Classic Wine Tour
Explore French, Italian, Spanish wine regions (and many more) on a Classic Wine Tour
Typically an 'Arblaster & Clarke Classic Wine Tour' is a longer multi-centre wine tour to classic european wine regions and the how you make the journey is part of the tour! There will be special appointments and high quality tastings at wineries and chateaux that are very well known or up and coming stars of tomorrow. These are private invitations to dine at wine estates so that you can taste the wines as they should be enjoyed, with traditional local food.
The tour are will cover two or more regions in one country, or indeed travelling to two countries giving you an overview of the different regions. On a ‘Classic Wine Tour’, you will have the sense that you are on a tour that is a journeytruly exploring the regions and offering a special and privileged insight, perhaps visiting parts of Europe that you may not have had the chance to escape to before. You'll appreciate the differences and similarities in wine styles, grape varieties and wine making and taste some of the finest French, Spanish and Italian wines.
Our Wine Guides are experts, either Masters of Wine or wine journalists, who will help you gain a greater understanding of the wines. Like A&C, they often have great relationships with the wine producers and this is reflected in the welcome that you will be given at our chosen wine visits.
The wine regions are not only in beautiful countryside, but are almost always near towns and cities rich in historical and cultural interest. Knowing that our clients have many special interests beyond just the grape, we leave you some time to explore the cities on foot, and to visit the museums, art galleries and gardens. We can also arrange an optional guided tour with a local guide to give local background on the towns you are staying in.
You can extend your wine tour for a few days at the end to give a longer break and more time to explore the final destination.
The hotels are personally selected by our in-house team for their position and high level of comfort and wherever possible the local character. These are mostly 4* and 5*, but sometimes good 3*.
Where tours include flights we will endeavour to choose the most convenient scheduled flight times for the tour, and these are generally with British Airways from either Gatwick or Heathrow. Where BA does not operate the route or where other scheduled airlines offer better timings we will include these flights instead. The itinerary and website shows which airlines we are using and the approximate time of day. As we are booking flights up to a year ahead, flights can change from Gatwick to Heathrow or vice-versa and schedules do change throughout the year.
You should check with us before booking any connecting flights or preferably ask us to do this for you so that you can be booked onto the correct onward flights.
Joining on Location
If you would like to make your own travel arrangements for any of the tours in the brochure, you can join us on location. Several of the French tours are convenient to access by train or self-drive.
Where a flight or train is included we can usually deduct the travel cost. On our coach tours it is also possible for you to travel out by plane or train and to come back with us by coach with your wine purchases. There is no deduction for not taking the coach in one or both directions.
If your travel plans are different from the main tour please check with us at the time of booking what arrangements can be made for picking you up or dropping you off.
Tours
Switzerland & Burgundy by Train
31 May - 6 June 2010
Friuli, Istria & Slovenia
7 - 13 June 2010
Great Wines of Northern Spain
27 September - 4 October 2010
Alsace by Train
11 - 15 October 2010
Southern Tuscany & Chianti Classico
18 - 23 October 2010
Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Chablis & Champagne
24 - 28 October 2010
Sicily
24 - 30 October 2010
Burgundy & Beaujolais By Coach or Train
24 - 28 October 2010
Bordeaux (St Emilion) & Cognac by Train
25 - 29 October 2010
