Day 1
Transfer from Barcelona Airport.
Arrival Hotel Resort El Muntanyà, Seva (Barcelona)
Check in and free time
Wine Pleasures welcome and programme presentation
A practical introduction to wine tasting – colour, aromas, taste, food pairing & opinión.
Dinner in the hotel and wine matching.
Day 2 – Osona
Morning guided visit of Vic the capital of the Osona region.
Vic is a university city with an outstanding historical, commercial and scenic interest. Ideal for a short stay and for being the starting point to plan other activities or close visits. It is worth mentioning the exceptional natural landscape, from where you can easily have access to practice open-air activities.
Interesting sites:
Transfer to Tona home of a small boutique family cheese maker. Visit to learn how gotas cheese is made and cured followed by a wine and cheese matching course – we will learn how to match different cheeses with different wines.
Transfer to Valfogona del Ruicorb – Hotel Spa Regina – Dinner in the hotel
Day 3 – Costers del Segre wine region
Cycle along the picturesque River Corb valley to the village of Belianes Here we will stop and visit the village Cooperative and Olive oil Museum and learn about the traditional method of making olive oil from the alberquina variety. After we try some on toast. The Cooperative also makes wine – two reds and a white so we will be tasting their wines while simultaneously learning how to drink from a Porrón! After it’s a short cycle ride to pick up the Cistercian Monastery Trail which begins in Vallbona de les Monges in the Urgell province of Catalonia home to the nunnery of Santa Maria de Vallbona founded in 1153. Upon arrival we will visit a small agricultural co-operative whose wine production comes from its 12 hectares of vineyards where the Macabeu, Parellada and Chardonnay grape varieties are grown. The winery is located in a former barn and is equipped with all the modern technology necessary to obtain fine quality white wines. Wine tasting in the winery. Picnic lunch.
After lunch vist of the Monastery - highlights include two Gothic lantern towers in which bells were hung, the sarcophagi in the church (a fine example of the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic) and the trapezoidal cloister. Return to the hotel (bike optional) and time to relax in the Spa before dinner in the hotel.
Dinner in the Hotel Regina.
Day 4 – Conca de Barberà wine region
The Appellation of Conca de Barberà draws its name from the historic small village of Barberà de Conca at the confluence of the Francolí and Anguera Rivers. Conca means a basin or hollow. Conca de Barberà is also known for its hazelnuts, almonds and cereal fields.
Due west of Penedès and averaging about 500 metres above sea level, Conca de Barberà is similar to, and a continuation of, the high Penedès region where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir show their greatest expression. In selected areas, Cabernet Sauvignon equals this top quality.
Much of the Conca de Barberà grape production, unfortunately or otherwise, disappears into Penedès cava houses such as Codorniu or Freixenet thus robbing the Appellation of any recognition. With its admirable terroir for growing outstanding flavoured grapes, it is surprising that a lot more world-class wineries have not been established.
Morning to discover Mediaeval Montblanc’s streets and squares, visit churches and palaces and discover the history and legends that this walled town keeps. Time also for shopping!
Visit of the Simó de Palau winery followed by lunch in the winey restaurant
Alter lunch we will be welcomed by Josep, Julieta and Ricard – three generations of the Foraster family. Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon go to make their range of 3 wines – the Josep Foraster Selection being the star.
Transfer to La Selva del Camp to the Hotel Mas Passamaner. Spa Circuit followed with a Gourmet dinner in the Hotel. 1* Michelin Restaurant.
Day 5 – Penedès wine region
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. Today we
will visit a family business that conserves 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.
Small boutique winery visit & Picnic lunch in the winery. Transfer to Barcelona Port.
Board Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas and depart from Barcelona, Spain.
Day 6 - Arrive Cannes (Monte Carlo), France
Travel to Nice along the coastal road, passing by the beautiful bay of
Villefranche, St. Jean Cap Ferrat, and more. Finally arriving in Nice,
drive by way of the Promenade des Anglais - a curving 4.3 mile
palm-lined seaside boulevard complete with a broad boardwalk perched
just above the rocky beach - to take in some of the best sights in the
city.
Begin
at Castle Hill, where you will take in the sights: the ruins of the
castle, lush gardens where people come to relax on a beautiful day, and
the gorgeous waterfall from where you will enjoy the most dazzling view
of Nice.
Next you are on to Cimiez, a chic northern suburb where
considerable Roman remains are located. Pass in front of the Regina -
Queen Victoria's Winter House - and stop at the ruin of the Roman
arena, dating all the way back from the 1st century. Of course, no trip
to the Cimiez quarter would be complete without a visit to the 17th
century Franciscan Monastery, which sits high above the town's center.
And don't miss the gardens, in which there is an ancient sundial where,
if you stand in the correct spot, your shadow will give you the correct
time.
Now continue on to the Florian Candy Factory, the oldest
candy factory on the coast, located right next to the harbor and
residential area of Nice. Admire the different processes that go into
the making of various French specialties, and even enjoy a free tasting!
Make
a stop in front of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is a copy of the
one in Moscow, Russia. Built by Tsar Nicolas in 1912, the Cathedral
contains superb treasures of icons, woodwork, and frescoes, and was the
first to be designated a Russian Orthodox Cathedral outside Russia.
Finally,
head to the heart of Nice: the Old Town and (in the morning) the Cours
Saleya, or Flower Market. The daily morning flower market offers much
more than just flowers, including plants, fresh fruit, vegetables, deli
foods, bread, cacti, olives, and on Mondays the flowers are replaced
with antiques.
Your wine tasting will take place in the heart of
old Nice, in the cellar of the old St. Dominique Monastery, discover
the subtlely different wine regions and taste the three very best "Crus"
of the Provence wines.
Day 7 - Arrive Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Italy
Depart from the cruise ship pier and travel 45 minutes along the
highway to the beginning of the "Wine Road." Cross the beautiful
Chianti area on your way to Greve, the most important village of the
area. Here you will find the monument to Giovanni da Verrazzano (the
explorer that discovered the largest part of the East Coast of
America), Piazza Matteotti with its lovely porticoes, the San Francesco
convent, and many shops, wine-cellars, and butchers. All of the most
famous people of Hollywood have stopped in here to order the best beef,
salami and ham in the world!
After
Greve you will continue on to the magnificent castle of Verrazzano,
where you will meet up with a local guide. Here you will enjoy the
complete wine tasting, which will offer you the tour of the Castle with
a local guide, as well as a complete lunch made up of all of the
products on the farm. Each dish will be accompanied by the appropriate
wine. This is an experience that you will certainly never forget!
Day 8 - Arrive Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Your itinerary choices are your own. Stop and start as you like or use
your driver for his knowledge of the area, which he knows well.
Perhaps
you will want to begin with the Ancient Rome of Emperors: Capitoline
Hill, the famous Roman Forum, the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Circus
Maximus, the Thermal Baths of Caracalla, Ancient Appian Way, the
Catacombs, the Pantheon, and Aula Ottagona.
There is also the
Renaissance and Baroque Rome of Popes, including the Trevi Fountain,
the beautiful Spanish Steps, St. Peter in Chains, Navona Square,
Farnese Square, Janiculum Hill, and, of course, St. Peter's Basilica.
You
are not able to visit the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums
without a pre-reserved entrance. Please book THE VATICAN AND ROME WITH
PRE-RESERVED TOUR for this service.
Day 9 - Cruising at Sea
Private wine tasting aboard the luxurious Navigator of the Seas for only the guests from the "The Grape Escape" tour.
Day 10 - Arrive Barcelona, Spain
Transfer to Barcelona International Airport for your return flight home.
*****All itineraries are subject to change without notice.
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