Think of Australian wine, and one region probably pops to mind: the Barossa. With its picturesque landscapes of lush vineyards and sun-baked stone farmhouses, this corner of free-settled South Australia isn’t the country’s oldest wine region but – thanks to a worldwide thirst for Aussie Shiraz – it’s definitely the most famous.

Home to respected names like Yalumba and Torbreck, Barossa has developed over the past 180 years from pastureland and bush to oenophile wonderland, with now more than 150 glossy wineries and 80 cellar doors welcoming visitors for tastings.

Built in 1856, Kingsford has been there to witness almost all of this vinous transformation. Originally a private home, today the property sets the gold standard for boutique regional accommodation, fusing history with sublime vintages – providing a real taste of Australia’s favourite wine region.

Heritage & innovation

Credit: Adam Bruzzone

When Lincolnshire man Stephen King left Britain in the mid-1800s to settle in South Australia, he couldn’t have known what Barossa was to become. The wealthy pastoralist and entrepreneur built his grand two-storey Georgian-inspired home on his sprawling land outside the settlement of Gawler – drafting in sandstone from Edinburgh for the exterior, a grand Gothic cedar staircase and cellars for storing local produce. For decades set among relatively sleepy landscapes, Kingsford was a watering point for coach parties passing through the region; you could almost consider it the original cellar door.

Fast-forward 167 years and Kingsford is now one of Barossa’s most appealing boutique hotels. Acquired by the locally rooted Ahrens family over a decade ago, it benefitted from a multi-million dollar rethink in 2020. Australian stonemasons crafted a sympathetic expansion, so among the original property’s Georgian elegance there are fresh draws: dedicated wine vaults, multiple bars, expanded accommodation. In the original homestead building, timeless suites in warm neutral hues largely come with chandeliers, Louis XVI-inspired chairs and floral prints. In the new wing, contemporary View Suites with minimalist furnishings feature floor-to-ceiling glass opening up to the Barossa landscape. It’s a judicious – and luxurious – blend of old and new that doesn’t compromise the property’s soul.

Discovering Barossa wine

Of course, for any Decanter reader, it will be the vinous programme that makes Kingsford especially appealing. You need only take a look at the newly built wine tunnel – home to a museum collection of Penfolds Grange and a complete line up of Henschke Hill of Grace – to know that it takes Barossa wine seriously.

Much of the liquid joy centres around meals in the main Orleana restaurant, where by-the-glass pours of local treasures meet native yabbies (a freshwater crayfish), Coffin Bay oysters and wagyu beef with a Langmeil Valley Floor Shiraz reduction. Though you can also enjoy tastings in a number of private dining spaces – including the original 1856 slate-floor cellar – or sip on something casually by the pool.

Once you’ve exhausted the vinous options on site, the rest of Barossa is at your disposal for discovery; and you’re really spoilt for choice in terms of proximity and quality. Rockford Wines, with its exceptional Basket Press Shiraz – made from vines aged between 60 and 140-plus years – is just a 20-minute drive away. Only 15 minutes away, historic Seppeltsfield (established just five years before Kingsford was built) has a centennial cellar where you can taste a 100-year-old tawny straight from the barrel. Even the lauded Penfolds is nearby, where in its grand environs you can try making your own wine blend or sample a precious sip of Grange.

Wine imbues every part of the Barossa Valley but make time for the region’s other pleasures and you’ll find the visit even more satisfying. Farmers’ markets bursting with fresh produce; fabulous restaurants like fermentAsian; hot air balloon rides. At Kingsford itself, join an ATV tour across the property’s historic 91ha or hike trails where kangaroos, kookaburras and parrots are spotted. Or just kick back in a ‘bush bath’ – an alfresco soak in a deep claw-footed tub, soundtracked by nature and accompanied by a cheese plate. Now, what would Mr King have thought of that?

For further information see Kingsford The Barossa

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Borgo San Vincenzo, Tuscany, Italy

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Meneghetti Wine Hotel, Bale, Croatia

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Octant Douro, Douro Valley, Portugal

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Kingsford The Barossa appeared first on Decanter.

Named one of the best new hotels of the year in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 It List, this restored 18th-century borgo is the embodiment of ‘approachable luxury’. American owners and seasoned hoteliers Scott and Shannon Kircher also own a hotel in the Caribbean, where they pride themselves on offering a ‘barefoot luxury’ experience. You’ll find the same ‘at home’, relaxed and informal vibe here – the size (21 rooms and suites) gives it an intimate feel, pop music plays in the restaurant, and Shannon and Scott enjoy stopping to chat with guests.

Don’t be fooled though. The hotel, which opened its doors in September 2022, and is named after the patron saint of winemaking, offers a level of comfort and service, and attention to detail, to rival the most upmarket hotels in the region. It’s not as flashy as some Tuscan hotels, and given the smaller scale you won’t find a spa or a choice of restaurants, but what’s there is perfectly done, and aimed very much at the discerning wine lover.

Tuscan countryside chic

The accommodation and communal areas have been styled in a rustic fashion, with beams and exposed brickwork featuring heavily, and olive green and neutral tones. Tuscan countryside chic. The area itself is relaxed too, off the well-trodden Tuscan tourist trail but not too far removed.

We’re in the heart of the Montepulciano wine region, around 10 minutes from the town of the same name  – UNESCO-recognised vineyard vistas stretch all around, particularly special viewed from the terrace with fire pit, drink in hand. The region, which has attracted investment from top names such as Antinori and Frescobaldi, is home to the famous Vino Nobile wines. Famous, but not as famous as Chianti or Brunello, point out the owners, who feel the region is sidelined even in wine courses specialising in Italy.

They’re passionate about introducing guests to local growers, and educating them in the wines of the area, and have linked up with the Wine Scholar Guild to provide a twice-yearly five-day ‘Tuscan Wine Week’, an opportunity for guests to learn about the wines of Montepulciano and the wider Tuscan region. The programme includes private tours and tastings, including visits to Montalcino, a five-course winemaker dinner, and a special session just on the wines of Montepulciano. Guests can dip in as they wish, paying for some or all of the activities.

Outside of the set Wine Weeks, winemaker dinners take place monthly, and the excellent concierge service can arrange visits to local growers as well as estates around Tuscany. Or guests can explore under their own steam, using the complimentary e-bikes for the closest wine estates. Boscarelli, just a stone’s throw away, has a working wine farm feel and a respected range of wines – don’t miss the straight Vino Nobile Riserva. Other estates open to tourists range from Avignonesi, which has an established hospitality programme, to La Combarbia, a one-man operation where the owner speaks no English but does receive visitors.

Explore local wines from your restaurant table

Beyond wine, guests can use the concierge service to book organic olive oil and pecorino cheese tastings at local farms, cooking and cocktail-making classes, and tours of the region by foot, horse, Vespa, or hot air balloon. Or if that all sounds too energetic, the pool deck is a suntrap, and just steps away from the glass-walled restaurant overlooking the gardens, Il Ciuchino, and the Flying Monk bar. You can always explore the wines of the area from your restaurant table – don’t miss the moreish white wine made from the rare Pulcinculo grape, found only in the Montepulciano region, or enjoy a wide choice of Tuscan reds with traditional dishes such as peposo, a hearty beef stew made with red wine and black pepper.

Franky, the talented and enthusiastic food and beverage director, has started working with the Coravin wine preservation system to provide a good line-up of by-the-glass options. He’s also planning wine flights, including verticals and themed groupings such as Sangiovese, in its red, white and rosé forms. He’s equally passionate about cocktails, and the list on offer at the bar includes classic serves alongside creative, seasonal craft cocktails. The goal is to make it the best bar between Rome and Florence, a destination in its own right.

It’s an attitude that permeates the whole hotel. Only in its second proper season, and as unshowy as it is, Borgo San Vincenzo is already making a name for itself, and on the evidence of recognition already won, it will only help bring more attention to the wines and estates of this lesser-known part of Tuscany.

See the Borgo San Vincenzo website for more details.

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Meneghetti Wine Hotel, Bale, Croatia

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Octant Douro, Douro Valley, Portugal

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Lombardy, Italy

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Borgo San Vincenzo, Tuscany, Italy appeared first on Decanter.

It’s simultaneously one of Europe’s most ancient winemaking regions – and one of its most up-and-coming. And yet, for whatever reason, Croatia is perhaps not the first holiday destination to come to mind for the vinous traveller. But the appeal of the sun-soaked Istrian peninsula, circled in blue Adriatic Sea, becomes abundantly obvious when you check into Meneghetti Wine Hotel. Set just inland from a west-facing coast flecked with beach, ancient Roman ruins and vineyards aplenty, the secluded Relais & Châteaux estate dishes up both old-world charm and an exciting wine offering; including bottles crafted onsite. Dare we say it, who needs Italy or France?

Credit: Matej Paluh

Indulge on the ground

On the approach to Meneghetti – via its pin-straight, tree-lined drive – you might momentarily imagine that you’ve landed in Tuscany. Manicured vines radiate outwards amid bushy patches of gnarled olive trees. Rigid cypresses flank stone farmhouse buildings with terracotta roofs. But though the Italian border is less than a two-hour drive away, this is firmly Croatia. Here Malvasia Istriana grapes dominate in a range of styles – from zesty and floral to oak-aged and honeyed – while red grape Teran reaches tannic, inky depths.

Meneghetti was designed to celebrate the region’s long wine history. Vineyards encircle the estate and, by the pool, rows of ripening grapes are in view when you relax with a good book. Likewise, you’ll see them from the grounds of the private villas, which exude a rustic but sophisticated Provençal-style mood. Elsewhere, green vines creep across the stone exterior of farm-style buildings, and wind over pergolas.

Credit: Matej Paluh

Of course, the proof is in the pudding, and there is ample opportunity to drink the fruits of the vineyard too. Meneghetti’s own wines, born from the stone- and iron-rich terra rossa soils, are showcased in the design-forward cellars. Book in for a vertical tasting, sampling reds from 2009 onwards, or take things more relaxed, sipping golden-hued Malvasia with a charcuterie board on the terrace. Do try the olive oil, too, which has won plaudits from Flos Olei, one of the most respected expert olive oil guides.

Food is another highlight. Daytime relaxed affairs unfold at Oliveto, where sea bass ceviche and burrata with prosciutto are plated up under umbrellas overlooking the vines. Come evening, a refined tasting menu takes centre stage at the main restaurant, as diners parade through the likes of ravioli with black truffle; crispy egg with wild asparagus and caviar; braised beef cheek with polenta. All washed down, of course, with a considered wine list that features not only an excellent back catalogue of Meneghetti wines but a vast range of fine European bottlings. Take your pick from Château Lafite Rothschild 1990, or a red from neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Explore beyond

From its ancient Greek winemaking roots – via the Yugoslavian era, which largely quashed quality – Istria has newly emerged to be one of the Mediterranean’s most exciting vinous pockets, particularly for white wines. And the visitor experience is growing in reputation too. Between a half-hour and hour’s drive north of the hotel, a glut of options awaits for a day of tastings.

At Kozlović Winery, founded in 1904, indigenous varietals such as Malvasia Istriana, Teran and Momjan Muscat rule, with tastings held alfresco on warm days. Further south at Matošević, old Malvasia vines perched on hilltops above the sea provide a different profile. Or try long-established Kabola Winery, an organic producer running the gamut from sparklings to sweet wines.

Credit: Matej Paluh

Beyond the grape, take time to enjoy Istria’s other pleasures too. To the south in Pula, a remarkable Roman-era amphitheatre towers above the coast. Inland, deep caves welcome cool, adventurous exploring. And in opulent Opatija, regal Habsburg villas line the waterfront, a scene so photogenic it’ll have you instantly contemplating a return visit to Croatia.

For more information, visit the Meneghetti Wine Hotel website.

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Lombardy, Italy

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Akelarre, San Sebastián, Spain

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel Champagne, France

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Meneghetti Wine Hotel, Bale, Croatia appeared first on Decanter.

The Douro river is the beating heart of Portugal’s Port wine region. Terraced vineyards are planted on its steep valley slopes and for centuries it was used to transport barrels from the wineries downstream to the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia for ageing. So there’s no better way to get acquainted with the region than by visiting the river. And there’s no better place to experience the river than Octant Douro.

Built into the hillside terraces of Castelo de Paiva in the lower Douro and stretching right down to the river bank, this hotel is part of Octant Hotels, a collection of eight boutique, design-led properties across Portugal. Conveniently located between the city of Porto and the vertiginous vineyards of the upper Douro, it makes a perfect base for exploring the Douro Valley – which celebrates its 20th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site this year.

Bringing the outside in

The stunning scenery is an integral part of the hotel’s design. Constructed from schist stone and glass, it blends into the landscape, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering different vistas from every corner you turn. Take a dip in either of the two outdoor infinity pools and you’ll instantly feel at one with nature.

Each of the 55 luxurious rooms and six suites has stunning river views, many with a private terrace or balcony, including a private pool suite and a panoramic suite to maximise those Instagram-worthy moments. Design in neutral shades contributes to the sense of calm – especially in the hotel’s spa. Here the indoor pool and sauna again benefit from full-length windows so you can soak up the views as you relax or enjoy a bespoke treatment.

Take to the water

If you’d prefer to unwind closer the water – and step back in time – book a boat-trip in Octant I. This carefully restored rabelo boat pays homage to the cargo vessels once used to convey barrels and people along the Douro. Guests can also hire private boats to explore the twists and turns of the 897km river; a morning tour includes a picnic breakfast of fresh local produce on a secluded island.

Hire a kayak to explore the river under your own steam. Electric bikes are also available if you’d prefer to stay on dry land; or put your best foot forward on hiking trails that head up into the mountains surrounding the hotel.

But of course, you’re here for the wines too, so save time to visit local producers. Hotel staff can arrange winery visits and tastings – it takes around an hour-and-a half to drive to the heart of the Douro’s vineyard region along winding roads, but it’s a trip worth making.

Wine and dine

Octant Douro champions both regional wine and food producers on its menus, embracing the concept of localism by sourcing ingredients from nearby organic farms. The hotel’s ‘Producer Week’ series invites different winemakers to visit the hotel to give tutored tastings; while chef Dárcio Henriques prepares an accomplished six course fine-dining menu, pairing their wines with dishes in the elegant Raiva restaurant – an ideal location to savour the sunset as you dine.

Visiting wineries have included Real Companhia Velha, the oldest wine company in Portugal, and iconic Quinta do Noval. On our visit, Ports from fifth-generation family producer Vieira de Sousa took centre stage. Pairings included rosé Port with an eye-catching beetroot and radish carpaccio garnished with edible flowers; and extra dry white Port with zucchini flower stuffed with turbot and shrimp.

In fact the hotel has over 150 Port references on its list, including vintage bottles such Quinta do Noval Nacional 1963, selections from Niepoort and notable single-quinta wines such as Croft’s Quinta da Roeda 2012. Look out for top Douro table wines too: bottles such as icon red Chryseia 2019 from Prats & Symington and Casa Ferreirinha Barca Velha 2011. For more local flavour drop into one of the tastings hosted by the hotel’s sommeliers daily at 5pm in English and Portuguese.

The more casual A Terra Bar & Canteen serves salads, risotto and cheese and meat platters, plus wood-fired pizzas. The peaceful terrace overlooking the Douro is a perfect spot to enjoy a Portonic and go with the flow… But however you spend your time here, you won’t fail to fall in love with this unique Portuguese wine region during your stay.

See the Octant Duoro website for further details.

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Akelarre, San Sebastián, Spain

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Lombardy, Italy

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel Champagne, France

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Octant Douro, Douro Valley, Portugal appeared first on Decanter.

Spring always seems slow to start but summer approaches quickly bringing sunshine, outdoor dining and holidays aplenty.

Luckily, the summer season seems to be extending longer each year, giving us more time to soak up late sunsets and beachside bonfires sipping new releases and lauded vintages in some of the most stunning settings.

From Krug-fuelled pop-up dinner parties around the US to a brand-new Möet Hennessy four-floor cocktail experience in Paris, we’ve pulled together a list of haute happenings in the wine world sure to make this summer one of the best yet.

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Akelarre, San Sebastián, Spain

Decanter travel guide: Prosecco Superiore & Venice

Bordeaux for art lovers

The post Decanter luxe list: Summer appeared first on Decanter.

The salty Bay of Biscay and its chilly waters stretch as far as the eye can see from the floor-to-ceiling windows and terraces of Akelarre Hotel. Located on Monte Igueldo, at San Sebastián’s western edge, this breathtaking hotel is composed of minimalist stone-clad cubes.

It was designed by the Spanish firm Mecanismo with two goals in mind. Soak up the gorgeous natural surroundings and create an oasis where guests can taste the best of its produce.

Akelarre began as, and remains, one of Basque Country’s most influential restaurants. Chef Pedro Subijana was a founding member of a group of young, idealistic Basque chefs that created the nueva cocina vasca. This culinary movement later went on to inspire Spain’s contemporary cuisine. Pedro continues in the kitchen to this day, while his daughter Oihana runs the hotel – a family affair.

Food and drink

©Akelarre Relais & Châteaux

Hotel guests get the best tables at the emblematic restaurant, which has held three Michelin stars for the last 15 years. Choosing between the two tasting menus (€270pp) is easy, because both feature impressive innovations and hyper-local dishes – like the famous Basque micro-sized teardrop peas that pop in your mouth like caviar. Oteiza is the property’s more casual restaurant with a menu of refined Basque classics – perfect for a lighter dinner.

Choosing your pairing from the wine cellar, however, is slightly more challenging, thanks to rows and rows of historic vintages – about 10,000 bottles in total. Spanish wines are 75% of the menu, so guests can take a fascinating tasting tour through the best of Spain.

Gems include G-1200, a rare natural Basque Txakoli from boutique winemaker Jon Goenaga and Fondillón Brotons Gran Reserva 1964, a rare oxidative Monastrell from Alicante. Not to mention classic Riojas, such as CVNE Viña Real Reserva Especial 1951.

Beside the sea

©Akelarre – Restaurant & Hotel

All of the 22 sleekly modern rooms have the same jaw-dropping unobstructed ocean view at Akelarre. The two sprawling Ocean Suites feature a floor-to-ceiling marble-clad plunge pool for better contemplation of the infinite waterline.

The Getariako Txakolina wine region encompasses the coastal area around San Sebastián, meaning that its rows of Hondarrabi Zuri grapes get a constant dose of salty sea breezes and precipitation from these waters. The resulting Txakoli wine is effervescent, with a touch of saltiness, made mostly in family-size wineries that are lovely to visit.

The concierge team has a direct line with many of these wineries – and a tasting tour makes for the perfect day trip to nearby Getaria, a gem of a village. Pop into Txakoli Rezabal, home to one of the few rosé Txakolis made in the area, run by rock-and-roll couple Mireya and Ander Rezabal. Or take a tour of Gaintza Txakolina, where the fourth generation keeps tradition going, crafting this Basque wine by fermenting at low temperatures to preserve the fizzy carbonic bubbles.

Take a car or taxi to the wineries, or splurge on an exclusive helicopter ride that can take you from door to door. Akelarre’s helipad is the perfect launching point for a tour of the coast (starting at €215 for a 20-minute tour). Or take to the sky for a ride to Asador Etxebarri, the world’s third best restaurant according to The World’s Fifty Best Restaurants awards. Table and tasting menu are included in the price (starting at €2,648) – not too shabby considering it is by far the toughest reservation in Basque Country.

Get active or relax?

©Akelarre – Restaurant & Hotel

If helicopter isn’t your style, step out of the hotel’s front door onto the legendary Camino de Santiago and hike your way to nearby picturesque villages and vineyards. The Camino del Norte route is one of the most gorgeous hikes in the world, and this stretch is conveniently sprinkled with traditional Basque grill houses. Stop for a snack at Asador Nikolás or Xixario in Orio.

The spa at Akelarre oozes relaxation – featuring sleek oak with zen minimalist design, a steamy marble hammam, sauna and a relaxation zone with floor to ceiling glass. Entry is included with the room. The perfect day at Akelarre ends with a cocktail in the sprawling terrace, with low-lying seating areas and a bar run by San Sebastián’s best mixologist.

More than just another luxurious stay, Akelarre is a chance to be invited into the home of one of the most influential families in Basque cuisine and taste the best it has to offer.

For more information, visit the Akelarre website.

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Lombardy, Italy

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel Champagne, France

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Pico Accommodation, Azores, Portugal

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Akelarre, San Sebastián, Spain appeared first on Decanter.

To call the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni an icon of Lake Como is to almost undersell its gilt-edged status. For 150 years – more than 100 of them under the stewardship of the Bucher family, who still own and operate it today – this palatial grande dame has dominated the lakefront of picturesque Bellagio, drawing the crème-de-la-crème of aristocracy, politicians and film stars.

The likes of Winston Churchill, JFK and FDR have graced the rambling suites overlooking the mountain-backed lake. Personalities such as Douglas Fairbanks, Al Pacino and Monica Bellucci have dined under a swirl of frescoed angels in its vast breakfast room or sipped spritzes by the piano in the gilded marble-columned lounge.

Bucher family members work tirelessly to keep the hotel looking fresh, from the hand-stitched Como silk duvets to the shimmering Murano glass chandeliers. Service is as polished as the exquisite silverware. The wine cellar is stacked with treasures. While the rest of the world rushes by in a blur of tech and modernity, within these walls time stands blissfully still.

Food and wine

The Mistral Restaurant. Credit: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

The bedrooms are every bit as opulent as you’d hope – particularly the pair of presidential suites. The one occupied by Churchill boasts the remnants of a historic chapel, alongside antique wood furniture and oil paintings. But for gourmands the real appeal of a stay at Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is in the culinary programme.

Lunches of freshly landed lake fish can be enjoyed at an eatery overlooking the pool. Meanwhile casual evenings feature bergamot-infused spritzes on the open-air terrace. They’re accompanied by a parade of crafted canapés featuring king crab, lobster and caviar.

The pièce de resistance, however? The central glass-lined terrace Mistral Restaurant, overlooking the lake in all its glory. Here white-suited waiters deliver a precise tasting menu from chef Ettore Bocchia. His menus feature ethically produced Spanish foie gras from Eduardo Sousa, the hotel’s signature peacock tortellini (it may sound unusual, but it’s delicious) and expertly cooked turbot.

The wine list contains a number of exciting listings such as Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino 1990, Antinori Pian delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino 1995 and Cappellano Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris Barolo 1998. But you can also ask the sommelier to explore more local Lombardy selections.

These include affordable reds from La Costa, such as San Giobbe Pinot Nero 2019. Or, for something truly unique, Luca Bellani’s organic Apnea Calata. This Pinot Nero spumante brut is harvested outside Milan and aged in the depths of Lake Como, where waves naturally riddle the bottles.

Out and about

Credit: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

Lombardy is home to some of northern Italy’s most beautiful landscapes, so it’s not hard to find appeal beyond the grounds of Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. Should you fancy a wine-based expedition, the hotel’s concierge can arrange a trip to the aforementioned La Costa to sample the full range – from the fresh Solesta Terre Lariane IGT white blend to the sticky Calido Muscat. They’ll arrange transfers to winery Nino Negri too, an hour and a half away in Lombardy’s Valtellina, where Nebbiolo takes focus.

Closer to home in Bellagio, experiences abound on the lake. Hire a polished wood Venetian-style boat for a zip along the blue, taking in the full splendour of the lakefront towns from the water and journeying towards landmark Villa del Balbianello. If it looks familiar, that’s because it has appeared in both Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones.

In Bellagio itself, there are cobbled streets full of boutiques and the manicured waterside botanical garden of Villa Melzi d’Eril. By the time you’ve finished, you’ll have earned your downtime back at the hotel. Chill out on the palm-studded beach terrace, where direct access to the lake waters allows for cooling dips in the height of summer.

Nightly rates at Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni start from €577  for a Classic Park View Room. For more information, visit the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni website.

Credit: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel Champagne, France

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Les Sources de Cheverny, Loire, France

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Pico Accommodation, Azores, Portugal

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Lombardy, Italy appeared first on Decanter.

With a jealously guarded reputation as the world’s most famous sparkling wine, Champagne has long been one of the most valuable assets of the global luxury goods industry. It can, however, be easy to forget that Champagne is a wine to be enjoyed rather than a passport to a more exclusive way of living.

How refreshing, then, to find a new hotel in the north-east French region that places the emphasis on landscape rather than luxury.

The Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel Champagne opened in August 2022 in the village of Mutigny, up the hill from Aÿ. It is the first French property for a Vienna-based hospitality group that already operates a pair of Loisium hotels in the Austrian wine country of Langenlois and Südsteiermark.

Here in Champagne, a 101-room hotel has been sensitively blended into the wooded slopes of the Montagne de Reims using natural materials, with oak walls and black marble floors inside. External walls are clad in poplar, while huge windows at every turn provide a panorama of the Marne Valley to the Côte des Blancs.

Credit: ©Loisium

Exploring the region

Arriving by car is the obvious way to explore Champagne’s scattered villages and vineyards. But given Loisium’s emphasis on sustainability, don’t discount the train. Guests can be collected by the hotel’s limousine transfer (around €80) from Champagne-Ardenne TGV station 32km away in Reims, or take the more leisurely TER line to nearby Epernay. Both services depart from Paris Gare de l’Est, a five-minute walk from the Eurostar terminal at the Gare du Nord.

Once settled in at Loisium, it’s a gentle stroll downhill to the village of Avenay-Val-d’Or. Here you’ll have the opportunity to taste the wines of small maisons little-known outside France, such as the father-and-daughter owned Champagne Laurent-Gabriel.

Back at the hotel, chill any purchases in the ice bucket thoughtfully provided in each comfortably functional guest room. You can sip away on the window seat while gazing over a sea of vineyards (suites come with a balcony).

Credit: ©Loisium

Tours and tastings

Visitors new to Champagne might try a two-hour food and wine pairing of three cuvées led by Loisium’s wine team. Though arguably the best place to learn about the history of this iconic sparkling wine is on the comprehensive tour of the cellars at Moët & Chandon on Epernay’s Avenue de Champagne. Break up a saunter along the grand 0.8km long street, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with tastings in the courtyards of some of the biggest names in Champagne.

To get more of a feel for how the wine connects to the vines, there are guided tours from Loisium in open-top electric SUVs. Explore the villages and vineyards of Mutigny and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, as well as the abbey of Hautvillers, where Dom Pérignon was a monk and cellar master.

For something more energetic, the hotel prepares picnics to fuel a bike ride along Véloroute 52, the Paris to Strasbourg cycle path that runs along the Marne river and through the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park.

If Champagne’s famously unpredictable weather puts pay to the exploring, the hotel’s spa has a pool with both indoor and outdoor access. It also boasts a sauna, steam room and treatment rooms for herbal face and body rituals from Saint Charles Apothecary. There are loads of loungers, too, both inside and out. Just the spot for a light bite from the spa bar and, of course, a glass of Champagne.

Credit: ©Loisium

Wine and dine

Each of the three Loisium properties is designed to act as a showcase for local wine producers. With over 4,000 bottles of Champagne displayed throughout the hotel, this is somewhere that takes the wines of the region seriously. Start the evening (or afternoon) in the Champagne bar, Les Bulles, where 40% of the wines on the list come from smaller producers.

Wine and Champagne matching is the speciality of the hotel’s L’Horisium Brasserie, where ingredients are sourced from within a 65km radius – though without any sense of being slavishly tied to local tradition.

Ardennes pigs’ feet are turned into crispy cromesquis and served with grape mustard, tarragon and red cabbage. While to follow there might be Reims ham cooked au gratin and accompanied by a salad of young red endive and fine herbs. Vegetarian options such as ancient wheat penne with summer truffle, Chaource soft cheese, walnuts and croutons are no less considered.

The kitchen might not yet have the reputation of the more famous, Michelin-awarded chefs in Champagne but with vineyards everywhere one looks, few dining rooms in the area have such a strong sense of terroir. With further wine-focused properties planned for France, Loisium’s star is in the ascendent.

Credit: ©Loisium

B&B rates start at €259. Check the Loisium website for availability.

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Pico Accommodation, Azores, Portugal

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Les Sources de Cheverny, Loire, France

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Babylonstoren, Franschhoek, South Africa

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel Champagne, France appeared first on Decanter.

The conical volcano mount Pico dominates the remote, 48km-long Azorean island that takes its name. In fact the highest peak in Portugal (2,531m) makes such an imposing backdrop – not to mention the dazzling azure Atlantic Ocean to the fore – that it’s easy to miss one of the Azores’ most ambitious wine tourism projects.

The Azores Wine Company opened its minimalist winery, cellar door, restaurant and hotel in 2021. Discreetly clad in black basalt rock, hewn from the lava-bed of mount Pico, the building is almost subsumed within the gentle folds of the rolling volcanic slopes.

It sits surrounded by a chequerboard network of thousands of small walled vineyards, built to protect vines from wind and sea spray, which are known locally as currais. This intricate and distinctive vineyard landscape was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2004.

A sense of place

Credit: Francisco Nogueira

The project was founded by winemaker António Maçanita and Filipe Rocha, former director of the Azores School of Tourism & Hospitality. Like the duo’s revolutionary wines, the hotel and restaurant showcase Pico’s volcanic and oceanic terroir with terrific verve, finesse and impeccable attention to detail.

As functional as it is stylish, the building’s naturally sloping roof draws on the vernacular – specifically the island’s vineyard water tanks. It also serves a similar purpose: harvesting around 1,500,000 litres of water per year that can be used to water the vines.

Wine has been produced in Pico since the 15th century. The currais are peppered with a few surviving adegas –  a type of rustic man cave, where locals would eat and drink with friends, not just make wine.

The adega at Azores Wine Company is built on a different scale however, with five sophisticated studio apartments, a two-bedroom apartment, cellar door and restaurant. Still, intimacy is the goal.

Rest and relaxation

Guests are invited to gather around the fire pit in the inner cloister. They can share plates at the open kitchen’s U-shaped dining counter or indulge in six- or seven-course wine pairing menus at the eye-catching boulder-cleft chef’s table.

Each guest room has an ocean vista and its own terrace. Inside, stylish charred-wood finish carpentry echoes the stark black basalt volcanic landscape. Luxurious Burel blankets dial up the warmth, whilst the extra-large beds promise an ultra-comfortable night’s sleep after a day spent hiking up mount Pico.

Other guest activities on offer include walking the island’s heritage trails and wild swimming. The Azores is also one of the world’s top destinations for whale-watching.

Food and wine

Of course the greatest comfort of all is to be found upstairs in the restaurant, where dynamic young couple chef José Diogo and Inês Vasconcelos, who looks after front of house, deftly draw on their experience at top kitchens in Europe and Asia.

The menu makes good use of the rich bounty of fresh, local produce from the Azores archipelago: from the vineyard to the distant pastures of Faial and São Jorge islands and the glittering ocean between.

Moresish caramelised Rainha do Pico butter is served with local bread. Whilst an exquisite amuse bouche of São Jorge cheese crisp is dressed with nasturtium and bonito and pumpkin flakes. Elegantly sauced or garnished catch of the day might include limpets, amber-jack, snapper or lobster tail.

Share small plates at the counter or sample a cheese platter at the cellar door, while you enjoy a rare opportunity to taste the Azores Wine Company’s range: from the entry level Vulcânico label to its miniscule production flagship cuvées and 10-year-old Licoroso.

Wines from Maçanita’s eclectic Fita Preta label from Alentejo are also on offer, while themed wine pairing menus include an innovative ‘Islands’ head-to-head between Portugal, Spain and Italy.

The restaurant and cellar door are open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit antoniomancita.com.

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Scalani Hills Boutari Winery & Residences, Crete

Decanter’s Dream Destination: The Yeatman, Porto, Portugal

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Pico Accommodation, Azores, Portugal appeared first on Decanter.

January is when we make resolutions for the year, but spring is when new beginnings officially start, and this season has more than enough high-profile wine events to keep you on your toes.

From exclusive new wine clubs offering insider access to winemakers—and winemaking!—to wine-themed air safaris in South America, we’ve curated a list of the most luxurious and exclusive new happenings in the wine world to add to your calendar this spring.

Related content

Top wine spas of the world: awaken your senses
Where to stay in Rioja
Decanter’s Dream Destination: Les Sources de Cheverny, Loire, France

The post Decanter luxe list: Spring appeared first on Decanter.

More than 20 years after opening their celebrated Bordeaux spa hotel, Les Sources de Caudalie – set within the vineyards of Château Smith Haut Lafitte – owners Alice and Jérôme Tourbier decided it was time for a sequel. But for some, the location might have come as a surprise…

The French hoteliers didn’t head to the lauded domaines of Burgundy, or the hallowed vineyards of Champagne. Instead they went to the forests and wetlands of the Sologne, a comparatively unsung corner of the Loire Valley. But as soon as you visit, you’ll understand the magic the couple saw in the place that would become Les Sources de Cheverny.

The 49-room, village-like property is set across the 18th-century former Château de Breuil and a neighbouring farm estate. It’s immersed in a landscape of grasses, woodlands, wetlands and vineyards. The estate’s 45ha are the vision of rural tranquillity – but with the added benefit of sophisticated indulgences, including Michelin starred food, fine wine and a spa.

Chic design

While many hotels successfully combine old with new, Les Sources de Cheverny really does it with aplomb. Polished parquet floors meet contemporary pastel palettes and elegant dried flower installations. Retro farm buildings mesh with Scandi-style mid-century-modern furniture and leafy motifs.

Even if you don’t post on social media, you will find it hard to resist snapping pics of its eye-catching dimensions, including the lobby’s minimalist leather chairs and abstract tapestry, as well as the small chapel.

Choose between 13 rooms in the historic château – if you don’t mind some quirky layouts and atmospherically creaky floors. Or opt for one of the new wood cottages, scattered around a bird-watching lake, by grasses and orchards. The pinnacle? Le Baron Perché, a stilted suite on the lake itself, complete with a private alfresco hot tub and panoramic views.

Relaxed days

Wine and spa: it’s a match made in heaven. Or at least that’s the thinking at the Les Sources hotels. Like its sister property in Bordeaux, Les Sources de Cheverny works with French grape-based brand Caudalie, so treatments feature antioxidant grape extract oils or exfoliating Cabernet grape seeds.

When you aren’t on the massage table, you can be appreciating the spa facilities, largely based out of the château. They include a 23m window-lined indoor pool space and an outdoor barrel hot tub and pool, a short walk away.

Or simply immerse yourself in the rich wilderness of the Sologne. There are farm animals on site: miniature goats, chickens and horses, plus hives with honeybees. Walking trails weave through forest and by vineyard. Or hop on one of the hotel bikes to cycle the 20 minutes into Cheverny village, home to another historic château, designed for touring.

Food and wine

Despite its intimate nature, Les Sources de Cheverny boasts two dining options: Michelin star restaurant Le Favori, headed by chef Frédéric Calmels, and the more casual Auberge. At the latter you’ll enjoy set menus starring local goat’s cheese or roasted pork loin with cabbage – washed down with a strong local wine selection including local Loire favourites Vouvray, Chinon and Menetou-Salon.

But arguably the most exciting local wine is developing in the nearby vineyards. White cuvée La Grand’Vigne is made in conjunction with Philippe Tessier, and new rows of local variety Romorantin (a sibling of Chardonnay) have been planted for increased future production.

A short drive or cycle will bring you to some other interesting wineries. As well as Tessier’s vines, Cour-Cheverny itself is home to biodynamic Domaine des Huards. Further afield in Vouvray, popular Domaine Huet does a range of fabulous Chenin Blanc wines. Meanwhile, family-owned Domaine de la Chevalerie  in Bourgueil produces lively biodynamic Cabernet Franc. You’re spoiled for choice; so come thirsty.

For more information visit www.sources-cheverny.com

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Marqués de Riscal, Rioja, Spain

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Scalani Hills Boutari Winery & Residences, Crete

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Les Sources de Cheverny, Loire, France appeared first on Decanter.

There’s definitely something about lazing in the lap of luxury that makes savouring an elegant Grenache even more delicious… I’m surrounded by vines that wind up and over hills, watching them catch the glow of a setting sun while nibbling homemade fudge and honey biscuits. It’s a Thing of Beauty – as is my Tscharke Barossa Valley red.

While Shiraz is king in the Barossa Valley, Grenache has always shone in the background – ever since the first settlers brought bush vines from Prussia in the 1830s. The locals like to say: ‘Grenache delivers what Pinot promises.’

My magic moment is one of many I’m enjoying at The Louise, a luxury boutique lodge that makes guests feel comfortable and spoiled. It’s a star in one of Australia’s most famous wine regions.

All around the resort is a rich tapestry of colours and textures – vines that stretch to the horizon past gum-studded pockets of Aussie bushland. To the west, sunsets throw orange and purple into the sky. It’s spectacular from the pool.

Credit: George Apostolidis

Local heroes

The Louise also has impressive neighbours. Just across the road is Tscharke Wines and The Protagonist wine bar, plus Seppeltsfield Road Distillers (for a sneaky G&T).

Torbreck Vintners and David Franz Cellardoor are around the corner. While along palm-lined Seppeltsfield Road, past Two Hands, Izway and Hentley Farm is historic Seppeltsfield.

If it’s a famous Penfolds Grange or Henschke Hill of Grace that has drawn you to the Barossa, they are just minutes away.

A stylish stay

Credit: George Apostolidis

The Louise has had a few facelifts in its time, but nothing as dramatic as its latest transformation. The style is southern European with an earthy touch of Tuscany. Now part of the Baillie Lodges and Luxury Lodges of Australia families, it boasts a calming, understated elegance.

Each of the 15 villa-sized suites here offers a complete escape. They’re helped by three private courtyards, one at the entrance, my happy place facing the vines and an outdoor bathroom.

You’ll notice the attention to detail from the already lit fireplace to a minibar/coffee station stocked with local offerings (included in the price). The Louise also has its own brand of beautiful toiletries – and there’s even a TV in the bathroom.

The staff are impeccable. There’s no ‘falling over you’ – that’s just not Australian. But they will make your stay memorable for all the right reasons.

Food and wine

Credit: George Apostolidis

Dinner in Appellation restaurant is a highlight. Executive chef Asher Blackford features kitchen garden picks in a five-course degustation menu. Dishes can be matched with local wines and are served with stories of the producers.

Kingfish ceviche, tapioca saltbush and kimchi beignet snacks start the delicious journey – with no cutlery, ‘because it forces people to relax and lose the pretence’, says Blackford.

Our first feast includes beetroot-wrapped sheep feta then quail, lamb rump and ricotta with rhubarb and honeycomb.

Wine pairings offer a glimpse of the 40 grape varieties found in the Barossa. Our selection included: O’Leary Walker Hurtle Sparkling Pinot Noir-Chardonnay NV; Yelland & Papps Single Vineyard Roussanne; Cirillo Estate 1850 Ancestor Vine Grenache Rosato; Izway Mates Aglianico; and David Franz Sticky Botrytis Semillon.

Exclusive experiences

One of the most impressive things about The Louise is its connections. Want to taste 100-year-old tawny from Seppeltsfield – the only winery in the world with premium fortified wines set aside every year since 1878?

How about a private underground cellar tasting at Tscharke or Yalumba – Australia’s oldest family-owned winery? 

You can take the St Hugo & Riedel Glass Masterclass, eat breakfast with kangaroos or make your own perfume at Vasse Virgin. Or you can be chauffeured around with Barossa Bespoke Tours.

All you have to do is ask Louise…

For more information visit  www.thelouise.com.au

Related articles

Wine travel: Australia & New Zealand

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Marqués de Riscal, Rioja, Spain

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: The Louise Barossa, South Australia appeared first on Decanter.

In the most basic sense, Babylonstoren is a 17th century Cape Dutch farm that has been converted into a hotel, spa and winery. But that simplistic description doesn’t do justice to this special place, set in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley.

Just a 45-minute drive east of Cape Town, billionaire proprietors Koos Bekker and Karen Roos – who also own a UK outpost, The Newt in Somerset – have created a wine lovers’ destination that is far more than the sum of its parts.

There are vast acreages of manicured gardens, farm-to-fork dining with hyper-seasonal produce and a newly opened wine museum. While chic villas let you wake to views of Simonsberg mountain, Babylonstoren is the luxurious paradigm of a Cape Winelands estate. No question: this place will get under your skin.

A rich wine history

The tasting room at sunset

Wine has always been a major part of Babylonstoren’s story. After all, this is the Western Cape, home to esteemed vineyards producing everything from local Pinotage to Bordeaux red blends. The estate has grown grapes since the 1690s.

Today’s winemaking team, headed by Klaas Stoffberg, uses a state-of-the-art winery to turn out a core range of 10 bottlings. They range from peachy Viognier to brioche-noted Méthode Cap Classique Chardonnay. Behind the scenes, Stoffberg experiments with the likes of amphora and cement fermenters to make small batch, limited-release wines for the estate’s wine club members.

Stoffberg is in good company in the region. Babylonstoren’s doorstep is littered with big wine names from Franschhoek and Stellenbosch – many within 15-20 minutes’ drive of the hotel. Head to Delaire Graff Estate to wander its sculpture-studded gardens and sample its bold Cabernet Sauvignon. Visit Spier Wine Farm to savour a tangy Sauvignon-Sémillon. Or what about Black Elephant Vintners for an innovative music and wine pairing?

When you’ve returned to home base at Babylonstoren, enjoy a flight of seven wines, tour the cellar, then explore the newly opened onsite wine museum, The Story of Wine.

On the menu

Despite the impressive nature of its wines, the estate’s 94ha of vineyards are only part of the agricultural picture at Babylonstoren. First-class olive oils and rooibos teas are also produced here, and there are bountiful fruit orchards, vegetable patches, cycads, protea and fynbos. Not to mention hens and cows. In short, the rambling grounds – around 200ha in total – are a veritable horticultural rainbow.

With such rich offerings of produce, it’s only natural that good fresh food features in a Babylonstoren stay. The onsite Babel restaurant, set in a refurbished cow shed, serves up whatever is in season in the garden.

That could be heirloom cucumbers, sweetcorn or peaches. Breakfast features eggs from the hens, while meat from estate-reared Chianina cattle is dry-aged in the salt room before starring in lunches and dinners.

It’s not just about the restaurants, either. Part of what gives Babylonstoren its cache is its comprehensive farm shop. It attracts visitors both local and far-flung for its butchery, handmade dairy products, bakery and ‘lekker’ (sweets) room. Regular cookery or gardening workshops let you produce your own nut butter, blend herbal teas or make pasta, too.

Rest and relax

When you aren’t eating or drinking, there are other kinds of hedonistic pleasures in store for guests: namely an excellent spa. Babylonstoren recently launched a new ‘hot spa’, featuring vitality pools, a hammam and a rasul mud treatment room. This is in addition to its existing regime of bamboo stick massages and anti-ageing facials.

True to its roots, the accommodation at Babylonstoren is set in Cape Dutch-style architecture. But here historic doesn’t mean staid. Owner Roos is the former editor of ELLE Decoration South Africa, so reimagined former farm buildings put style at the forefront.

Classic white-washed exteriors meet floor-to-ceiling glass to let in the light, alongside plush minimalist furnishings. Curl up in front of a roaring fire with a book from the tome-stacked shelf, with a glass of Babylonstoren’s delicate Mouvèdre Rosé in hand, and you’ll feel like all’s right with the world.

For more information visit babylonstoren.com

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley, US

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Italy

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Babylonstoren, Franschhoek, South Africa appeared first on Decanter.

An oasis of calm, charm and fine wine awaits at this historic property set on the world-renowned Santa Rita Wine Estate.

Situated at the foot of the Andes Mountains in Alto Jahuel in the Maipo Valley – an area known for producing some of Chile’s best Cabernet Sauvignons – Casa Real occupies a privileged position just 40 minutes southeast of the country’s capital Santiago.

Founded in 1880 by businessman Domingo Fernández Concha, Santa Rita is one of the oldest and longest-standing wineries in Chile.

The estate’s original hacienda, now a luxury boutique hotel, was Domingo’s summerhouse and came adorned with a Neo-Gothic chapel (both of which were designed by German architect Theodor Burchard) as well as 40 hectares of stunning park land (one of the largest and best preserved in central Chile) designed by leading French landscape gardener Guillaume Renner.

Santa Rita’s Chapel

Both the 19-century, Pompeian-style building and the sprawling, luscious green gardens filled with ancient sequoia and palm trees, flowers, herb gardens, boxwood labyrinths, a lagoon, a pair of black-necked swans, exquisite sculptures and Roman baths, were declared National Historic Monuments in 1972.

The estate was bought by Ricardo Claro in 1980 and the manor house 10 years later. The building was classically restored respecting its aristocratic history and keeping a romantic beauty, eventually opening as Hotel Casa Real in the mid 1990s.

Hotel Casa Real dining room

Freshly updated in 2017, guests can choose from one of 16 beautiful and airy en-suite bedrooms, all featuring soaring ceilings, comfy beds and sumptuous furniture. Each offers a beautiful view of the park or inner courtyard. The hotel also offers an outdoor pool, sauna and gym.

Reminiscent of a bygone era, the hotel is adorned with original fittings, antique furniture, oil paintings and textiles filling the entry hall, salons, dining room, billiard room and the inner colonnade.

Peace and tranquility can be found on the terrace overlooking the gardens and also in the private chapel next door which features Norman arches and stained-glass windows as well as beautifully painted walls and vaulted ceiling. It plays host to picture-perfect weddings and concerts throughout the year.

Hotel Casa Real bedroom

The hotel’s restaurant offers both indoor and alfresco dining options using the finest seasonal ingredients, some of which are harvested from the estate itself. In addition, guests also have the option to eat in the renowned Doña Paula restaurant reached via a short walk through the gardens.

The restaurant is located inside the late 18th-century colonial home of Doña Paula Jaraquemada who gave shelter to 120 patriots fighting for the Independence of Chile more than 200 years ago – 120 being the name of the estate’s best-selling, entry-level wine and the bottle cellar.

Choose from gourmet Chilean dishes paired with Santa Rita wines or take high tea on the shaded veranda. Reservations are required: (+562 2 362 2590) or email: restaurant@santarita.cl

Of course the winery visit and tastings, with or without a sunset backdrop, are must-do activities. From classic to ultra-premium – and several in-between (including the option to take a horse drawn carriage around the gardens) – immerse yourself in the world of Santa Rita, learning about the estate’s grape varieties, winemaking and cellaring process as well as visiting the ‘Cellar of the 120 Patriots’. The wines available to taste range by tour from entry-level to the estate’s higher-end bottlings.

Super fans can also become a winemaker for the day with a ‘Winemaker Experience’ in which you’ll design your own signature wine blend, bottle and cork it, then label and varnish it ready to take home.

There is also an on-site shop brimming with local edible and viscous goodies including a wide range of top wines from both Chile and Argentina made by Santa Rita and sister wineries; Carmen, Sur Andino and Doña Paula as well as wine accessories and handmade crafts made by members of the Alto Jahuel community.

With over 130 years of wine production and experience, Santa Rita is one of the pioneers of progressive Chilean viticulture seeking out new and exciting regions from which to grow a variety of grapes while also focusing on single-vineyard plots and expressions of terroir. With vineyards in some of the country’s best wine growing regions, the range of wines continues to expand under the expert hand of top Chilean winemaker Sebastián Labbé and his team.

One of which is the new, innovative and impressive Floresta range comprising; Chardonnay, Field Blend Blanco, Carménère, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Dedication also remains to the production of the estate’s icon wine Casa Real – a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon made only in the best years and of which the 1989 vintage is a Decanter Wine Legend.

Casa Real icon bottling

Be sure to also save time to discover Chile’s fascinating pre-Colombian and post-conquest history in the Andean Museum, set on site and just a few minutes walk from the hotel. Inaugurated in 2006, the museum has an archaeological and ethnographic collection of more than 3,000 pieces from the different cultures that have inhabited the Andean zone, all curated and carefully displayed.

Combining flawless service, generous hospitality and an unrivalled charm and beauty, Hotel Casa Real provides an unforgettable stay.

For more information, visit: www.santarita.com/en/

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: One&Only Portonovi, Herceg Novi, Montenegro

Decanter’s Dream Destination: VIK, Chile

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Hotel Casa Real, Viña Santa Rita, Maipo Valley, Chile appeared first on Decanter.

When it comes to holidays, you usually have to choose your camp. Sun and beach or lush vineyard landscapes? But Crete blurs the dichotomy. This ray-drenched, breeze-tickled Greek isle, hovering above the north of Africa, has the lot.

Sands lapped by warm blue surf, and hills striped in vines. Lazy lounger days under reliable blue skies and calm nights sipping wine made just down the road. And, a winery with rooms. Boutari’s Scalani Hills, just southeast of the island’s gateway city Heraklion.

In comparison to the Greek Cycladic island of Santorini – which made its name internationally with indigenous variety Assyrtiko – the wines of Crete fly somewhat under the radar. (In fact, Boutari, founded in Naoussa in 1879, has had a Santorini winery since the 1980s.)

But there is serious vinous history on Crete. One of the world’s oldest grape presses, dating to about 1,600BC, was unearthed at Minoan complex Vathypetro – just a 15-minute drive from Scalani Hills.

These days, island producers such as Alexakis, Stilianou and Michalakis are making eclectic wines from white grapes such as Vilana and Thrapsathiri, and red ones like Mandilaria. Among the established names, Boutari blends Greek favourites with well-known international varietals such as Chardonnay and Syrah.

Sleep among the vines

Of all the wineries with plots in the Archanes region near Heraklion, Boutari’s Scalani Hills outpost has an enticing USP. It boasts a clutch of charming, contemporary rooms. Three suites open to prime views over 7ha of knobbly old olive trees and vines.

The two-person suites are named after star local grape varieties: Liatiko, Malvasia and Kotsifali (a particular Archanes specialty). Set in a centuries-old former cottage, they are dressed in soothing neutral decor.

A private terrace is your setting for devouring a breakfast of Cretan favourites (think sticky grape jams and moreish must biscuits). Plus there are as many Boutari wines as you care to drink. That is, if you haven’t already had your fill sipping through flights in the winery’s glass-lined tasting area.

Kotsifali, the two-storey maisonette, has a particularly wow-factor fireplace set under its soaring white wood-panelled ceiling. While cosy Liatiko looks out over a shady pergola. Ideally, you’d come as a crew of six, and take all three suites for the ultimate, private Greek vinous hideaway.

This isn’t a sprawling resort, so you shouldn’t expect loads of amenities. For that, the beachfront hotels of Crete’s north coast have more to offer. Rather, you’re here to bask in the rural tranquillity of it all. Kick back with a book while draining a bottle of easy-drinking, cherried Kotsifali and Mantilaria red. When bellies rumble, tuck into platters of dolmades, nutty Cretan graviera cheese and estate-grown olives.

Out and about

There is sightseeing, too. The ancient ruined Palace of Knossos – the mythical home of the half-man, half-bull Minotaur – is less than 10km away. There are hiking trails up soaring Mount Juktas and the haunting Minoan cemetery at Phourni. Heraklion, the capital of Crete, is there if you fancy seeking out an urban buzz.

But you may just want to hang ultra-local and explore the surrounding Archanes wine region, with its aromatic reds hewn from limey-clay soil. Meanwhile the neighbouring village of Peza, cooled by sea breezes, has high altitudes and delicate white wines ready to discover.

And of course – as we’ve said, thanks to the magic of Crete – the island’s nearest beaches are just 15 minutes away. So after you’ve exhausted tasting options in the surrounding area, you can simply flop on golden sands at a secret cove. And feel smug for getting two holidays in one.

For more information visit scalareaestate.gr

Related articles

Greek odyssey: Olly Smith’s pick of the regions and wines

Decanter’s Dream Destination: The Yeatman, Porto, Portugal

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Scalani Hills Boutari Winery & Residences, Crete appeared first on Decanter.

In the dusty outskirts of pretty Elciego, it rises like a beacon. A tangle of metal and glass, an explosive futuristic figure set among rows of manicured old Tempranillo vines. Marqués de Riscal, the hotel owned by the well-known winery of the same name in Rioja, isn’t just a place to stay. It’s a large-scale art piece.

Not that you’d expect much less from Frank Gehry, the visionary who also designed the nearby Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and Paris’s striking Louis Vuitton Foundation. Arresting deconstructivism is the signature of this starchitect – and even though the hotel opened back in 2006, it still feels electrifying.

Ribbons of colourful Japanese titanium and stainless steel bend and dive as if caught in suspended animation. They dress the front of honey-stoned 19th century buildings in striking high drama. It’s a bold, contemporary statement that’s dished up, in poetic contrast, on the grounds of Rioja’s oldest winery.

Old and new

The Gehry Suite

Established in 1858, with its first wines bottled in 1862, Marqués de Riscal is one of Rioja’s most pivotal names. Founder Camilo Hurtado de Amézaga brought the winemaking traditions of the Médoc to sun-drenched northern Spain. In fact the property still harvests from some of the oldest vines in the region, including pre-phylloxera plantings.

The winery introduced Sauvignon Blanc into the region and was instrumental in the establishment of DO Rueda in 1980.

Today Marqués de Riscal is among Rioja’s most celebrated brands, and provides a comprehensive visitor experience in a ‘city of wine’. It includes the original bodega, El Palomar – the winery for its premium range – and hospitality facilities galore.

Among those facilities is the hotel. Its 61 bedrooms are dressed in crisp whites and the rich ruby hue of young Tempranillo. Leathery sofas, light polished woods and marbled bathrooms join terraces and big windows.

Views are of the surrounding verdant vineyards, undulating hills and, in many cases, the rising honey-stone figure of the historic Church of San Andrés in the distance. In a region that prizes tradition while also pushing for innovation, this old-meets-new stay feels a perfect fit.

Exploring Rioja

The library terrace

There are plenty of wines to taste on site – whether via a winery tour or in the hotel Vinoteca, which pours the label’s own wines alongside slivers of jamón and creamy croquettes. But once you’ve had your fill, more of Rioja’s finest wineries are on your doorstep.

To the northeast by Laguardia, Bodegas Ysios and Bodegas Javier San Pedro Ortega await. In Haro, to the west, one of Rioja’s winery epicentres, you can simply stroll between the likes of Bodegas Muga and Bodegas CVNE.

Prefer to keep it local? The hotel has free bicycles to borrow so you can spin along pathways cutting through the vines and along the Ebro river. Staff will even pack a picnic to take away with you.

Relaxation o’clock

The Riscal Suite terrace

When you’re ready for downtime, Marqués de Riscal delivers. You’ll want to spend yours in the excellent Spa Vinothérapie Caudalie, which puts the antioxidant properties of the grape front and centre. Book in for a skin-softening Crushed Cabernet Scrub or toning Winemaker’s Massage.

Then, shoulders unclenched, make for the open-air terrace of the Restaurant 1860 Tradición for a lazy alfresco meal. Or for a more serious gastronomic affair, choose Restaurant Marqués de Riscal instead. In this Michelin-starred spot you’ll get a multi-course parade of gussied-up local ingredients, including Idiazábal cheese, red prawns and black olives.

And, of course, there’s a riveting wine list to help it all down. Older vintage Marqués de Riscal pours include the likes of Cosecha 1945 and Barón de Chirel Reserva 1994. But you can also choose from dozens of other exciting Riojas, both red and white.

For more information visit marquesderiscal.com

Related articles

Rioja travel guide

Decanter’s Dream Destination: The Yeatman, Portugal

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Italy

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Marqués de Riscal, Rioja, Spain appeared first on Decanter.

The year is 911. Charlemagne’s grandson, King Louis ‘The Child’ of East Francia dies aged 17 after an 11-year reign and becomes the last ruler of the East Frankish Carolingian Dynasty.

Elsewhere, in what will become known as the Kingdom of Germany, Schoenberg Castle located on a small hill in the medieval town of Oberwesel, overlooking the meandering banks of the River Rhein, is first mentioned in written sources.

Much has happened since then. Family squabbles and tribal warfare meant the castle frequently changed hands, and has even been burnt down and rebuilt.

Today there may no longer be royalty fighting over its ownership, but a stay in one of the castle’s 27 rooms will make you feel like an aristocrat.

Living like a king

The Sieben Jungfrauen suite. Credit: Volker Linger

The external walls of the castle are made from the same slate that gives the wines of Germany’s Mittelrhein region their distinct minerality and structure. Stepping into the castle and back in time, the hotel is decorated with a firm nod to 15th century interiors. Dark wood panelling, hanging tapestries and leaded glass windows are sympathetically used to create a charming and welcoming pastiche.

The bedrooms, each with their own names such as ‘Pfalzgrafenkemenate’ (kemenate translating to a room with a fireplace or a woman’s private room), are individually furnished but follow the same unifying theme. From cosy, dedicated single-person rooms, to suites with four-poster beds, en suite saunas and private balconies.

Wine time

Hotel Schoenburg at night

Venture outside and it’s clear that wine is, and has always been, at the heart of Oberwesel. It was the wine trade that brought wealth to the region from the 13th to the 15th century, allowing the town wall to be built. That wall still stands largely intact today: visitors can walk along it and see inside the fortified towers.

Riesling reigns here, with around 70% of the region’s vineyards planted with it. So it’s only right to try to understand the local’s love for it. The hotel offers private tours where you are met at the castle doors by a winemaker and whisked away for two hours. Your tour will take in the town, vineyards, views and of course end with a wine tasting. (€65 per person).

If you prefer something a little more lively, then one of the many wine festivals should be part of your schedule. Germany has over 1,000 wine festivals annually and the Mittelrhein is no exception for celebrating all things vinous.

When to visit

Plan your visit to include a trip to the Christmas market or to the springtime Mittelrheinischer Weinfrühling. This 5km route starts in Boppard (13 minutes away from Oberwesel by train) and travels through 16 ‘stations’ celebrating the new vintage release, coinciding with Rhein in Flammen. As the name suggests, the river is lit up by firework displays taking place in five locations along the Rhein with wine festivals happening bankside.

Then there is the most unique event of all, one that only happens in Oberwesel: Weinhexennacht (wine witch night) on 30 April. The event traces its history back to a time when witches’ fires were lit in the vineyards to drive out winter demons. These days a local woman is chosen to represent the town and its wines, with her inauguration consisting of her climbing out of a big wine barrel in the market square.

Food and drink

The hotel restaurant

Even if your trip doesn’t coincide with a festival you can still experience the best of the region by looking out for Haus der besten Schoppen Mittelrhein. These restaurants, inns and taverns have been judged to serve excellent local food and drink.

And of course you can plan your own visits to wineries in the region. Suggestions include Weingut Ratzenberger and Weingut Toni Jost, both members of the VDP Mittelrhein. Or drop into Weingut Albert Lambrich, the family winery of the current wine witch Julia Lambrich.

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley, US

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Italy

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Hotel Schoenburg, Oberwesel, Germany appeared first on Decanter.

The journey to Saffire Freycinet is one that requires commitment. First, you have to make your way to Tasmania – the heart-shaped landmass off Southern Australia – via a two-hour flight from Sydney. Next, you need to drive three hours north from capital Hobart, squiggling along the coast-hugging Tasman Highway.

Then, when you finally reach a peninsula cloaked in a natural park, you must fight to keep your eyes on the road as surrounding hills soar upwards and blue bays rush by. But put in the effort to get to this remote luxurious retreat, and you won’t regret it.

A Signature Suite at Saffire Freycinet

The hotel’s design is remarkable – a silvery, stingray-shaped build, lined in floor-to-ceiling windows, hedged by a row of private villas. Everything here is geared towards that unrelenting view: wild forest, rugged peaks and glittering bay fringed in soft golden sands. Enter the light-flooded contemporary lounge, where a sleek wooden ceiling ripples above and gas fireplaces flicker lowly, and it feels a bit like you’ve wandered into the pages of Architectural Digest.

The villa-like rooms are no less impressive. With just a clutch on offer, the vibe is exclusive – and there is not a single dud. All 20 come dressed in Tasmanian woods and earthy hues. They offer sublime views across sun-soaked foliage to Coles Bay and the pink granite mountain range, The Hazards. The top suites are more spacious than a sizeable London flat. They come with dedicated dining areas and kitchens, as well as private plunge pools.

Dining and drinking

Food is a serious priority here. The hotel operates on an all-inclusive basis with well-stocked minibars, three meals a day and bottomless pours from the impressive wine cellar. Think sparklings from Tasmania’s Pipers River, Roswell and Lebrena regions and Riesling from the Tamar and Coal River Valleys. Not to mention Pinot Noir from across the island.

The menus feature a roll call of native Tasmanian ingredients. From abalone to beef to venison, dishes show off the incredible diversity of the local larder.

Out and about

But don’t get too comfortable. Part of the draw of checking in is the excuse to get out. Stays at Saffire Freycinet include unique ‘experiences’ that plunge you into the local landscape, while giving you a taste of its bounty.

Spend a morning wading through crystal-clear waters on a working oyster farm, harvesting briny bivalves and washing them down with glasses of traditional method Clover Hill fizz. Don an apiarist suit and visit hives to learn about the production of Tasmanian honey.

The resort can also arrange visits to a historic vineyard on Tasmania’s east coast, Craigie Knowe. Here you’ll meet winemaker Glenn Travers and sip a selection of his wines.

If you strike out further – and you should, if you’ve made the effort to come all this way – then Tasmania has more riches to discover beyond its sublime wine and food. Saffire Freycinet, with its bountiful connections, can arrange for you to see endangered Tasmanian devils up close or will helicopter you to Currawong Lakes for fly-fishing.

You can self-drive down to Hobart for the day to visit the city’s fabulous MONA museum of old and new art or sample award-winning Tasmanian whisky. Or take the ferry to Bruny Island to tour Australia’s southernmost vineyard.

Or of course, you can explore the other wineries of the island – highlights include Jansz for impressive sparkling or Tamar Ridge for complex Pinot Noir. Just make sure you’re back in time for dinner; whether it’s sticky quail on the menu or scallops with macadamia, you won’t want to miss executive chef Paddy Prenter’s plates.

And just before you make the epic journey home, you have to climb up the famous nearby lookout point, through lush forest and rounded russet boulders. You’ll emerge into the sunshine to a perfect half-moon curve of white beach and azure water blanketed beneath you. The name of this special place? Wineglass Bay. For an oenophile, there can be no more fitting conclusion to a stay in Tasmania.

For more information visit: saffire-freycinet.com.au

Related articles

Decanter’s Dream Destination: The Yeatman, Portugal

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley, US

Decanter’s Dream Destination: Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, Italy

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania appeared first on Decanter.

When COMO Hotels and Resorts opened its first location in continental Europe in 2019, it was a notable departure. For a company known primarily for wellness-focused stays on Indian Ocean shores, a move into the Tuscan countryside – heartland of carbs, cheese and, of course, Chianti – didn’t feel especially on-brand. But COMO has managed to strike just the right balance here, creating a resort that’s feel-good in every sense of the word.

The setting is pure Tuscan idyll. A 12th-century castle overlooks rolling vineyards, sun-drenched olive groves and distant purple hills cradling cobbled ancient towns. Pin-straight cypresses flank a sculpted fountain in the grounds, and pebble-strewn walking trails weave you past crumbling farmhouses and wind-rustled grasses.

The mood is quiet, unhurried, soporific. Geographically Castello Del Nero is a million miles away from COMO’s resorts in the Maldives, Thailand and Turks and Caicos. Yet it’s a paragon for the brand’s trademark focus on wellbeing. Perhaps because when you’re somewhere this beautiful, you just can’t help but feel well.

Designed for relaxation

A Heritage Suite bedroom

The rooms – either in the medieval castle itself or its redesigned outbuildings – subscribe to the signature COMO contemporary, minimalist aesthetic. Don’t expect heavy Italian drapery or dark woods here. Instead cream and slate hues, peachy tiling and fluid furniture create a light, airy mood that allow the original features of the property to shine.

In some cases, those features are remarkable: not just beamed ceilings but frescoes that date back to when the noble Del Nero family used the castle as a personal countryside escape from nearby Florence.

Then of course, there’s the Shambhala spa – no COMO resort comes without one. Mornings begin with complimentary yoga or pilates classes in the window-lined studio, shielded from the suntrap alfresco pool by a hedge of green.

After a soothing herbal tea, you can indulge in the hydrotherapy area, or go straight into a rebalancing COMO Shambhala Massage. A 90-minute evening treatment plus a few glasses of local Chianti practically guarantees you the sleep of your life.

Food and wine

Panzanella salad with green tomatoes

Speaking of wine, despite its wellness creds, COMO isn’t about austerity. Just ask the guests draining bottle after bottle of Sangiovese rosé at lunch on the alfresco terrace… In fact, both wine and food are put front and centre here.

At Michelin-starred restaurant La Torre, chef Giovanni Luca Di Pirro plates up colourful, edible art in a monastic-minimalist dining space. The panzanella salad with raw scampi, edible flowers and sun-ripened tomato is especially memorable.

In the cellars almost directly beneath the restaurant, staff run tutored wine tastings. They can walk you through the nuances of Chianti’s sub-regions (including Barbaerino Tavarnelle, where the hotel is based). You’ll try lesser-known organic producers and, if you’d like, even crack open a bottle of the hotel’s own Chianti. It’s made with grapes harvested from the vineyards just outside your bedroom window.

Out and about

When you are ready to explore the local wine regions, the hotel can also facilitate that. Antinori, makers of the celebrated Super Tuscan Tignanello, is a 12-minute drive away from Castello Del Nero, making a cellar tour practically obligatory. Other Chianti headliners such as Castello di Ama are not much further.

Meanwhile, daily free shuttles will whisk you to Florence or Siena if you’d like to break up the tastings with wanders around some of the world’s most treasure-packed museums.

When you return from the buzz of the towns or tasting rooms, you’ll be greeted by a sunset wash above the hotel’s broad terrace and total tranquillity. For dinner, choose a cheese-smothered wood-fired pizza under the stars – or, if you are feeling COMO-style virtuous, a salad. We know which one we’d pick…

For more information visit COMO Castello Del Nero. 

Four nights B&B from £1,629pp with flights, transfers and UK lounge passes with Elegant Resorts.

Related articles

Top Tuscan Wineries: 10 to visit

Chianti Classico: a glowing future plus 12 must-try wines

Street food in Italy: what to eat & local wine pairings

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: COMO Castello Del Nero, Tuscany, Italy appeared first on Decanter.

There are cities with a wine scene – and then there’s Porto. Wine is in its DNA. For centuries inky fortified Port has been aged right here, in the cool riverside warehouses of Vila Nova de Gaia.

In recent years, as the UNESCO-listed city has moved from shabby to chic, visitors have poured in. And among the soaring historic billboards advertising Sandeman and Croft, there has been a shift.

Cool restaurants, cutting-edge museums and exclusive places to stay have cropped up in the old cobbled streets, ushering in a new era of tourism. Among them is The Yeatman, the ultimate Portuguese wine hotel.

A modern, window-lined resort on garden slopes in Vila Nova de Gaia, The Yeatman overlooks the jumble of Porto’s old town – a view most mesmerising when taken in at dusk from the terrace of your suite. The immediate surrounds are equally special, particularly for wine lovers.

Pass the Port

The hotel is a cork’s toss from the historic Taylor’s Port warehouse and its tasting room. This is no accident. The Yeatman is named after Taylor Fladgate & Yeatman, one of the biggest names in Port and the owner of the hotel.

This stay is not just some Taylor’s branding exercise however. Rather, it is a democratic vinous celebration that champions top Portuguese wines of many kinds. Each one of the 109 bedrooms is named after a lauded local producer, with bottles and other memorabilia dotting the butter-hued interiors.

There is a superbly stocked wine shop and multiple in-house cellars. One of these hosts tutored tastings and winemaker masterclasses. A Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa is on site, too, where antioxidant-rich grape products make an appearance in facials and massages. Descend down a vine-lined spiral staircase to its soothing embrace, then have your body buffed with a Cabernet scrub or soak in a tranquil ‘barrel bath’ overlooking the city.

Tempting tastings

The Yeatman’s vinous highlight, though, is its Gastronomic Restaurant. Book well ahead for the two-star Michelin tasting menu from chef Ricardo Costa. Expect eel with panko breadcrumbs or suckling pig with soufflé potato crisps. Opt for the wine pairings and you’ll sample some unconventional pours, such as whites from the Azores.

Alternatively choose your own bottle from Porto’s finest list. There are 1,300 labels, 94% of them Portuguese. As you’d expect, Port is strongly represented, and older vintages are opened by your sommelier with suitable theatre using searing hot tongs.

While you’ll have the opportunity to taste many of Portugal’s finest wines here, nothing beats sampling at the source. Staff can arrange day trips into the nearby Douro Valley to the most exclusive of quintas; for example, Quinta do Vesuvio, which is open by appointment only.

Local attractions

A speedy boat transfer across the Douro River can also be arranged, so you can explore Porto’s old town within minutes, with no need to traverse the soaring Dom Luís I bridge. The Yeatman can also tailor experiences at WOW, the cultural district next door that’s also owned by Taylor’s.

WOW, the World of Wine, is perhaps the greatest new reason for oenophiles to book into this stay. With seven museums and a dozen restaurants and bars, it is an adult Disneyland with wine at its heart. Tour a fabulous interactive wine museum, explore how corks are made or plunge into a pink ball pit in an outrageous exhibition on rosé (cheesy, but great fun). It’s all less than five-minutes’ walk from The Yeatman.

That means, after a day of exploring, you’re just five minutes away from a sundowner on your private terrace. Or a dip in one of the hotel’s two panoramic infinity pools. Or a quiet read in The Yeatman’s library, with something delicious to sip in hand. When it comes to city wine tourism, you can’t beat that.

For more information visit The Yeatman.

Related articles

Douro travel guide

A wine lover’s guide to the Algarve

Driving Northern Portugal’s wine route

The post Decanter’s Dream Destination: The Yeatman, Porto, Portugal appeared first on Decanter.