Custom Trip Ideas: Special Interest Wine

South African Wine Sojourn

Eight guests decided to do South Africa a bit differently. As they had already been to Kruger National Park on safari, they came to us looking to go deep inside the South African wine industry. Specifically, they wanted insider knowledge and access. Beginning with a lecture at the Cape Wine Academy from a local wine expert and sommelier, guests used their luxurious Cape Town villa as a jumping off point for explorations of the Constantia wine region and Cape Point vineyards, while still managing to discover the highlights of Cape Town. They ended their journey with four nights in the spectacular wine region of Stellenbosch, just north of Cape Town, enjoying a hands-on winemaking experience before heading out for two more days of wine tasting and cellar visits.

Adventure and Wine in Argentina and Chile

No trip encompassing the highlights of South America would be complete without a visit to the central valley of Chile and the Argentine Mendoza wine region. Home to some of the oldest grape vines in the world, Mendoza is justifiably famous for its Malbec. Our guests enjoyed a visit to Buenos Aires and Iguassu Falls before continuing on to the Mendoza area where they called Cavas Wine Lodge home. There, they enjoyed days of hiking, rafting, horseback riding and, most importantly, wine tasting. They continued to Bariloche in the Lakes District of Argentina and then crossed the border into Chile, making their way to the Casablanca wine region and some of the world’s smallest and most boutique wineries.

Highlights of Portugal

When people think of Portugal, they think of beautiful beaches, tiled ancient cities and, of course, port. When guests requested an in-depth exploration of Portugal, we jumped at the opportunity to show them the country’s history, culture, food and wine. Beginning with Lisbon, and a day trip to Sintra, guests enjoyed the colorful and flavorful sights and smells of Portugal. After exploring the cuisine of the Alentejo countryside, guests continued on to the Douro Valley, home to the grapes and vineyards of the world’s most famous port. Enjoying private tastings and exclusive behind-the-scenes visits to cellars, guests were able to learn about the different finishes of port and were also able to blend their own port to take home as the perfect keepsake.