TOURS ARE POSTPONED!!
All of us are concerned and watchful given the international health climate caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We have been monitoring the state of this fast-spreading virus here in the U.S. as well as in Europe since the very beginning. Although we want to concentrate on the educational and fun experience of our tours, the safety of our participants is our ultimate concern. Until we feel it is once again safe to travel we are postponing our 2020 tours.
Having a safe, fun, and relaxed wine experience is not possible until we all get more reassurance from health authorities.
We are continually monitoring the world situation as well as local situations in the countries and cities where we have programs. As soon as we know the future dates of the programs, we will contact all of our participants. We thank you for your patience and support.
April 19 to 25, 2020 First, we will be going to the very famous Burgundy region where we will have our home base in lovely Dijon for a full week of tasting and discovering the charms of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay while we travel through this beautiful area of France.
The famous Burgundy wine region is located in the valleys of the Saône, an offshoot of the well-known Rhône, with its picturesque villages and distinct climate. The most famous wines made here are dry red wines (Pinot Noir) and dry white wines (Chardonnay) Other grape varietals are found as well, such as Gamay and Aligoté and so are some rosés and sparkling wines (Crémant de Bourgogne). However, its supersexy star remains Pinot Noir which willingly takes center stage. (Remember the movie Sideways and its adulation of Pinot?). Burgundy has become known for being the best land in the world for producing both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Burgundy (or Bourgogne in French) has a higher number of AOCs (appellation d'origine contrôlée) than any other French region and takes great pride in its Grand Cru vineyards, the highest level of classification in the region. After all, Burgundy can boast having the most expensive wines in France (think Romanée-Conti)!
Defining vineyards by their terroir is of utmost importance in Burgundy and exists for centuries since medieval times when monasteries were key in developing the industry. Terroir is a sense of place, it means that when you drink a wine, you completely taste the region where the wine was made. Most simply, terroir is the concept that the land from which the grapes are grown conveys a unique quality that is specific to that single vineyard. The premier region of Burgundy is the aptly named Cote D’Or (Golden Slope) where the wine may as well be liquid gold! Vineyards are often very small holdings, measuring a few hectares each, but the wine makers try their best to reflect their terroir in the bottle. The region is dotted with many small but world-famous appellations – Gevrey Chambertin, Montrachet, Chambolle-Musigny, and Vosne Romanee are just a few.
Bonne Cuvée Wine Tours will be in the Bourgogne region, our home base will be in spectacular Dijon where we will get to know Pinot and its other siblings for an unforgettable week!
CLICK HERE FOR BURGUNDY TOUR DETAILS
April 26 to May 2 2020, Next, we will experience a week in exotic Portugal where we will be based in charming Porto and from there visit the Douro Valley and nearby wine regions!
Bonne Cuvee Wine Tours 2020 trip to Portugal promises to be an unforgettable experience in a wine region that is still waiting to be discovered by the world’s wine lovers. From Porto we will make daily forays into several of Portugal’s major wine regions. Although mostly known for Port wines, Portugal boasts over 150 grape varieties producing wines that are so much more; with immense diversity that is guaranteed to satisfy most anyone’s palate.
The Douro Valley, the first specifically demarcated wine region in the world and a UNESCO Heritage Site is among the most breathtakingly scenic wine regions on the planet. You will be first awed by the views from the hilltops above the valley as the Douro Rivers snakes through miles of vineyards on its hillsides and then experience a boat ride on the river that will provide a completely different perspective. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Malvasia grape varieties thrive here and are among the hundreds of others that are unique to this region. Our visits to the wineries will offer opportunities to enhance your wine knowledge and your palate.
We will also visit the Minho region made famous by their Vinho Verde wines – fresh, young and slightly effervescent. This is one of Portugal’s oldest and largest wine regions where hundreds of small producers use indigenous grape varieties such as Alvarinho, Trajadura, and Loureiro. Another region near Porto is the Dao, named for the river that flows through granite hillsides that produce unique wines that are fruit forward with smooth tannins.
Our visits to vineyards and wineries in and around Porto promise to offer insight into the unique terroir of the region with its small estates that produce wines that are about to become sensational on the world stage.
CLICK HERE FOR PORTUGAL TOUR DETAILS