Auckland
New Zealand’s largest city also boasts a large and diverse wine region. Some of the country’s oldest and most established wineries can be found in the Auckland area – vines were first planted in Northland in 1819, four hours north of the city. The region is best known for Bordeaux style wines, including Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays, which can be sampled at the 100 or so wineries scattered across Northland, Keri Keri, Warkworth and Matakana to the north of the city and Waiheke Island and Kumeu, closer to the city.

Gisborne
On the most easterly point of the north island, Gisborne is beautiful, charming and steeped in Maori culture. It’s also New Zealand’s 4th largest grape growing region, concentrating on Chardonnay and other white varietals including Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Riesling. Gisborne is very sunny – in fact, it’s the first wine region in the world to see the sun every day! The vineyards and wineries are close to Gisborne city. Just to the west is the Bay of Plenty, best known for its rugged landscape and beautiful surf beaches – it’s a popular holiday destination for many New Zealanders.  Flights to New Zealand operate out of all international airports.

Hawke’s Bay
On the east coast of North Island is Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand’s most popular food and wine destination. The temperate climate and beautiful rural landscape is home to some of New Zealand’s best wineries – lots of sunshine and different soil types make it an ideal viticultural region. While Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape, the long ripening season provides perfect conditions for red varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. You’ll need at least a day to sufficiently eat and drink your way through this area!

Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a great weekend destination from New Zealand’s capital, Wellington. With quaint little towns and a spectacular mountain backdrop, wine is just one attraction of the area. Wairarapa is best known for its boutique wineries and eateries – particularly in the town of Martinborough. While the volume of wine production in Wairarapa is low, the area is internationally recognised as producing some of the best quality Pinot Noir wines.

Marlborough
Marlborough is New Zealand’s largest wine producing region, and is arguably home to the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc. Its location on the north eastern corner of NZ’s south island is recognised as one of the world’s best places to grow Sauvignon grapes. It also makes very good Chardonnay and Riesling and is fast developing a reputation for high quality Pinot Noir. The city of Blenheim is the hub of the area, and most of the region’s wineries can be reached from here. There are, however, many wineries to visit so you’ll want to give yourself a good couple of days to do it justice. Blenheim is also just a 20 minute drive from the spectacular Marlborough Sounds.

Nelson
A haven for artisans, food and wine lovers, Nelson is a charming wine region just two hours south of Marlborough. The town has a certain alternative feel, and boasts not only boutique and picturesque wineries but beautiful golden beaches set against snow capped mountains. Nelson vineyards concentrate on grape varieties suited to cooler conditions, with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Noir accounting for most of the grapes grown.

Canterbury
Vast and sweeping plains join the Southern Alps of New Zealand to the east coast of the South Island in Canterbury, a relatively new wine region. Despite being in its infancy, the area is fast becoming recognised for its Riesling and Pinot Noir wines. The city of Christchurch is the heart of this region, from which most of the wineries can be reached.

Central Otago
Last, but definitely not least is Central Otago, a region often referred to as the most picturesque wine producing area in the country. Wine tasting is just one of the activities to enjoy in this region, with the ski fields and a plethora of adventure activities attracting visitors from all over the world. Queenstown is the main city, and the many wineries in the area are recognised for their quality Pinot Noirs. Give yourself at least a few days to experience all that this area has to offer.

Fine wine is one of New Zealand’s main attractions, so make sure you include a trip to its world class wineries when you next visit. If you’re a wine connoisseur, you need to sample the Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, Rieslings and Pinot Noirs that have helped make New Zealand an internationally acclaimed wine destination.

Written by Guest Author:  Samantha Deavin

Photo Credits:  #1 Boston Public Library, #2 Flickr:westius, #3 &4 Flickr:Philip  #5 Flickr: iambents

Harvest Italia 2011 by Spirit of Italy Tours – 11/1-8
This one week tour treats a small group of 12 participants to life on a lovely agriturissmo farm in the heart of Tuscany.  There will be olive picking at a 10 acre olive farm, followed by a visit to an olive oil pressing facility where the olives you have harvested will be turned into your own bottle of oil that you can take home.  There will be lots of lovely meals, cooking classes, wine tasting and local sightseeing.

Culture Discovery Vacations - 11/5-12
This lively tour combines olive harvesting and milling in Umbria, wine tasting, three half-day cooking classes, a morning soak in the hot springs once frequented by Michelangelo, visit to famed Deruta Ceramics factory, and of course lot of wine tastings and excursions.

Olive Harvest in Italy by Cook in Umbria – 11/1-15
This company offers four day packages with accommodations in a lovely country farmhouse apartment.  The tour in celebration of the fruits of Umbria includes a morning of olive harvesting, 3 cooking classes, area wines and excursion to Assisi.

The Passionate Olive – 11/3-10, 11/10-17
These aficionados of everything EVOO are inviting you to be Italian for a week leading two tours to Umbria.  Your week will be filled with olive harvesting and processing, visits to ceramic and textile makers,  cooking classes, and you’ll attend a truffle festival in Citta di Castello (Tour #1) or a chestnut and wine festival in San Martino (Tour #2), as well as a Spa day at world famous Fonteverde Thermal Spa.

Olive Oil Harvest by A Taste of Spain, on request Nov – Jan
This 5 night, 6 day tour is centered in the Andalusian cities of Seville, Ubeda and Cordova in 4-star hotels.  An English speaking olive oil expert will be your personal guide, leading you on a total olive oil immersion with visits to the areas most prestigious oil producers.

Picking Olives in Sicily by Italian Visits, on request
This tour set in the neo-classical 17th Century Villa Ravida in the town of Menfi and hosts small groups from 2 to 8 people.  The Ravida family is known far and wide for both their cultivation of olives and production of olive oil as well as cookery classes with many recipes coming from their cookbook The Seasons of Sicily.  The area is rich with Greek temples and shrines, including an Acropolis and Hellenic Temples at Selinute.  You’ll also visit Marsala to see the Salt Road, Salt Pans and then the Donnafagata Winery.

Anyone want to plan a picking party??

I’ve just returned from the best wine country getaway EVER – this destination knocked my socks off!

Picture a location with miles of handsomely tended vineyards, fabulous artisan farm to table restaurants, a beautiful waterfront setting, charming historic village, delightful luxury inns, grand estate wineries, active arts community and world renown theater performances.   You might be imagining that I flew off to Napa or Sonoma, Bordeaux, or perhaps Argentina, but my fabulous getaway was a very short flight away…. to Ontario Canada….  just a bit west of Toronto on the north side of Niagara Falls, and a short drive from Buffalo New York.  Who knew that Ontario boasts one of the finest wine growing regions in the world?!! I had no idea such a wonderful romantic wine getaway destination awaited just across the Canadian boarder in Ontario.  I have to thank Wine Country Ontario and the Ontario Tourism Board for inviting me to visit – I am now a raving fan of this area.

A Bit of History – The Niagara region enjoys a unique micro-climate generated by the effects of Lake Ontario and Niagara Falls, resulting in exceptionally fertile soil and temperate growing conditions.  Fruit orchards have populated the region for centuries, and over the past 50 years an ever growing number of maverick grape growers have settled here to produce exceptional wines.  Today you can tour 5 distinct wine growing districts that boast over 100 vineyards. A special treat is discovering unique varietals that are produced nowhere else in the world.  And in case you haven’t heard,  Ontario is famous for their award winning Icewine, which should be sampled at every possible occasion – especially during the Icewine Festival in January!

Ontario also has a very strict quality control board who assures everything “from vineyard to glass passes through a quality-assurance and label-integrity program and is made from 100% Ontario grown grapes”.  Look for the VQA seal prominently displayed on Ontario’s finest wines.

My visit was to Niagara-On-The-Lake , a charming community stretching along Lake Ontario and often considered to be the loveliest town in Canada. There are magnificent homes, dramatic winery estates and mile upon mile of perfectly manicured vineyards.  The village is picture-book perfect with Victorian gingerbread latticework adorning boutiques, artist shops and hotels.  Flowers are blooming everywhere, and you’ll find an eclectic array of restaurants offering organic ingredients sourced from local farms, butchers and fromageries.  Evening brings on wonderful entertainment from the famous Shaw Festival that celebrates it’s 50th season this year.  Each week the Shaw Theater Company performs the works of Bernard Shaw and other famed playwrights in three vintage theaters from April through October.

Remarkable Vineyards – I was concerned at first that touring half a dozen wineries in one weekend would become monotonous – too much of a good thing so to speak.  I shouldn’t have worried though – the variety of wineries is stunning; each having it’s own distinct personality and philosophy of wine production.  Because the vineyards are modest in size, the character of the vintner shines through and each can be appreciated as a gem among many.  Here’s a brief look at my favorite winery visits:

The Hillebrand Winery- We had a wonderful visit to Hillebrand with its sophisticated earthy decor.  During a festive tasting of their refreshing sparkling wine selections, I learned to open a “champagne” style cork the right way (without having the wine explode all over the place).  Hint – hold the cork in one hand while gently twisting the bottle down and away with the other hand.  Down in the wine cellar we met these enormous “egg” vats where the wine ferments and the shape of the egg helps create tiny bubbles!  Next came a truly memorable dinner experience complete with wine pairings – the restaurant food is sensational.  I recommend checking out their “Whole Hog” dinners that feature 5 imaginative courses with wine pairings.  From my experience, Hillebrand is the complete package – wonderful wines, elegant setting, superb restaurant.

Stratus Vineyards – There is nothing staid or understated about Stratus!  Opened in 2005, the ultra modern winery is the first LEED Certified winery in the world.  Everything about their operation is done with a strict eye toward conservation and energy efficiency from the geo thermal wells used to heat and cool, to the facility design that allows grapes to be loaded at second floor level and then progress downward by gravity to barrel storage below ground.  Their operation is unique, exciting, and creative, as evidenced by the fact that there are no pumps used in the entire wine making process.  Their master-blender is known for his eccentricity and passion as he (blindfolded) tastes and blends 18 varietals into just 2 final wines.  I especially liked their line of “Wildass” wines at very reasonable prices.  I highly recommend participating in the “Taste LEED @ Stratus program, where  LEED Certified Stratus teams up with LEED Certified Fromager, Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Co, to put together a sensory delight of wine and cheese pairings.  Incredible!

Konzelmann Estate Winery – Pulling up to the Konzelmann visitors’ center leaves no doubt about their German heritage – it resembles a German castle and is the only waterfront vineyard.  Inside we met Herbert Konzelmann, founder of the vineyard, and learned of his family’s tradition of wine making that started generations ago in Germany.  Konzelmann Icewine has won the prestigious honor of being named in the Top 100 wine list by Wine Spectator Magazine.  I particularly liked the gift shop at the Konzelmann vineyard – lots of neat stuff!  And by all means keep an eye out for Mr. Konzelmann, he is often in the lobby to great visitors.

Ravine Vineyard – I saved my very favorite winery for last!  You have to love a place that combines ancestral farmland, a restored historic homestead, fabulous bakery, French Bistro, and the enthusiasm of three brothers saving the family farm from real estate developers – totally charming!  The energy and charisma at this winery will have you smiling as you round every corner.  Not only do they produce excellent wines, but their unpretentious presentation of exquisite food is (to me) astounding.  We stood in front of the bakery case transfixed and were sorry we couldn’t stay for a dinner in the Bistro.  We gobbled up the most whimsical powdered donuts I have ever seen, yummmm.

I should end this article now, because it’s getting very long, BUT THERE IS STILL SO MUCH MORE TO TELL!

Restaurant Recommendations:  The quality and variety of restaurants in Niagara-On-The-Lake is impressive, with most featuring fresh ingredients sourced locally.  We had a sensational lunch downtown at Zee’s Grill sitting out on the veranda.   Highlights included Lobster Poutine (french fries topped with cheese curd, lobster and hollandaise sauce – yummy!)  The Zeefood Salad (seafood)was a show stopper bringing  praises from the entire table.  (And ladies…. make a journey to the rest room – it’s very creative!)  As I mentioned above, our dinner at the Hillebrand Vineyards was exceptional.  I had spring lamb with stone ground polenta and Icewine tomato jam – delicious.  We also had a terrific pre-theater dinner at the elegant, waterfront, Oban Inn, Spa & Restaurant.  Here I dined on a delicately prepared arctic char paired with a wonderfully refreshing Riesling from the Reif Estate Vineyards.

Other Activities – because you can’t sip wine around the clock!  There are many fine spas in Niagara-On-The-Lake.  After our lunch at Zee’s we strolled next door to the Shaw Spa and had a Vinotherapy pedicure – my toes are still a-glow!  You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to do some biking  in the Niagara Region.  We had a long entertaining talk with the folks at Zoom Leisure and learned about the 100 miles of paved biking trails that make up the Greater Niagara Cycle Route.  You can wind your way through vineyards, along canals, historic forts and through the countryside – all on relatively flat terrain.  We wished we could have gone for a spin, but unfortunately it was raining too hard.  But on a future visit, I wouldn’t miss the chance to go on one of their guided tours – they have bikes for all ages and abilities.  And of course, no visit to this region would be complete without a stop at the very famous and still very impressive Niagara Falls.

Where To Stay – You will find a large selection of fine historic hotels as well as lovely inns and bed and breakfasts in this area.  Each of our tour participants stayed at a different BnB and we all loved our accommodations – here are the inns we stayed at:  Brockamour Manor, Copper Lane Bed and Breakfast, Three Forty Gate BnB, The Cottage.

Gathering Information: We flew to Toronto on Porter Airlines, a new Canadian airline that is gathering praise wherever they fly.  I’ll do a separate post all about them, but suffice to say they are putting class back in coach class!  Flights are approx an hour and a half from Chicago, New York or Boston.  Niagara-On-The-Lake is a 45 minute drive from Toronto, about 20 minutes from Buffalo New York, and approx 8 hour drive from New York or Boston.

The folks at Wine Country Ontario put out volumes of excellent information about the region.  Take a look at their year-round travel guide that can be viewed on the website.  Ontario Tourism also has a wonderful site that will provide lots of info for planning your trip to Toronto, the 5 wine districts and everything in-between.  Turn to the Niagara-On-The-Lake site for a great list of events, accommodations and theater tickets.

All in all, the Ontario Wine Region is a food and wine lover’s paradise and a fabulous destination for a getaway any time of year – I can’t wait to go back again!!

Up & Away Ballooning, who has been thrilling travelers with soaring balloon ascents for over 17 years, will donate a portion of every accessible balloon flight to the International Wheelchair Foundation.  The new equipment as well as all of their pilots are fully F.A.A. certified.   The folks at Up & Away Ballooning pride themselves in offering an experience that is longer and more scenic than other balloon operators in the region and limited to their tours to fewer passengers per flight.  They have a number of hot air balloons in use and can accommodate groups of varying sizes.   Give them a call at 800-711-2998 or visit them online (Up-Away.com) with all your questions.

California – Sonoma County Grape Camp
White Crane Winery Grape Stomp – Livermore
St. Supery Winery, Napa Valley
Schramsberg Vineyard, Napa Valley – Camp Schramsberg
Calaveras Grape Stomp, Sierra Foothills

Maine – Vin Fest at Cellardoor Vineyards, Lincolnville

Minnesota - Midwest Weekends (9 Great Grape Stomps)
Morgan Creek Vineyards – Annual Great Grape Stomp, near Mankato MN

New York – Crush on Niagara Wine Tours
Brotherhood Vineyards – Hudson Valley (Oldest continually operating vineyard in USA)

North Carolina – Duplin Winery Annual Grape Stomp, Rose Hill

Texas – Vintage Oaks, Texas Grape Stomp Championship, near San Antonio & Austin

Washington – Columbia Valley Winery Association
11 Vineyards including Columbia Crest and Oakwood Cellars

Participants are able to create a style of wine distinctly for themselves, ranging from ‘big and opulent to subtle and elegant’ says Mondavi.  Following the wine blending process, participants select a bottle and closure type of their liking and then craft a custom wine label.  There is a two-case minimum purchase and the final pricing will depend on the type of base wines selected for the blend.

The ‘Winemaker For A Day’ program takes place at the Oxbow Public Market in the Folio Enoteca & Winery (family wine bar, cafe and micro-winery) in downtown Napa.  For more information contact Jemina Whitman at 707-256-3700 or jwhitman@foliowine.com

If you’re within striking distance of the Northeast or Northwest of the USA you are blessed – these regions hold an embarrassment of riches with the nation’s premier wineries dotted along coastal roads.

Here’s are a list of great websites for finding Wine Trail Routes all across the United States:

Wine Trail Traveler. Chart routes in 9 prominent wine states in the US, and great reviews of wineries in 12 states, Canada and Italy.
Wine Trails of Washington State
OregonWineCountry.org – Interactive Wine Explorer, with over 250 wineries
California Wine Country Getaways
Texas Wine Trail – Who knew??
Virginia Wine Trails
Connecticut Wine Trail
New England Wineries

Salute!