House of Mandela Wines

The Mandela family's heritage reaches back to the 18th century when Thembu Land was a part of a royal kingdom in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The bee represents the House of Mandela, courage, compassion, a concern for others and making dreams possible, through sharing acts of kindness and invoking numerous relationship circles with family, friends and the broader community.

 

 

Berghotel zum Edelacker – vineyard hotel

Four-star Berghotel zum Edelacker incorporating the Edelacker restaurant opened in 1996 and offers traditional hospitality combined with modern luxury. Staying in a fabulous location high above the wine town of Freyburg an der Unstrut, the hotel's guests enjoy excellent food, first-class service and undisturbed sleep – total relaxation for body and mind!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Château l’Hospitalet - Vineyard wine hotel overlooking the Mediterranean sea

In the middle of a breathtaking wine producing estate, on a unique property of 1,000 hectares of vineyards, pine forests and scrubland, Château l’Hospitalet *** overlooks the Mediterranean sea.

 

Located only 10 minutes away from Narbonne city center and 5 minutes away from the sea, our establishment is the perfect place to enjoy French gastronomy, wine and relax.

Upon arrival, Gerard Bertrand and his team will greet you and share with you the Mediterranean lifestyle in a place whose history goes back to the 6^th century.

 

 

From a perfectly decorated room discover stunning views of the vineyards that will let both your body and mind relax. At our restaurant you can enjoy French gastronomy made from seasonal and fresh vegetables from our own plot. Wake up your senses, while visiting our wine storehouses at Gerard Bertrand's Winery, while sipping our best vintage wines, while walking around our beautiful property or while participating in our Jazz evenings. For art lovers, do not forget to visit our exhibition galleries and our craft shops.

 

The singularity of Château l’Hospitalet has so much to offer….

Winery Tour in Hungary - Wine Dine TV

ALONG THE BURGUNDY TRAIL

I found this article about Burgundy very interesting and wanted to share it my wine passionate friends!
http://www.undergroundwineletter.com/2011/12/along-the-burgundy-trail-vintage-2010/

Relax and wine down in a luxurious Napa retreat

 

Relax in the Carneros wine region at the Carneros Inn, a luxurious Napa retreat!

 

Clos Montmartre, the Secret Vineyard in Paris

Clos Montmartre is the secret vineyard hidden in one of the most fascinating areas in Paris. Every year it hosts the Montmartre Wine Harvest Festival.

 

Long before Lutèce became Paris, the Montmartre area was planted with grapevines. The Romans had built a temple there dedicated to Bacchus, the god of wine. A Benedictine abbey was founded on the hill in the 12th Century which included a wine-press operated by the nuns. Although the abbey was destroyed during the French revolution, the vineyards stayed in operation. The Montmartre district became home to church-owned vineyards that produced wines for the local cabarets and drinking establishments. During the 18th and 19th Centuries, wines from other areas began to increase in popularity: outbreaks of disease and the increasing urbanization of Paris meant that gradually the vineyards in and around Paris all but disappeared. Fortunately in the early ‘30s a group of local artists led by Francis Poulbot, a famous illustrator, asked the government to grant them a patch of land between rue des Saules and rue St-Vincent to recreate the Montmartre vineyards. Albert Lebrun's government approved the plan, and Clos Montmartre was renewed in 1933, with the first harvest as early as 1934. Because the artists’ knowledge of wine growing was quite limited, they organized the first grape harvest the year immediately after planting, unaware that grapes need four years before they can be pressed for wine.

 

 

The grape-picking ceremony has been repeated every October since, except during World War II. Owned by the Mairie de Paris, the Clos Montmartre - the last active vineyard inside the Paris city limits covers 1,556 sq m and contains 1,900 vines of 28 different grape varieties including Gamay and Pinot Noir. Every autumn, the grapes are picked from the vines and fermented in the cellar of the town hall. Figures give current production at 1,700 bottles per year. Each year’s wine labels are painted by local artists (Titouan Lamazou has created this year’s label) and the money raised is used for charity, a tradition initiated by the artist Poulbot for the children of the hill immortalized in his paintings. Francis Gourdin, a top oenologist who has advised Clos Montmartre since 1995, leads guided tours during the festival and explains to visitors that while it's not easy to make good wine in such a polluted spot, it's not impossible. Those who have tasted the Clos Montmartre give it mixed reviews, and at the cost of €45 per bottle, it’s clear that you buy it more as a pleasurable souvenir of a fun event.

 

 

Unlike much of the popular neighborhood, the Montmartre vineyards have not become touristy or kitschy. This is still a local, Parisian affair, or even a neighborhood affair, which, however shouldn’t intimidate you. On the contrary, in fact: you should feel more than welcome to join wine lovers from all over France, locals and tourists, and pack into the funicular that takes you up to the vineyard. Last year, more than 500,000 visitors participated in what has to be one of the French capital's best annual fêtes. Each year, a godmother and godfather of the festival are chosen from among France’s A-list celebrities. This year, singers Jocelyne Béroard, and Laurent Voulzywill lead the festivities - and the local restaurants, bars and cafes offer the godparents’ favorite dishes on their menus. In addition, the theme of this 78th edition will be ”Montmartre celebrates the islands” as France celebrates the Overseas this year.

 

Get ready for 5 days of festive celebration with 120 exhibitors spread over 1,200 square meters in medieval-style tents offering tastings of wines from France, culinary demonstrations and workshops, mouthwatering and artisanal delicacies. By day, you will see parades of musicians, dancers, costumed politicians, giant papier-mâché puppets and masked harlequins. By night, you can attend concerts and fireworks exhibitions. Have your children join in on the enormous Chorale des Infants (Children’s Chorus). Do not miss the intriguing Cérémony des Non-Demandés en Mariage – (Ceremony of Non-Marriage Proposals), that involves not getting married to your partner in an amusing ritual presided over by the mayor of Montmartre himself, followed by the open-air Bal des Non-Mariés at Place des Abbesses, where singles celebrate not being married. The fête culminates in a big firework display and ends with a grand parade in which members of the confréries bachiques (wine brotherhoods) and chevaleries du tastevin (wine-tasting knighthoods) wear traditional costumes.

 

The Fête des Vendanges is undoubtedly the best time to visit. Otherwise, entry to the vineyard has to be arranged through the Montmartre tourist office, at Place du Tertre, two minutes from the vineyard. They usually require you come in a group of at least 12 – though smaller groups may be lucky if the vineyard is not too busy – and you pay for a tasting, although the tour is free.

 

After a visit to the vineyard, try eating at one of these places

Le Vieux Chalet (14bis rue Norvins) is a colourful, family-owned bistro and garden on Place du Tertre
Bistrot Poulbot (39 rue Lamarck) offers worker-sized portions of the classics
Restaurant La Pomponnette (42 rue Lepic) where you can have a wonderful, homely French meal surrounded by Poulbot’s artwork (tel 01 46 06 08 36, closed Sundays and Mondays at lunch)

From Napa, With Love: Two Delicious New Wines for Taste’s Launch

The idea: two wines showcasing California’s premier wine-growing regions. With that in mind, Four Seasons approached the company with “The World’s Greatest Wine List”—that is, 900 90+ ratings from top wine publications to its credit.

And that’s how the match began. Terlato Wines is America’s leading marketer, importer and producer of luxury wines, representing 60 labels. Trelato recently crafted two wines from its family-owned vineyards for the November 6 launch of Taste by Four Seasons at Four Seasons Hotel New York. Both are under the Iconoclast label: a cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District and chardonnay from the Russian River Valley.

 

Hailing from the globe’s best locale to grow the grape, thanks to cool Pacific breezes and volcanic soil, the cabernet sauvignon packs a punch: bold and bright with dark fruit and hints of baking spices. It’s aged 20 months in French oak. The wine delivers a remarkably long, smooth finish and lush texture characteristic of Stags Leap. Aged nine months in French oak, the well-balanced chardonnay reveals hints of apple pie spice. It has crisp acidity and is great mid-palate.

“Our partnership with Four Seasons was so natural—one that just made sense,” says John Terlato, Vice Chairman of Terlato Wines. “We share a common perspective—a total and complete focus on, and dedication to, quality and ‘beyond expectation’ experiences for our customers. We hope it’s the beginning of beautiful relationship and long-term partnership.”—Michelle Pentz Glave

 

 

Wines of Castiglion del Bosco

The winemaking cellar at Castiglion del Bosco has a capacity of 300,000 litres and is a modern, efficient structure on two levels, built against the hillslope and almost hidden amidst the poplars and beeches. Inside, it boasts the state-of-the-art technology required for the most effective interpretation of Castiglion del Bosco’s distinctive character and that of its wines.
The Sangiovese grapes are quality-selected in the vineyards first, then the clusters travel two sorting tables, where trained eyes make a further selection of the finest fruit. The clusters are then gravity-fed into 100-150hl tanks on the lower level, which are arranged in suitable sizes to ferment the various vineyard lots separately.
When the fermentations are complete, the wines go to a spacious, climate-controlled area that is partially underground, containing 750 new and once-used French barriques. From the tasting room, visitors can enjoy a gorgeous view from a glass walkway extending out over the barrique cellar.
The winemaking process continues with bottle-ageing, which, depending on the wine, may last from 6 to 36 months before release.

Castiglion del Bosco Rosso di Montalcino DOC –
A pleasant, modern wine that represents a fresh and well-rounded expression of the Sangiovese grape. Its intense varietal aromas are the result of a combination of traditional and modern techniques in the cellar.
Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino DOCG –
Castiglion del Bosco’s most representative wine is an example of the Sangiovese grape’s perfect symbiosis with the territory of Montalcino. The richness of the “galestro” stone in the soil gives the wine its unique aroma, complexity and structure.
Campo del Drago Brunello di Montalcino DOCG –
The name is quite ancient, referring to the fact that the watercourse bordering the vineyard at this point looks very much like a dragon; one look at the water and one realises that no other name would ever fit so well, particularly if those eyes were those of a local farmer. The Campo del Drago Brunello di Montalcino is an extremely elegant, complex expression of the Sangiovese grape. It comes from grapes from the Capanna vineyard, characterized by an excellent exposure and optimum soil and climactic conditions. This wine has great power and personality, and represents a perfect combination between tradition and innovation.
Castiglion del Bosco Millecento, Brunello Riserva DOCG –
The Brunello Riserva is the fruit of a meticulous selection of estate-grown grapes; it matures in 4 of the barrels from the Le Chene de Morat, the famous centuries-old oak from which French coopers made 120 barrels.

Source: Great Wine News

Sneak Preview of our Signature Wine & Gourmet Tour in Burgundy & Paris

We are crafting our Signature Wine & Gourmet Tour to Burgundy & Paris.

 

This tour will include:

 

Luxury Accommodation

Airfare

Luxury Transfers

Lunches (specified)

Gourmet Wine Dinner

Winery Visits

Wine Tastings

Culinary City Tour

and much more...

 

 

The top 5 luxurious wine estates in South Africa’s Western Cape

 

 

The sprawling valleys of South Africa’s Western Cape are home to some of the world’s most luxurious wine estates. Discover the vintage wines of Groot Constantia or enjoy an evening of pampering at the Lanzerac Hotel & Spa. Escape from the city and have a getaway to remember at one of these top five luxury wine estates.

 

1. Groot Constantia

Situated in the upmarket suburb of Constantia in Cape Town, this wine estate has won a grand total of 36 gold awards in the past 10 years, and it’s not hard to see why. Groot Constantia prides itself on producing high quality estate wines and classic vintage variations that are sure to delight the most distinguished palates. Despite dating back to the late 15th Century, the wine cellars are wonderfully contemporary and tours are available every day from 10am – 4pm.

 

 

2. Lanzerac Hotel & Spa

If you’re looking for the ultimate in indulgence you can’t get much better than this. The 5 star Lanzerac Hotel & Spa has luxurious guest rooms and a lavish wellness spa with the added extra of a top quality winery. Credited with producing the world’s first Pinotage, the Lanzerac wine estate has earned its fair share of awards and accolades. Take a trip to the testing room to try the latest wines along with a selection of top quality cheeses or a range of divine hand-made chocolate by Tomes.

 

 

3. La Motte

Nestled in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, La Motte is home to some of South Africa’s finest wines. It also happens to be a wine estate with a conscience. As a ‘thank you’ to their life-long supporters, La Motte helped to create a modern village for the workers and their families to live in. As well as creating some of the most delicious wines in the world, the estate cultivates a variety of flowers including the rare ‘Blushing Brides’ which are native to the Franschhoek Valley.

 

 

 

4. Vergelegen Estate

Enjoy peace and utter tranquillity at the Vergelegen Estate in Somerset West. Having achieved over 200 awards in the past decade, this wine estate has certainly earned its grape-growing stripes. In the sweltering summer months, visitors can enjoy a delicious lunch on the Rose Terrace Bistro patio which is sheltered by gorgeous Liquid Amber trees. While you’re there, be sure to have a sip of the estate’s flagship wine, the fruity Vergelegen V, or try one of its distant cousins, the Vergelegen White Blend.

 

 

 

 

5. Boschendal

Nestled against the slopes of the Groot Drakenstein and the magnificent Simonsberg Mountains, the Boschendal wine estate couldn’t have a more beautiful location.

The estate produces a number of premium wines with a focus on Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz varieties. Take a tour of the vineyards and gaze in wonder at the stunning scenery that surrounds you on all sides. If you have some time to spare, stroll around the internationally acclaimed Rose Garden to see the rare species of flowers that flourish in the valley

 

 

 

 

TOP WINE RESORTS

These top wine hotels are tucked away on vineyards and
offer up-close perspectives on winemaking and all that comes with it.



Argos in Cappadocia, Uçhisar, Turkey

L’And Vineyards, Évora, Portugal

Babylonstoren, Stellenbosch, South Africa



Algodon Wine Estate, San Rafael, Argentina

Lapostolle Residence, Santa Cruz, Chile

Loisium Wine & Spa Resort, Suedsteiermark, Austria