From water to wine

IN a new approach to attract the visiting friends and relatives of expats living in Australia, today the Mudgee Region launches its new tourism campaign, Water to Wine – supported by the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package. 

Each year, thousands of visiting friends and relatives flock to the shores of Sydney, spending time with their loved ones and enjoying the beach-lifestyle. Too often, however, hosts who live fast-paced lives are tasked with coordinating activities and adventures to keep their guests occupied.

What is most interesting, is that more than half of international Visiting Friends and Relatives visitors (55%) will take over-night trips on their own, with 17% of the hosts accompanying them on overnight/short break trips.

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Perfect combination - Truffles and Wine

WESTERN Australia’s truffle season is upon us and we wanted to put the region’s newest 4-day truffle hunting and wine travel package on your radar. Available now through the end of August, this gourmet experience takes place in Margaret River – the heart of Western Australia’s most unique food and wine destination. 

The Margaret River region boasts over 120 wineries and is also home to stunning beaches along the Indian Ocean. During the hunts, travelers can meander through an enchanting canopy of truffle trees with the companionship of highly trained truffle dogs in search of the rare and delicious Black Truffle (Tuber melanosporum). 

These exclusive truffle hunts are a must for foodies and those who want the ‘farm-to-plate’ experience in one of the world’s premium Black Truffle regions, and are only held on The Truffle & Wine Co.’s farm in Manjimup, Western #Australia. It is one of the few truffières in the world that allow a select number of people each year to participate in the rare privilege of a #trufflehunting experience.

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Ultimate Winery Experiences

ULTIMATE Winery Experiences #Australia is thrilled to announce the inclusion of two new members to the collection – Jackalope at Willow Creek Vineyard, on the Mornington Peninsula and Mandoon Estate, located in the Swan Valley. Both properties offer luxury boutique accommodation, further enhancing UWEA’s suite of experiences. 

Luxury boutique hotel, Jackalope, opened in April 2017 to widespread excitement and acclaim, immediately earning one of Australian tourism’s most revered accolades – Australia’s Hotel of the Year at the annual Gourmet Traveller Australian Hotel Guide Awards.

Mandoon Estate is the first Swan Valley winery in the UWEA collection. Western Australia’s beautiful Swan Valley is a favourite of Perth locals, situated just over 25km from Perth CBD.

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New journeys on the Napa Valley Wine Train

THE Napa Valley Wine Train recently launched new experiences, including the expansion of its inaugural and most successful tour to date, Quattro Vino, as well as new Twilight Private Tours that allows guests to enjoy an evening train journey and an exclusive dining experience. 

The Quattro Vino now includes four new tours—Legacy, Estate, Collective and a fourth tour to be announced soon—that offer an exciting culinary and wine adventure featuring stops at three of Napa Valley’s most renowned wineries aboard beautifully renovated 1915 Pullman railcars. 

The Twilight Private Tours launched July 22 and includes gourmet appetizers and wine tastings onboard, dessert and coffee upon return, and transportation to an exclusive evening dining experience at Raymond Vineyards or Grgich Hills Estate.

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Cheers to the Walla Walla Wine Train

WALLA WALLA has long been known as friendly town set in the heart of Washington's wine country, but getting there can be a challenge. The Walla Walla Wine Train by InquisiTours just made visiting a lot simpler. Travelers shouldn't have to follow in the footsteps of pioneers on the Oregon Trail, following wagon ruts for 2,000 miles. Now it's as easy as booking a tour and hopping on a train. The inclusive escorted tour showcases all Eastern Washington has to offer with stops in two of the region's unique and complimentary towns: Leavenworth and Walla Walla.

InquisiTours offers two- to four-night tours leaving Seattle and Portland. Amtrak's Empire Builder covers the first leg of the scenic journey from Seattle along the Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains and Leavenworth with views of the water, multiple mountain ranges, and a trip through America's longest rail tunnel, the Cascade Tunnel.

Enjoy a two-night deluxe hotel stay in Leavenworth, Washington's premier mountain town. In this Bavarian-themed town, travelers can choose from a wide variety of activities, from paddle boarding, zip lines or even a visit the famous Nutcracker Museum. An organized event to a local beer garden offers guests a chance to sample some local craft beers and homemade bratwurst.

The tour journeys along the mighty Columbia River through Hanford Reach National Monument, the Columbia's last remaining stretch of wild river, into the heart of Washington Wine Country. The effects of the ice age Missoula Flood on the land combined with the mighty Columbia reveal a vast landscape that surprise even lifelong North Westerners.


While visiting many of the Columbia Valley's unique AVAs (American Viticulture Area), Red Mountain, Walla Walla Valley, and Yakima Valley guests can sample world class wines.


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5 Star Luxury in Wine Country

The Marlborough Lodge is a grand country estate on 16 acres of secluded parklands, located in the heart of the famous Marlborough wine region and billed as “the ultimate retreat in New Zealand’s gourmet province”. 

Ten contemporary suites are elegantly designed to ensure every comfort while there’s an in-house bar and a stunning private dining room serving fresh local cuisine. 

Explore the region’s gourmet delights cruising on a luxury launch or a private gourmet wine and food tour.

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Tickle your taste buds in Italy

#ITALY offers the food and wine enthusiast a great destination to visit in Autumn and Winter. Listed here are some events that might entice you to book a flight and head off for a short break.

EUROCHOCOLATE, Perugia, Umbria - October 14-23
The 23rd edition of Eurochocolate, the annual celebration of all things chocolate.

WHITE TRUFFLE FAIR, Acqualagna, Marche - October 30 to November 13
Acqualagna’s central square, Piazza Mattei, hosts the Fair with over one hundred stands, where you can buy fresh truffles and other local quality products such as cured meats, wine, honey and cheese.

EIN PROSIT, Friuli Venezia Giulia - October 20-23
The 28th food and wine festival with tastings of regional food in the many restaurants, wine tastings, workshops, seminars and other events related to the theme of food and wine.

MERANO WINE FESTIVAL& CULINARIA FOOD FESTIVAL Merano, South Tyrol - November 4-8
At the Kurhaus, the famous Art Nouveau building in the heart of Merano, fine wines and haute gastronomie are brought together with the simple unifying idea of “true excellence”.

FESTA DEL TORRONE, Cremona, Lombardy - November 19-27
Torrone is the sweet nougat typical of Cremona, now famous all over the world. This year 's festival dedicates 9 days to its delicious creation with stalls selling all types of torrone, shows, music and historical re-enactments.

CIOCCO SHOW Bologna - November 16-20
The Ciocco Show in Bologna is as major event dedicated to chocolate which pays homage to the food of the gods: a schedule of tasty treats, fun, culture and shows.

FIERA DEL BUE GRASSO Carrù (Cuneo) - December 8
The “Fat Ox Fair” is an irresistible event- a living mix of local traditions, excellent food, competition, good wine and colourful people from bull breeders to bull buyers. Eat the famous “bollito misto” to complete your day!

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Picture Credit: By Imre Solt 

All aboard the wine train

FRANCE'S latest cultural attraction, the international wine museum – La Cité du Vin – opens in June in #Bordeaux. 

The museum is a 10-storey swirl of glass and steel on the banks of the River Garonne. Visitors can take a self-guided tour, exploring a series of themed spaces to discover the story of wine worldwide through the ages. The tour culminates with a glass of wine in the top-floor belvedere, providing a 360° view of the city and surrounding vineyards.

It isn't the only new structure on Bordeaux's landscape. The city will host matches –including the Wales-Slovakia match on June 11 – in the upcoming Euro 2016 championships at the newly-opened Stade de Bordeaux.

Visitors can book to travel by train from any UK station to the French city in a single transaction on the rail-booking platform Loco2 (https://loco2.com). Travelling from London to Bordeaux by train costs from £63 one-way in standard class and takes approximately seven hours by Eurostar and TGV. In mid-2017, the journey time will decrease by 80 minutes when the LGV Sud-Ouest high-speed line between Tours and Bordeaux is completed.

The new branch of the French high-speed rail network could also allow non-stop travel from London to the popular wine region. Eurostar, which operates international trains from St Pancras, says it is looking to add Bordeaux to its direct destinations beyond Paris.

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To Tuscany launches Chianti Classics trail

VILLA-BOOKING website To #Tuscany has created a free trail to mark the 300th anniversary of the delineation of the Chianti wine-growing area by Cosimo III de Medici. 

To Tuscany's '10 Chianti Classics' is a selection of new and recommended activities and experiences to help guests make the most of their holiday during this anniversary year … from wine-tastings to star-gazing and open-air concerts to ice-cream-making demonstrations.

A highlight of the trail is the chance to follow in the tyre tracks of the professional cyclists competing in the 2016 Giro d'Italia. Italy's premier cycling race will include a special time trial through the Chianti vineyards on May 15. 

There's also the chance to taste some of the best wines produced in the region and tour a world-class collection of art at Castello di Ama, where visitors can combine tastings of renowned vintages and see works by artists such as Louise Bourgeois and Anish Kapoor.

www.to-tuscany.com/10-chianti-classics 

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Stay on a vineyard

WINE TOURISTS have the chance to stay on a vineyard estate in #Puglia, #Italy.

Aria Luxury Apulia, which specializes in holiday homes to rent, has a five-bedroom luxury farmhouse surrounded by 200 acres of vineyards and olive groves. Masseria Amaranto is a restored 16th century farmhouse with a large swimming pool in the heart of the Puglian countryside.

Chiara Tenuzzo, director of Aria Luxury Apulia says: ‘This is a dream come true for people with an interest in wine. You wouldn’t be able to rent a villa on an ancient wine estate with any normal travel agent. But as we specialize in luxury experiences in Puglia, we have direct relationships with property owners in the region, so we can offer these incredible opportunities.’

The villa is within walking distance of the winery, a wine museum, and a 16th century castle, and it’s 15 miles from a sandy beach.

http://arialuxuryapulia.com/puglia

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Picture Credit: arialuxuryapulia.com/puglia

Villa offer

BOOKINGS FOR YOU is marking the launch of its portfolio of #villas in Le Marche, #Italy, with 10% discounts and free exclusive wine tasting experiences for holidaymakers who book by the end of February. The agency has joined forces with The Winefathers and local winemaker, Riomaggio, to offer guests exclusive wine tastings experiences at vineyards in Montegranaro.

The agency was established in 2011, offering villa and apartment rentals throughout Italy, and this year expanding into Le Marche and Puglia for the first time.

www.bookingsforyou.com
www.thewinefathers.com

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Summer secrets of New South Wales

FOR holidaymakers looking to leave the hustle and bustle of the big, popular beaches and relax, have a quiet drink somewhere new, or go on a camping adventure, Destination #NewSouthWales suggests these options … 

Mackerel Beach, Sydney: On the western shores of Pittwater in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Mackerel Beach is secluded, picturesque, and accessible only by boat from Palm Beach. The beach has several beachside properties available for weekend rentals.

Krinklewood Winery: In the Hunter Valley, this boutique cellar door and bio-dynamic winery is set among Provencal-style gardens overlooking the vineyards and olive trees off the main wine trail in the Hunter Valley. It’s a pleasant two-hour drive from Sydney.

Mystery Bay camping ground: Mystery Bay camp ground is one of the few natural camping areas remaining on the New South Wales coast. On the far south coast five-and-a-half hours from Sydney, the campsites are scattered throughout the native bush of spotted gums right by the beach. The area has fantastic beaches and rocky coves.

Wayward Brewing Company: Get lost on purpose and stroll down Gehrig Lane in Camperdown to get a cold craft beer at the newly-opened Wayward Brewery. Sit back on one of the 70's style couches under a beer keg lamp and settle in for an afternoon out of the sun in the brewer’s dimly-lit atmospheric warehouse space.

Nightcap National Park: Explore the ancient World Heritage-listed rainforest of the Nightcap National Park near Lismore in north-eastern New South Wales. The Protestor Falls track through the rainforest is an ideal short walk for nature lovers.

www.sydney.com





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Picture Credit: Minyon Falls & rhyolite by Poyt448 Peter Woodard - Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

Croatia launches tourism push

CROATIA’S tourist board has launched a multi-channel marketing campaign to boost visitor numbers. Its ‘Full of Life’ campaign focuses on the varied activities and experiences on offer throughout #Croatia, from historical centres, fine wines and music festivals.

Speaking at the launch in London, Ratomir Ivicic, director of the Croatian National Tourist Board said: ‘Our latest campaign builds on strong growth in 2015 and is rooted in the emotional connections made when tourists visit. So many people enjoy different aspects of Croatia and have different memories linked to assets such as culture, nature, and gastronomy. This is really what sets it apart from other Mediterranean destinations.’

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Picture Credit: "Supetar Harbor" by Andrewmp - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons 

Wine estate opened to mountain bikers

TO TUSCANY'S guests can take a two-wheeled tour of one of Chianti's top wine estates with the opening of a natural path which leads deep into its vineyards and olive groves.

Ancient by-ways once used by labourers to move around the farms have been restored using re-cycled materials to form the newly-opened route on the Dievole Estate. The 12-mile circuit can be expanded to 16 miles by following its 15 side trails. It has been marked according to difficulty, length, and altitude, with viewpoints suggested and sights such as an 18th-century stone aqueduct along the way.

The terrain of the 11th century vineyard is ideal for #mountainbikers, with its challenging mix of uphills, downhills, and fords. But walkers, horse-riders, and cross-country runners are welcome to follow the path.

to-tuscany.com

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Fine wine in Slovenia

SLOVENIA'S second-largest city, #Maribor, is gearing up for its 15th Old Vine Festival (October 4-November 11).

The event marks the beginning of the autumn harvest, with feasts and celebrations filling the streets as the town comes alive with music and local wine-growers and chefs showcase their produce.

Maribor is the home to the world's oldest grape vine, as verified by the Guinness Book of World Records. It has been growing fruit for more than 400 years. 

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Top tucker Down Under

THE so-called godfather of modern cooking, Marco Pierre White, will be taking the helm alongside #RickStein at this year's Margaret River Gourmet Escape (November 20-22) a three-day #foodandwine festival, held by the white sand beaches of Western Australia's #MargaretRiver wine region.

The festival – sponsored by Audi – will have a full programme of events led by more than 40 of the world's top chefs and wine experts.

Marco says: ‘The Australian food scene fascinates me, so I am especially excited to return and be part of this extraordinary festival and explore the diversity of produce and wine from this beautiful region. Joining me is an impressive line-up of international talent who feel the same way.’ 

Festival tickets are on sale www.ticketek.com.au

www.gourmetescape.com.au
www.westernaustralia.com





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