- The International Kitchen
- Wine Themed
Our Top Wine Tours of 2025
Discover Provence: Food and Wine Tastings in Avignon, France
Testimonials From Happy Travellers
Wine Tours in France and Italy
Some of our destinations lend themselves more readily to wine tours and wine-themed culinary tours. In France, it is no surprise that our wine-themed cooking vacations are in places such as Bordeaux, where Médoc, Graves, and Sauternes are but a few of the wines you can explore on our Bordeaux wine tours. Or in Burgundy, where or Burgundy wine tours can be explored in conjunction with traditional French gastronomy. Or of course in Champagne, where our Champagne wine tours and tasting will school you on the king of bubbles! And these are but a few of the regions in France where we offer wine-themed culinary tours.
In Italy our wine-themed cooking vacations are in Tuscany, where our Tuscan wine tours encompass everything from Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino to the Super Tuscans and Bolgheri wines of the west; in Piedmont, where Barolo and Barbera reign supreme during our Piedmont wine tours; and also in such regions as the Veneto and Sicily, each with their own wine varieties and winemaking styles that you can explore on our Italy wine tours.
Our Spain wine tours run the gamut from Rioja and Txakoli wines in the northern Basque country to the rich wines and sherries of the south and Andalusia. Our Portugal wine tours and wine-themed cooking vacations explore Port wine but also the wines of the Douro Valley.
Finally, we offer wine-themed tours in North and South America as well. Whether you want to head to California’s Napa Valley on a Napa wine tour, or to Mendoza to taste Argentinian wines, we have plenty of wine-themed trips for every traveler.
FAQ about Wine-Tasting Tours
-
What is wine tasting etiquette?
Wine tasting etiquette varies by region, but some universal principles enhance your experience on our tours. Hold the glass by the stem to avoid warming the wine with your hands. When tasting, take time to appreciate each wine’s characteristics without rushing. In formal tastings, it’s acceptable to use the provided spittoon, especially during multiple tastings. Most importantly, there are no wrong observations – our expert guides encourage questions and personal impressions, making wine tasting accessible to everyone.
-
What are the 5 S's of wine?
The 5 S’s – See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip, and Savor – form the foundation of wine appreciation on our tours:
- See: Observe the wine’s color and clarity.
Swirl: Release the wine’s aromas and observe its “legs”. - Sniff: Identify the bouquet’s complex aromas.
- Sip: Take a small amount to coat your palate.
- Savor: Appreciate the wine’s finish and complexity Our guides demonstrate these techniques in historic cellars and sun-lit tasting rooms across Europe’s finest wine regions.
- See: Observe the wine’s color and clarity.
-
What to say when wine tasting?
Focus on describing your personal experience rather than trying to identify “correct” answers. Start with basic observations about the wine’s characteristics:
- Is it light or full-bodied?
- What fruits or other flavors do you detect?
- How does the finish feel? Our expert sommeliers encourage this natural approach, helping you develop your palate while learning each region’s unique wine vocabulary, from Bordeaux’s “terroir” to Tuscany’s “corposo.”
