Just one of the amazing wine views in South Africa.
Tucked in South Africa’s Langeberg Mountain range in the Robertson Wine Valley is small family owned winery that is making a big impression. Kleinhoekkloof Wines is the very definition of a handcrafted boutique winery. At just under 12 Hectares under vine, they grow 6 grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Shiraz, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Pinot Noir. 80% of the farm is registered under the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) and they use the power of gravity in the vineyards and cellar. For example, they use drip irrigation via the fountain and dam they have up in the mountain and use forklifts to raise the tanks to drain off the juice. The first time the wine goes through a pump or is filtered is when it is bottled.
Bodegas Amaren, the sister winery to Luis Cañas, is a tribute to winemaker Juan Luis Cañas’ mother Maria Ángeles. Located in Samaniego, a town in the Province of Álava in Basque country, it lies within the Rioja Alavesa wine region, the smallest sub region of Rioja in Spain. Ángeles was a woman known for her dedication to the family vineyards as well as a passionate appreciation for the earth. It is that same commitment to quality and respect for the environment that the winery aims to bring to every bottle.
¿CóMO? Taperia opened in Vancouver, BC on November 26 to a buzz rarely seen in a city known to be especially demanding—and notoriously ruthless—on restaurants. ‘Como’ holds several meanings in Spanish including “come again” and “to eat”. It is an authentically Spanish phrase that is the perfect name for a concept that until now had been sorely missing in a place known for its world-class dining scene.
Canadians aren’t generally known to boast, but we’re lucky enough to have an airline that has been named North America’s Best Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 7 of the last 9 years (including the past 2 consecutive years), so we’re going to make an exception. On a long-haul trip from Vancouver to Sydney, we had the opportunity to see firsthand that the accolades are truly deserved.
AdVINEtures was recently invited to Australia to host a group of 22 Flight Centre Canada travel consultants and show them the best of the Yarra Valley in 24 hours. Any wine lover will tell you that 24 Hours isn’t nearly enough time to discover any wine region, let alone one we had never been to before! Add the fact that we had no prior knowledge of what wine experience or interests our large group had, and we were in for an interesting challenge. Challenge accepted.
Special thanks to Flight Centre Canada, Tourism Australia, Chateau Yering, Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, Coldstream Brewery & Yarra Valley Bike Hire for an excellent AdVINEture!
Driving up the road to Brick House Vineyard in Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a journey away from people and into civilization. As you approach the winery you notice the land becomes more rural which accounts for the wonderful feeling of seclusion you feel when you are on the property. Paradoxically, it feels very civilized to be away from the crowds and cars and noises and just take in the calm of this beautiful farm.
Recent Comments