On a visit to the vine

To visit the Bordeaux vineyards or spend an evening with friends in your own cellar — a great way to not only spend time but also to create the image of a successful person.

The wine road

Unlike people wine to travel do not like. From shaking, which is inevitable during transport, it can lose some of its properties. So it’s easier to go to visit him, at the same time looking at how the beverages are born. The world famous wine regions of Piedmont and Tuscany, Bordeaux and Burgundy, Chablis and champagne are very popular with tourists. And this is understandable: for a relatively low price (package costs from $0.7 to $3 thousand) it is possible to taste the famous drinks directly from the barrels, to hear from the winemakers and tour guides the history of the region, admire the beautiful nature.

The pleasure of a trip to the famous wine regions is able to only those who belong to the cognacs and wines as something more than just a pleasant addition to the holiday table: numerous tastings and the stories of tour guides this tour will be a joy.

But if you are interested in alcohol exclusively as a consumer, it is not necessary to go to a wine-tasting tour, it is enough a usual trip to one of the European countries, which includes the tour, not only in the capital but also across regions. In a country famous for its drinks, you will be taken to a factory or in a small château for a tasting.

Normal tour program is designed for a period of five days to a week longer to drink complex, full of different aromas and flavors of wines and brandies of the great regions difficult — even just a little bit. In recent time there are short tours for two or three days, they usually go for the weekend. “To spend Saturday and Sunday at home, in the country, in clubs and restaurants is no longer fashionable, the consumer want something new, interesting. Therefore, the market appeared such proposals. A couple of days in France, Spain or Argentina, you can relax, escape from problems and worries,” says Irina Mahotsava, the Manager of one of travel agencies of the capital.

However, there is in wine tourism one feature — a large part of the European households spend only a group tour, enjoy an exclusive tour for families, for example, two people can not.

Standard wine tour in Bordeaux, one of the most famous wine regions, will consist of a mandatory visit to leading farms: of the Medoc, Mouton-Rothschild (in Palace), Chateau Margaux, Figeac, St-Emilion. You will visit one or more local cognac houses and factories (for example, Remy Martin), will you be dining in the gourmet restaurants and wine tastings (sometimes paid, often not more than 20 euros) you will be served cold snacks and cheeses that are suitable for wine.

Experts advise not to travel to sightseeing tours in several regions and a large number of farms, it is very tedious. It is better to decide what you want to see and try. For example, you can go to Beaune, Bordeaux region, famous for the long cellars and extremely expensive wine (at a recent auction a bottle of Chateau d’yquem 1787 was valued at $64 million).

In the catacombs bona you can see a huge bottle of wine and try the best drinks. The tour usually lasts an hour or two, and this time, rest assured, you will be enough, because you can try anything. Only do not forget the containers for spitting wine — if everything is swallowed in the huge cellars you can naprobovatsya that there will be absolutely no memories of a wonderful trip. In addition, Beaune is famous for Europe’s largest underground fortress which is also worth a look, not all the time, to taste.

There is a trend in tourism tasting like wine. You will be offered not only to taste great wines, but also to use some of them externally — in the form of baths, rubdowns, and body wraps, as well as to taste the water from the mineral springs, located in Bordeaux. Typically such tours involve the placement in good hotels at least 4 stars with a fitness club, massage room and swimming pool.

Go on a wine tour is possible in almost any country that serves beverages from grapes: out of competition, France and Italy, but do not forget about Spain with its great Ryohei, Switzerland, where you need to visit Valais, Germany with a stunning cold wines, Argentina, New Zealand, Uruguay, Chile and even South Africa, where tourism and the wine industry in recent years is rapidly evolving.

And there’s Moldova, Bulgaria and Ukraine, which also produces wine, though not so expensive and famous, but loved by many. There is something to see in Georgia, real wines which are, unfortunately, hard to buy in Moscow. Should go there at least for them to try. “The program wine tour usually includes a visit to the regions associated with the names of famous Georgian wine brands, small and large wine companies, familiarization with the history and technology of production, tasting. All these regions tend to be historic, of course, take a look around the local sights,” says project Manager Travel portal in Georgia Yana Kashibadze.

Fans of whiskey, too, will not be bored, because there is Scotland, the real Mecca for all lovers of this drink, Ireland, where you can taste the whiskey, not exported to Russia, USA national Bourbon. And for connoisseurs of beer is Belgium and Prague. And don’t think that tasting tour in these countries implies the bypass of the largest Kabakov. She is no less serious and interesting than in the wine regions. For example, to go to Bavaria can be at least in order to see Celtic castle built over a thousand years ago, standing at the confluence of three rivers. Learn how to make beer, what are the varieties and try them in combination with traditional snacks, of course, also interesting.

Of travel you’ll bring not only a pleasant experience, new knowledge and rare drinks. They can be put in your personal cellar or wine Cabinet to enjoy the taste of a long Moscow nights. Maybe one of these evenings you will come to mind to have your own vineyard. In this case it will be useful to know that the cheapest land in France is located in Roussillon (about $10 thousand per hectare not planted with vines). In Australia and Chile you will be able to buy a hectare for $3-5 thousand — also without grapes. In Spain, “pure” land purchase is almost impossible and it is unprofitable — there is a law limiting new planting 1 hectare of the processed earth there is estimated at $100 thousand If you are going to establish large-scale exports, it is the best choice — a small site with price not more than $10 thousand per hectare.

Two steps for a breath.

An increasing number of Russians are becoming interested in expensive alcohol. Buying them in the supermarket is expensive, and the choice was usually bad, and here to order from the supplier a few bottles of their favorite drinks was a good idea. Only store they need is correct — noble alcohol is very whimsical and capricious.

Putting a small wine rack can afford to almost everyone: the most inexpensive cost from $3 thousand to $5 thousand But you can order a truly unique piece for $20 thousand — are usually put in wine cabinets and cellars. “Requirements for cabinets is not easy: it must be no vibration, maintained a stable temperature of 10 to 14 degrees, and the bottle should be placed so that movement was minimal,” — says CEO “room system” Alexander Bondarenko.

If wines a lot and got the right place, you can build your own cellar. “To invest in the construction of private wine stores can be up to $100 thousand this amount includes the equipment, its delivery and installation, manufacturing of furniture. The price can vary greatly depending on the type of wood chosen for the decoration and furniture: the main material is oak, but there are those who prefer to enjoy an exotic species — teak and very expensive Makassar”, — says head of Department on work with corporate clients of the company “Keyder,” Svetlana Zubareva. Most of the cellars built by those who collect wine collection.

By the way, if you set out to make a decent collection of alcohol, buy should not have any drinks, and some pre-defined principle. You can give preference only to the wines of Burgundy, only drinks old vintage (not later than the 50th year) or just champagne. But to buy for all collections that you simply like, is to destroy initiative on the vine.

In a large collection of alcohol should be not only hard drinks but also lightweight, for every day, but not necessarily high-quality, recognized brands, and not “just wine” or “just whiskey”. “Cognac is cognac. And born it needs to be there, in France. As well as doing the best sherry in Spain, for example Real Tesoro, Valdespino. And a wide selection of scotches, which are only Macallan, Glenfarclas, Arran, Bruichladdich, Edradour. Each of these drinks has their regular customer,” — says commercial Director of “Veld-21” Gela Absandze.

“Selecting wine is a very complex process. For example, in my opinion, drinks from France, received recognition primarily because of economic and geographic factors and not their quality. You should never buy wine category Vin de table — the quality is always poor and high-price categories: a beverage from Chile, Argentina and Spain are better than the French.

I would advise also to pay attention to Italian wines — they are at a price and in quality, as a rule, most acceptable,” said sommelier Vianey. In favor of Italian wines, though not denying the merit and French, speaks and sommelier company “Keyder,” Nellie Galtseva: “the Country of the vine Italy rich in surprises. Always interesting to show themselves berries Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile de Montepulciano. The Italians made a breakthrough by working with international grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot. As a result, the light appeared to be excellent wines that have won in the market of the individual niche. Very nice Italian sweet drinks Recioto from slightly dried grapes, VinSanto white and red Amarone”.

Source: journal of Finance, January 2006