Wine Tours

Wine tours have featured in our annual programme for many years and in 2012 we are offering two destinations for you to consider.We don't pretend that these are intensive and educational forays into the world of wine appreciation though if you want to learn about the winemaker's art there will be plenty of opportunity to do so as you'll be talking to the winemakers themselves.
Leading the groups will be the affable Andy McLarin who not only studies and enjoys wine but has worked with some of the winemakers we will meet.
These are above all , holidays with a special interest in wine.They're not stuffy and we always attract agreeable clients – you'll enjoy it!

Loire Photos courtesy Derek Whitehouse,Torquay

La Rioja Wine Tour Spain

La Rioja, Spain 6 days

We pick up as shown below and sail from Portsmouth at 1700 on the "Pont Aven". During the crossing we will arrange a tasting of some of the wines you may come across then we'll have dinner together.
Next morning, Wednesday, breakfast is included and we reach Santander at 1800 and after disembarkation we head east towards Bilbao then south to Logroño and check in to the central Hotel Marques de Vallejo in the Old Quarter where we stay for three nights. This evening we stroll to the cathedral to have a very late, (for us, not the Spanish!) "tapas" dinner at Restaurante Entrevinos.
On Thursday we travel eastwards to Haro where we visit Bodegas Bilbainas. From here we continue outside the town to La Vieja Bodega for lunch. In the late afternoon we'll head to La Guardia for a visit and tasting at the ultra modern Bodegas Ysios before we return to the hotel and a free evening.
On Friday we drive a few miles out of town to Bodegas Corral, producer of "Don Jacobo" wines for a visit and tasting. After our visit we drive into Haro for individual sightseeing and lunch. In the early afternoon we have a visit and tasting at Paternina return to Logroño for some sightseeing and in the evening we have dinner at Restaurante El Cacheterro in Calle Laurel.
We depart the hotel on Saturday morning set off on the short journey to San Vicente Sonsierra where we visit Bodegas Ramirez de la Piscina, owned by a genial character whose ancestors included El Cid and whose family has been linked with the Kings of Navarra since the 13th C and make our way back to the coast. We'll have time for sightseeing in Bilbao before we board the ferry for the 2045 sailing from Bilbao to Portsmouth. We can't pre-book meals aboard this ship, the "Cap Finistere" . Next day continue taking advantage of the sea airs. The ship arrives in Portsmouth at 1930 and after disembarkation the coach returns to the original pick up points.

(Cost includes: ferry crossing with cabin, one breakfasts and one dinner, a wine tasting on board; three nights' 3* hotel accommodation with buffet breakfast in Spain; all visits and tastings as described; one lunch and two dinners, Tour Escort.)

Details of cabin upgrades can be viewed under Information – the Santander sailing

Departure date

Date 2012	Price
May 8th	£560

Single supplement £80 (Room & cabin)

Online Booking click here

Pick up points Plymouth-Newton Abbot-Exeter-Dorchester-Portsmouth

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Western Loire Valley, France 6 days

This beautiful region of France has long held an appeal for British visitors. The gentle scenery, fine wines and good food combined with its history, much of it entwined with our own, draws tourists from all over the world and we have had a group or two in the area for several years. This year we will once again be based in Saumur and our programme sets out to show you an interesting part of this Department with the emphasis on first class sightseeing and a look at some of the wines to be found here as well as sampling the cuisine.
We set off on the first day and travel to Portsmouth to catch the overnight ferry to Caen. A cabin is provided.
On arrival in France on the second day we head southwards to Angers and to the riverside village of Bouchemain where we will have lunch on the banks of the river at the Auberge de la Marine overlooking the River Loire. In the mid-afternoon we have a tasting at the Chateau des Fesles after which we continue along the river to Saumur where we check in to the Hotel Adagio for three nights. Evening free.
On the third day we make a short drive across Saumur to the Cadre Noir ,home of the French Army Riding School, where we will have a tour and visit of the establishment. From here we travel to Gratien-Meyer to sample their sparkling wine and have a snack lunch on the terrace overlooking the river. In the mid-afternoon we travel to Montsoreau to visit the troglodyte caves where the mushrooms grow. Dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast on the fourth day we drive to St Nicolas de Bourgeuil to sample some excellent reds at Domaine des Vallettes and afterwards we drive into the famous old town of Chinon for sightseeing. In the early afternoon we visit Fontevraud Abbey. Our final stop today will be at St Cyr en Bourg to sample the wines at the Cave des Vignerons de Saumur. Dinner at the hotel this evening.
On the fifth day we drive west towards Angers and have a morning tasting at Domaine du Closel followed by lunch at the chateau. In the afternoon we continue our journey northwards to Caen.
We catch the overnight sailing from Ouistreham and a cabin is provided.
We reach Portsmouth on the sixth day at 0630 and the coach then returns to the original pick up points.

(Cost includes: all travel by executive coach ;ferry crossing with cabin both ways; three nights 3* hotel accommodation with breakfast and lunch or dinner each day; all excursions as detailed; all entrances; Tour Escort

Departure date

Dates 2012	Price
June 16th	£595

Single supplement £145

Pick ups Plymouth – Newton Abbot – Exeter-Bridport - Portsmouth