Wine Tourism Fam Trip: Grape Escape Portugal

By winepleasures | Published: September 1, 2010

Music and Vinho Verde in the Minho

Familiarization Trips (Fam Trips, for short) for Tour Operators and Travel Agents are common practice for the travel industry. For the tourism provider it is probably by far the most cost-effective marketing tool they can invest in to gain greater market share and sales. The provider is able to appeal to the Agent’s five senses by providing culinary and cultural experiences. This kind of marketing activity aims to inspire the agent to design and develop new products using the destination and providers sponsoring the Fam Trip as well as of course helping to sell their product better. Few, if any Fam Trips are offered to Tour Operators exclusively related to Wine and Culinary tourism. The Fam Trip: Grape Escape Programme is probably a unique opportunity to discover most of Portugal’s wine regions.

The 2011 Wine Tourism Workshop & Fam Trip will take place between 2nd & 6th February in Porto, Portugal. International tour operators and travel agents will join together to meet international wine tourism providers including wineries, hotels, tourist boards, wine routes, incoming agents, to discuss grape escape ideas for the FIT, MICE, and the Organised Groups Markets. Read More »

Topic: Wine Tasting Tours | 1 Comment

Priorat’s Stairway to Heaven Inspired Led Zeppelin Hit?

By winepleasures | Published: August 29, 2010

For those of you who remember and are fans of the 70s rock group Led Zeppelin are sure to remember one of their most loved songs: Stairway to Heaven”? Well did you know that the Stairway to Heaven actually exists? It’s is to be found n the heart of Spain’s Priorat wine region and starts in a village of the same name (Scala Dei).So the big question is did Jimmy Page vist the Priorat, sample the wines and get inspired by Scala Dei and then went on to write this cult song?

Back in the 70s the wines were pretty potent and mostly sold in bulk. Infact, Priorat wines used to be made for the troops just before battle to get them in the mood . Priorat wines today, though still powerful have elegance and complexity as we quickly discoverd during a visit to the Conreria d’Escala Dei winery. Read More »

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It’s Tough Wine & Food Blogging in the Priorat

By winepleasures | Published: August 27, 2010

Hopping into a Toyota four by four run by Cornudella Turistic we bounced our way down the narrow dirt path leading up to the Siurana nature reserve. A quick stop to open the park gate – made possible by our driver’s connections to a park ranger that had provided him with a copy of the key – and we happily continued our descent down the mountainside toward the Siurana river.

After a hard day of blogging at Mas Perinet, La Conrería d’Scala Dei and a lunch review (full of pigeon – well most of us were)  at the Els Tallers Restaurant in the Hotel La Siuranella, we had anxiously awaited our side trip to the Siurana river. As one of the main attractions of the Siurana nature reserve, we had heard reports about the area’s beauty and were eager to see it for ourselves. Read More »

Topic: Wine Tasting Tours, Wine Tourism Conference | 3 Comments

Cava is Art & Science at Ferré I Catasús

By winepleasures | Published: August 25, 2010

Some 95% of Spain’s answer to Champagne is produced in Catalunya under the Appellation of Cava. The industry is dominated by the two mass producers Freixenet and Codorniu whose acrimonious rivalry has at times acted as a brake on Cava’s progress rather than a spur to greater quality. Most international markets are getting the mass produced stuff and consequently do not have high regards for the product. Try and find a quality Cava in LA for example and it just won’t happen.

Smaller family run cava producers are abound in the Penedès wine region and most conserve an artisan methodology in the elaboration of its cava products. Elaborating wines with an artisan perspective means disregarding modern methodology, and thus means using the traditional methods; it also signifies having meticulous care when selecting the first must, or the run-off, in each single press.  Read More »

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Mas Perinet is Music for Priorat Wine Tourism & Travel

By winepleasures | Published: August 24, 2010

We descended into the valley of Priorat midmorning to spectacular views of vines and wineries. Classic Spanish buildings spotted the hillsides. The Montsant mountains hovered in the near distance. It was quite the welcome to this up and coming wine region.

Arriving at Mas Perinet Winery, Margarita welcomed us and we learned she had been with the winery for twelve years and knew it like the back of her hand. Having just closed for a two week holiday, the winery was eerily quiet – we were the only ones there. We walked out into the vineyard and enjoyed the sun on our backs as we walked up the terraced hill. As we toured the vineyard, Margarita told us how there is very little flat ground in Priorat and the neighboring denomination of Montsant so most vines are planted on terraces. Because of this, most grapes are harvested by hand as it is difficult to get any sort of machinery through the terraces. In fact, we learned the owners of Mas Perinet had to literally break apart the original rock foundation where the vineyard site is now located and use metal cables connected together all the way up the vineyard slopes to support the earthen terraces. Read More »

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Maria del Mar Bonet Matches Mediterranean Jazz With Cava

By winepleasures | Published: August 13, 2010

Nestled next to the Penedès mountains and surrounded by old vines, the town of Torre – Ramona (Subirats) holds a captivating appeal. At the heart of the village lies an imposing three story house, which originally belonged to the richest family in the village and dates back to the 17th century. Servant houses nearly as old surround the expansive house and shelter it from the town square. Truly a perfect setting for a night of Cava and jazz music. Read More »

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El Workshop Buyer Meets Catalonian Cellar cuenta ya con 28 importadores

By winepleasures | Published: August 10, 2010

El primero Workshop en colaboración con Catavins Sabadell, que se celebrará en la Fira de Sabadell entre los días 10 y 12 de noviembre, cuenta, hasta el momento, con la asistencia confirmada de 28 empresas importadoras internacionales, según el primer listado que ha sido publicado. En esta cifra, se encuentran representados 14 países de todo el mundo. Cabe destacar el gran  interés de los EEUU con 9 empresas representadas. Read More »

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Priorat Wine & Culinary Tourism gets French Touch

By winepleasures | Published: August 9, 2010

The unique landscape of the Priorat region is best known for its wine and olive oil.  However, it contains another hidden gem in the town of Siurana, a city dating back to prehistory as a flint workshop and later as a Muslim stronghold, specifically La Siuranella Hotel and Restaurant.

Driving up mountain switchbacks to Siurana, we passed slate quarries and sheer cliff faces. Arriving at the edge of town we were greeted by century old stone ruins from a Muslim outpost. After a short walk through the picturesque stone buildings we reached La Siuranella. Read More »

Topic: Wine Tasting Tours, Wine Tourism Conference | 1 Comment

Wine & Oyster Pairing in Leucate, Languedoc-Roussillon

By winepleasures | Published: August 4, 2010

Grape Escape Languedoc-Roussillon, Sud de France. We, DPD Wine Club from Oslo, Norway  traveled with Wine Pleasures to the quaint seaside town of Leucate. In the South of France, between Narbonne and Perpignan, Leucate is known for two things- the freshest oysters you’ll ever have and the best wines to match.  

First visiting Cave Coopérative de Leucate, a large Coop winery, we were introduced to the area’s wines by tasting a variety of whites, reds, and even a Vin Doux Natural fortified wine. Friendly and charming, this winery gave us a feel for the rest of the area. There, our hosts explained the tradition of the wine and oysters pairing.  Read More »

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Lazy Sunday Morning in Spain Swapping “Chapas”

By winepleasures | Published: August 1, 2010

When opening a bottle of sparkling wine – whether it be champagne, cava, prosecco, or another – have you noticed the small tin disc that rests on top of the cork? Sometimes it is covered in a picture or sometimes the logo of the winery. I, like I’m sure many people, have noticed it, but never gave it much thought. I just popped off the top and sent it to the recycling bin along with the rest. No big deal, right?  Read More »

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