of the most exciting wine regions in Spain!

Ready to start planning?

SmoothRed offers a wonderful array of year-round experiences for all kinds of travellers. Let’s design your tailored memories together.

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Wine and dine that special someone – but don’t forget your mother!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and Mother’s Day next month (March 15), how about a fantastic Wine and Dine trip to Paris? Spoil your loved one or mum with finest wines, food and of course some seriously good chocolate and Paris does chocolate like no other city!

Neighbourhoods to explore include Canal St Martin with its arched footbridges, boho bistros and soupçon of urban grit; Rue Montorgueil with its bustling market stalls, exquisite patisseries and hip bars; and the swanky, classy Latin Quarter, home to the famous Shakespeare and Company bookshop and the endless cheese shops, bakeries and wine cellars. What’s not to adore?

Short and sweet escapes

Lastly if you’re looking for a spring escape, why not pop off on one of these short breaks this February?

Celebrate with a Champagne experience and enjoy a three day break to Reims from £299 per person. The price includes return ferry crossings from Dover to Calais, two nights bed and breakfast in a four star hotel, a half day guided, chauffeured wine tour with visit to a world famous Champagne House for tastings.

Pop to Porto and enjoy the finest wines on this Porto tour and discover the secrets of the Duoro Valley from £399 per person based on selected departures. The price includes two nights accommodation in a three star hotel with breakfast, full day private guided/chauffeured wine tasting experience and return flights from Gatwick to Porto.

The above are subject to availability, based on two sharing and include all UK taxes.