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South Africa, March 17 – 26, 2021

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Come with us to meet South Africa's ambitious, talented winemakers

— In the last twenty years South Africa’s wine industry has gone through a revolution, and today the country is a major producer of quality wines. Thanks to the new generation of winemakers, quality has increased dramatically. There is a lot of new thinking and experimentation, and producers listen closely to what consumers want.

South Africa is also a spectacular country to visit in terms of scenery and landscape, boasting dramatic mountain ranges and rocky shores, indigenous flora and fauna, and  of course legendary wildlife safaris. South Africa has its own culinary traditions which are showcased by the top-quality restaurants found here. In short: this is a tour that features outstanding wines, excellent food, breathtaking nature and stunning scenery.

Tour Highlights

  • 10 days, plus travel days
  • Many winery visits
  • Gourmet meals
  • Magnificent landscapes
  • Expert wine guide
  • Price €4000
  • Franschhoek
  • Stellenbosch
  • Walker Bay
  • Swartland
  • Hemel en Aarde
  • Cape Town

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The wines of South Africa need little introduction, thanks to the overwhelming success they had at international level after the end of apartheid in the early 1990s. The country opened its doors and wine lovers from around the world were finally able to discover fruity, full-bodied wines made in the regions around Cape Town, and the quality today is excellent. Many of the newer producers are exceptionally ambitious and make wines that can hold their own when tasted alongside other top-quality bottles from the world’s leading wine producers.

South Africa is considered to be part of the New World in terms of wine making, but its viticultural heritage dates back to 1655 when Dutchman Jan Van Riebeek planted the first vines near Cape Town, followed by the Huguenots who arrived from France at the end of the 17th century; the sweet wines from Constantia were already world famous by the 18th century.

Vineyards and a winery at the foot of a mountain in Franschhoek, South Africa
Vineyards and a winery at the foot of a mountain in Franschhoek, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
A winery and vineyards below a mountain, Franschhoek
A winery and vineyards below a mountain, Franschhoek, copyright BKWine Photography

There will be plenty of time for sightseeing here. We will visit the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain as part of our itinerary, enjoying many excellent meals featuring local produce and dishes along the way. We will have time to stroll around the towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, as well as the city of Cape Town, and there will be lots of opportunities to enjoy South Africa’s fabulous scenery.

The tour is led and managed by one of BKWine’s internationally-known wine experts and co-founder Britt Karlsson. Voted Wine Personality of the Year 2011, she is also a columnist for Forbes.com and author of several wine books, including The Creation of a Wine (voted World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals by the Gourmand Awards). There will also be a local South African guide on the trip.

Visiting the a vineyard in Franschhoek, South Africa
Visiting the a vineyard in Franschhoek, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
Merlot vineyards in Franschhoek
Merlot vineyards in Franschhoek, copyright BKWine Photography

Programme — South Africa wine tour

Preliminary programme.

Contact BKWine for more details.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Programme overview

  • Day – – — Leave home for Cape Town
  • Day 1 — Arrival, welcome to Cape Town
  • Day 2 — The Cape Peninsula and the Cape of Good Hope
  • Day 3 — Elgin, Overberg and Hermanus
  • Day 4 — Hermanus and Walker Bay on the south coast
  • Day 5 — Over the mountains to Franschhoek
  • Day 6 — Franschhoek, the famous valley
  • Day 7 — Swartland
  • Day 8 — Stellenbosch, the capital of wine
  • Day 9 — Stellenbosch
  • Day 10 — Departure from Cape Town
  • Day – – — Arrival back home

Day – – — Leave home

How you travel to South Africa depends on your starting point. Most long-haul flights are overnight, meaning that you arrive in Cape Town in the morning. You may like to arrive a few days early (we can arrange extra hotel nights for you), but whatever you do, you need to be in Cape Town on the morning that the tour kicks off, ie. Day 1. (NB: See below under “flights” for important information).

Near the Cape of Good Hope on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa
Near the Cape of Good Hope on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
Vertiginous views at Cape Point
Vertiginous views at Cape Point, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 1, Wednesday, March 17 — Arrival in Cape Town

Arrival at Cape Town airport in the morning and pickup at the airport, unless you have arrived earlier. At around noon we head out to our waiting bus, going first to our hotel where we may be able to check in already. If not, we will start with a light lunch and a few good wines.

After lunch we will get back on the bus and head over to Table Mountain. If we are lucky and the wind is not too strong, the cable car that goes up the mountain will be running (it is closed if the weather is poor). From the top of Table Mountain there is a breath-taking view over Cape Town, the Waterfront, the sea, and the vast surrounding landscape.

By late afternoon we will be back at the hotel and those who have not already done so can check in. We will be staying for two nights at Cape Town’s four-star Hotel Southern Sun Cape Sun. Our hotel has a gym, restaurant and bar, and is located in the city centre and shopping district near the famous Waterfront. You can settle in and relax before our welcome dinner in the city. We will be dining at a small, friendly restaurant near our hotel (the bus will take us there in 10 minutes) which serves local Malay cuisine.

One of the colourful houses on Long Street in Cape Town, South Africa
One of the colourful houses on Long Street in Cape Town, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
A colourful house on Long Street in Cape Town
A colourful house on Long Street in Cape Town, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 2, Thursday, March 18 — Day trip to the Cape Peninsula

After breakfast we head towards Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope, the south-westernmost part of Africa where according to legend, the Flying Dutchman sank.

It is almost always sunny and very windy here. The entire tip of the peninsula is a nature reserve with the most extraordinary flora and fauna, and the natural South African fynbos (scrubland) features more species than almost anywhere else in the world. Amongst the wildlife found here are ostriches, antelopes, springbok and baboon. Be careful of the latter, as they are very curious and may well grab food or other items, given the chance.

We will visit the spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive, a recently opened road along the coast that clings perilously to the side of the cliffs, taking us along the Atlantic Ocean past Noordhoek. At Cape Point we take the funicular up to the historic lighthouse with a 360-degree view over the area: this is certainly (and literally) one of the high points of the trip, after which we will continue on to the Cape of Good Hope.

We will have lunch together today. In the afternoon we will head back to Cape Town for a short stop at the hotel before getting back on the bus and driving up to Signal Hill. Here, we will enjoy the sunset and city views, with canapés and some delicious South African sparkling wine to celebrate the start of our adventure.

After sunset the rest of the evening is free. You may like to spend some time down at the charming Waterfront, where the old harbour has been remodelled to create an upmarket residential area and a centre with shops, museums and restaurants, many of which are open in the evening. The bus can drop you here before continuing on to the hotel, and it is easy to take a taxi from the Waterfront back to the hotel later in the evening.

The west side of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa
The west side of Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
Imposing mountains in Camps Bay, Cape Town
Imposing mountains in Camps Bay, Cape Town, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 3, Friday, March 19 — Elgin, Overberg and Hermanus

Today we start learning about wine. We will check out from our Cape Town hotel and we will head for the south coast. But before we reach the coast we will stop in the region of Elgin.

This area has a relatively cool climate and thus winemakers here have focused on varieties such as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer. Elgin is known for its apples, and is a relatively young wine region.

You find some very ambitious producers here, making wines full of character and freshness. After our morning visit in Elgin we will continue to the neighbouring region of Overberg. Here we will visit a fabulous estate called Gabrielskloof, which has seen many improvements since top wine maker Peter-Alan Finlayson was hired a few years ago

We will have a visit, a tasting and a superb lunch here at Gabrielskloof.

In the afternoon we will make our way down to the south coast of Western Cape and the small town of Hermanus, in the Walker Bay wine region. We will check in at Harbour House Hotel, where we’ll be staying for two nights. Situated in the town centre on the water front, it’s a perfect location to explore the town and has stunning sea views. The evening is free, so enjoy some down time in this pretty little town by the sea.

Vineyards and a winery at the foot of a mountain in Franschhoek, South Africa
Vineyards and a winery at the foot of a mountain in Franschhoek, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
A mountain protecting the winery and vineyards, Franschhoek
A mountain protecting the winery and vineyards, Franschhoek, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 4, Saturday, March 20 — Hermanus and Walker Bay on the South Coast

Today we will visit some interesting wineries in Walker Bay. This is a relatively new wine region whose elegant wines have received much attention in recent years. Proximity to the ocean means a cool environment for the vines, resulting in quality wines with good acidity and freshness made from grapes such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Many of the famous names in Walker Bay are situated in the valley known as Hemel-en-Aarde. It is a spectacular setting, between the sea and two impressive mountain ranges, and there are many excellent producers along the Hermanus Wine Route, producing world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Hamilton Russel, Newton Johnson (both Pinot Noir pioneers), Creation wines are a few examples. We will do a morning visit here in this beautiful valley.

Near the small town of Stanford we will call in at Springfontein, an estate whose highly creative winemaker is turning out original, thought-provoking wines. Here we will also enjoy a gorgeous multi-course lunch with a focus on pairing food and wine. By early evening we will be back in Hermanus, and the evening is free for you to explore the small town and its restaurants.

Evening by the sea in Cape Town, South Africa
Evening by the sea in Cape Town, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
Evening in Camps Bay in Cape Town
Evening in Camps Bay in Cape Town, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 5, Sunday, March 21 — Over the mountains to Franschhoek

After breakfast, we pack our bags and leave Hermanus. We are going north, over the mountains, to Franschhoek, driving through spectacular landscapes and stopping along the way to admire the wonderful views.

Franschhoek (the name means the French corner) is where the French Huguenots settled in the 1600s. We will have a winery visit and lunch here at a charming, historic estate that dates back to the 17th century. This spectacular location is a classified historical monument, and its new owners have been working hard for several years to bring new momentum and energy to wines.

After a tour of the vineyard and cellar we’ll enjoy an aperitif on the stoep (Afrikaans for porch) of a dazzling white Cape Dutch style building, followed by a delicious lunch of local specialities. There will be a second visit in the Franschhoek area in the afternoon, giving us the opportunity to focus on organic wine production and the challenges faced by South African growers making wine in this way.

In the late afternoon we will arrive at the small town of Franschhoek itself where we’ll check in at our hotel, Protea Hotel Franschhoek **** . It is situated in the middle of town, and we’ll be staying here for two nights. The evening is free so you’ll be able to relax and maybe check out one of the many excellent hotels in the town. Alternatively, our hotel also has a restaurant famous for its meat.

Majestic mountains and vineyards at sunset in Franschhoek, South Africa
Majestic mountains and vineyards at sunset in Franschhoek, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
The lunch and wine tasting at the winery is over, Walker Bay
The lunch and wine tasting at the winery is over, Walker Bay, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 6, Monday, March 22 — Franschhoek, the famous valley

We check out from the hotel in the morning. Today we will continue to explore Franschhoek, this beautiful valley. After lunch we move north to Swartland.

Our lunch today will be at Glenwood Estate, a 30-hectare winery in the attractive Roberstvlei Valley growing Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot and Shiraz. It has been owned since 1986 by Alastair Wood, and has a high-profile winemaker in the shape of “DP” Burger. After a cellar visit and wine tasting with DP it will be time for a lunch in the garden at Glenwood’s restaurant, where the views are just as memorable as the food.

After lunch we continue north to the region of Swartland, around 75 kilometres north of Franschhoek. Early evening, check in at Riebeek Valley Country Retreat in the small town of Riebeek West, close to the majestic Kasteelberg Mountains. We will stay here for 2 nights. You will time to have a look around in the small town or maybe take a gin and tonic in the hotel garden before we meet for dinner.

Fermenting grapes in Franschhoek, South Africa
Fermenting grapes in Franschhoek, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
Fermenting syrah in a winery
Fermenting syrah in a winery, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 7, Tuesday, March 23 — Swartland

Today we will visit some interesting wineries here in the Swartland. This is not really a new region but is has received much attention for its wines, full of character and personality, in recent years.

Summer here is very hot and dry but with cool nights so you preserve the fresh acidity in the wines. Many consider Swartland as South Africa’s most exciting wine region today. It has a penchant for grapes from southern France. The producers here do not want to be like everyone else, just growing Bordeaux grapes.

We will visit three different producers here in the Swartland, including the well-known Lammershoek winery, a high-class estate of 60 hectares farmed organically. They have over 50 years old Chenin Blanc and Syrah but also more recently planted Carignan, Tinta Barocca and even Hungarian Harslevelu.

We will have lunch at one of the wineries.

Late afternoon we are back at our hotel. Some free time and in the evening, we meet again for a traditional South African braai, a South African-style barbecue that is almost more of a social event than a meal.

Vineyards and a winery in hot and sunny Swartland, South Africa
Vineyards and a winery in hot and sunny Swartland, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
A sign to the wine cellar in Swartland
A sign to the wine cellar in Swartland, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 8, Wednesday, March 24 — Stellenbosch, the wine capital

Check out from our Swartland hotel in the morning. After breakfast we will continue our journey to Stellenbosch, the undisputed capital of South Africa’s wine regions.

Stellenbosch is home to many famous estates. An attractive, lively university town, it has a fascinating history.

We will visit some top estates in Stellenbosch today. One of the visits will be an organic pioneer in Simonsberg and we will learn about the specific issues in the vineyards that a wine grower in South Africa has to deal with. The visit ends with a tasting of some delicious wines, some made from very old bush vines of Chenin Blanc.

We will have lunch at the cosy and lush Garden Restaurant at Delheim Wines. They specialize in the Malay cuisine and some of the wild ferment Chenin Blanc and slightly off-dry Gewurztraminer are perfect matches with the food.

At the end of the afternoon we will arrive at our hotel in Stellenbosch where we’ll be staying for two nights. Our hotel is centrally located and within walking distance of restaurants, shops and bars. This is good news, as Stellenbosch and its pristine white Cape Dutch architecture certainly warrants exploring

Free evening.

Egg tanks in a winery in Franschhoek, South Africa
Egg tanks in a winery in Franschhoek, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
Egg-tanks in a winery in South Africa
Egg-tanks in a winery in South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 9, Thursday, March 25 — more of Stellenbosch

Today we’ll continue exploring Stellenbosch and familiarise ourselves with some of the sub-regions such as Banghoek, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg, each of which has its own specific terroir.

In the morning we have a visit to a winery considered to be one of South Africa’s Pinotage specialists. A cross between Pinot Noir and the southern French grape Cinsault, Pinotage can make wonderfully fruity and spicy wines. It was created almost 100 years ago here in South Africa and is the country’s emblematic grape.

From here we will continue to the eastern part of Stellenbosch, to a winery in the picturesque Jonkershoek Valley. This is a small family estate with 40 hectares of vines, where Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah are the two most prolific varieties. The winemaking is inspired by Burgundian methods, with fermentation in open tanks and manual punch down of the skins.

Lunch will be taken at the winery restaurant, surrounded by mountains, with a range of wines to be tasted with the carefully prepared dishes. After this, it’s back to Stellenbosch for some free time, before our farewell aperitif in the early evening. You are free to dine as you choose tonight.

A restaurant at a winery in Stellenbosch
A restaurant at a winery in Stellenbosch, copyright BKWine Photography
A winery restaurant in Stellenbosch
A winery restaurant in Stellenbosch, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 10, Friday, March 26 — End of the wine tour

The tours ends with breakfast. Transfer to the airport in Cape Town to catch your return flight home. If you are going straight home, ie. not staying on for some extra days in South Africa, you will probably be catching one of the overnight flights that will get you home in the morning the following day. We will have two transfers to the airport, one in the early morning, and another in the afternoon for travellers leaving in the evening.

If you would like to extend your stay for a few days, let us know. We can help you organise extra hotel nights.

The breath-taking Cape Point, South Africa
The breath-taking Cape Point, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
A Cape Dutch winery in Franschhoek
A Cape Dutch winery in Franschhoek, copyright BKWine Photography

Day – – — Arrival home

You arrive back home.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Go For It!

We’d love to have you with us.

Grocery delivery in Stellenbosch to a Cape Dutch style house, South Africa
Grocery delivery in Stellenbosch to a Cape Dutch style house, South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
Delivery in front of a traditional house in Stellenbosch
Delivery in front of a traditional house in Stellenbosch, copyright BKWine Photography

Add-on options: safari and golf

To go on a safari in South Africa is a special experience. On this tour we will visit the nature reserve at Cape Point, but a safari is not part of this programme. If you want to combine this tour with a safari, we offer a safari add-on (see details below).

South Africa is also wonderful golf country, so we are offering you the chance to combine this tour with some of the best golf to be had (see more information on these options after the wine tour programme below).

A leopard spotted on a safari in South Africa
A leopard spotted on a safari in South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography
A leopard spotted on a safari in South Africa
A leopard spotted on a safari in South Africa, copyright BKWine Photography

More info

We have written a lot about South Africa and about wine touring in the region, what to do and what to expect.

Travel pictures

We have made two photo galleries with pictures from previous trips to South Africa to give you a better feel for what you will experience on this exceptional trip.

The pictures were all taken by BKWine on previous editions of this fabulous tour to the tip of the African continent.

More pictures and videos

You can find more pictures and videos of wine tours and safaris in this exciting wine country on our Facebook pages:

Wine books

We have written more than ten wine books. They have won both national and international wine writing awards.

No other wine tour organiser has a comparable knowledge, competence and experience.

A collection of wine books written by BKWine

Tour Details — Wine tour of South Africa

Dates: March 17 – 26, 2021

Price per person: €4000

Single room supplement: €550

Included in the price:

  • 9 nights in four-star hotels, double occupancy, including breakfast
    • 2 nights in Cape Town, 2 nights in Hermanus, 1 night in Franschhoek, 2 nights in Swartland and 2 nights in Stellenbosch
  • Meals as described in the programme (*) :
    • 9 gourmet multi-course lunches with regional specialities at wineries or in restaurants, all including wines
    • 3 gourmet, multi-course dinners, one of which is a braai, all including wines
    • Early evening sunset aperitif with sparkling wine and canapés
  • Start and end point: Cape Town
  • Bus transport during the whole trip
  • All vineyard and winery visits, as per the programme
  • Private, top-quality tastings at wineries
  • Day trips, as described in the programme
  • Local English-speaking guide
  • Wine guiding and wine tutoring by expert BKWine guides: Britt Karlsson and Per Karlsson, founders of BKWine
  • Porterage at hotel check-in and check-out

 (*) See below for more important information on our meals.

Not included:

  • Travel (flights etc) to the destination and back, from your home location.

You are responsible for organising and your travel to Cape Town yourself.

If you would like assistance organising your flight tickets etc, please contact us.

We recommend taking a few extra days to prolong your vacation in this wonderful destination. We can assist you with booking additional hotel nights if you want.

For this trip to take place we must have a minimum of 14 participants registered by the “book before” date. Maximum number of travel guests: 22.

Guide

Wine guide: Britt Karlsson, BKWine

Britt is co-founder of BKWine Tours, named World’s Top Wine Tours by Travel+Leisure Magazines. She is the author of The Creation of a Wine (voted World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards as well as Best Wine Book of the Year in Sweden in 2010). In 2012 she published Wine and the Environment (voted Best Wine Book for Professionals in Sweden and second place winner in the World’s Best Educational Wine Book awards in 2013). In 2011 she was also chosen as Wine Personality of the Year by Munskankarna and has been named one of the five most influential wine writers in Sweden.

This wine tour is organised in collaboration with a local travel operator in South Africa. To ensure the best possible organisation and a unique experience it is important to have excellent local knowledge, and in South Africa it is also a legal requirement to have a South African licensed guide on a tour. Hence there will be two guides, each expert in his/her field of South African tourism and wine respectively. Our local guide will be able to tell us about the sites we will visit but also about the culture, history and traditions of the country.

Flights

We have chosen not to include the cost of flights in this tour. Here’s why.

Our clients come from many different countries and continents. By booking your own flights, you have maximum flexibility when choosing how and when to travel.

In many cases it is cheaper to buy flight tickets as an individual than as a tour operator (and we are a small and very specialised tour operator). We have chosen to put all our effort into creating an exceptional tour programme while keeping the costs reasonable, rather than including a flight booking service and then having to cut corners on the tour programme. We believe that this give you much better value for your money.

We will do everything possible to make it easy for you to arrange your travel, and we can put you in touch with one of our travel agent partners if you would like assistance. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding your flight arrangements.

Booking your flight to South Africa

We suggest that you book a flight that arrives in the morning of Day 1 (or earlier). Depending on your home location, this is likely to be an overnight flight. On Day 1 we will all meet for lunch, and this is the start of the programme. If you choose to arrive earlier, we can help to arrange additional hotel nights at our hotel.

Special cancellation conditions

Please note that special cancellation conditions apply for this wine tour.

Cancellation of your booking can be made according to the following:

  • More than 60 days before the beginning of the trip: the Traveller pays a fee equivalent to the Booking Fee.
  • 46 to 60 days before the beginning of the trip: the Traveller pays a fee equivalent to 75% of the total price.
  • 45 days or less before the beginning of the trip: the Traveller pays the full fee.

Safari: a possible post-trip extension

If you would like to extend your trip to South Africa with a few days of safari, please contact us. We can offer a two-night safari in a malaria-free, private game reserve in Eastern Cape, an hour’s flight time from Cape Town. It is common (though of course not guaranteed) to see all of the Big Five: elephant, lion, rhinoceros, buffalo and leopard. If you are interested in this option, let us know when you book the wine tour and we will get back to you with more details.

Travel photos from the safari

Curious to know what it looks like and what you will see?

Under the heading “More info” above you can find several links to pages with photography from our previous safaris that have followed-on to the wine tour. It is a wonderful experience.

Golf in South Africa: a possible trip extension

If you are an enthusiastic golfer, we can offer you the opportunity to combine the wine tour with a few days of golf before or after our tour. South Africa is a perfect destination for golfers. It has world-class golf courses located in breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. The climate is warm but generally not exceedingly hot, not even in summer, and the sea is never far away in Cape golf country. In addition to this, you will have the opportunity to play on some of South Africa’s best competition-grade courses.

You can choose to add this golf experience before or after our wine tour. There’s more information on how a golf add-on can look here. If you are interested in a golf add-on, please tell us when you book the wine tour.

Book This Trip

Book before:  October 15, 2020

Booking is confirmed by paying the booking fee of 700 EUR. Full payment should be received at the latest 60 days before the departure date (see our terms and conditions). Details on how to pay will be sent to you when you register.

It is important that you read our travel booking terms and conditions.

We also invite you to read more on why you should travel with BKWine, about customer protection, and about what you can expect from our wine tours in the section below “More on our wine tours”.

You book by contacting Britt Karlsson, BKWine:

  • phone: +33 1 58 88 04 66 or +33 6 80 45 35 70 (+33 is the country code for France)
  • Skype: “bkwine”. Call us on skype.
  • email: info@bkwine.com, or use the contact form below

“I want to book this tour” or “I want more info.”

(*) = required

Important: We automatically send you a copy of this email when you submit it. If you have not received it within a few minutes: 1) check your spam folder, 2) consider resending it, you might have misspelled your email address. Or simply send us a normal email using our address noted just above.

Share this tour programme with your friends

Maybe your friends want to come with you on this wine tour? Let them know about the programme and ask if they’d like to join you. Share the info on social networks or send an email to your friends:

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More on our wine tours

Why travel with BKWine?

We are Britt and Per Karlsson. We are specialists in wine and food tours and wine tourism, but also experts in wine in general. We are internationally published wine writers and have written ten award-winning wine books.

No other tour operator has a comparable knowledge and experience of wine, wine regions, wine tourism and gourmet travel.

We have organised hundreds of wine and food tours, and this is what we love to do. We take it very seriously – it is not a sideline or a hobby – and what we want more than anything is to share all these wonderful experiences with you.

All our tours are led and managed by guides who have in-depth wine knowledge, and in many cases we lead the tours ourselves.

Read more on why you should choose BKWine for your wine and food tour.

Thousands of happy customers

Over the years, thousands of wine lovers have travelled with us. Many come back to tour again and again with BKWine to new wine regions. Our record-breaking client has been on more than ten BKWine tours. We are happy and proud to have such faithful customers.

Read more on what travellers have said about our tours.

Awards and Mentions

We’re pleased and proud to have received many accolades, including:

  • “World’s Top Wine Tours”, Travel+Leisure Magazine, the world’s biggest travel magazine
  • “Best wine tasting holidays”, AOL Travel’s list of top wine tours
  • “Recommended Wine Tours”, Munskänkarna, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • “World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals” as well as “Best Wine Book of the Year”, Gourmand International awards, and many other book prizes
  • Three OIV book awards, International Organisation of Vine and Wine
  • “Wine Personality of the Year”, an honour bestowed on Britt Karlsson by Munskänkarna in 2011, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • Inclusion on the Wine Media Power List, by Wine Business International magazine

About the wine producers and wineries we visit

Our aim is for you to experience some of the very best and most interesting aspects of the wine world, in terms of wine and food.

We put great effort into creating outstanding winery visits, and in this way we are quite different to many wine tour organisers. It is not always the most renowned, internationally known estates that offer the best experiences. Organising a wine tour featuring famous names of the wine world is relatively easy: it is merely a question of making lists and ticking boxes. On those kind of “bucket list” wine tours, you rarely meet the winemaker or the owner. You will simply be one of thousands of visitors they receive each year.

We do things differently. With BKWine Tours, you will meet the people behind the label, often the winemakers and/or the owners. Thanks to them, you will have a unique, truly personal experience and an insight into the wine world that no one else can offer. When you travel with BKWine, you are more like a special guest than a tourist.

We have personal connections and unparalleled knowledge thanks to more than 20 years as wine journalists, with 10 wine books published, and as wine tour organisers with more than 30 years’ experience. You can be sure of getting the best wine travel experiences with BKWine Tours.

Read more on the wine producers and wineries we visit.

A true gourmet experience: food and gastronomy

For us, wine and food are intimately linked, and this is a fundamental part of our wine travel philosophy. For this reason, a wine tour with BKWine is always an outstanding culinary experience both for the wine enthusiast and for the gourmet. A BKWine tour is a gastronomic voyage that explores the deep relationship between food and wine.

Read more On Meals: Food and Gastronomy on Our Tours.

Customer Protection,  Financial Travel Guarantee, and Terms and Conditions

You can always feel safe when you book your tour with BKWine. BKWine has a bonded bank guarantee that gives full protection according to EU and Swedish law. BKWine is a Swedish limited company and as such is regulated by strict rules.

Read more on Customer Protection, Financial Travel Guarantee. and our Terms and Conditions.

When you book a tour it is important that you read the terms and conditions. BKWine’s booking terms and conditions follow the guidelines developed by the Consumer Protection Agency.

Health, vaccination and allergies

Our tours have no particular health requirements although inevitably we will be walking a certain amount in wine cellars and vineyards. Sensible footwear is a must.

Most of our travel destinations have no particular health guidelines or requirements for vaccinations or medical certificates, but if in doubt, you should always consult a medical professional, vaccination centre or relevant embassy in your country of origin.

We can always accommodate food allergies. However, in order for us to manage such requests you must let us know about any allergies before the tour starts.

Read more in our FAQ and in our Terms and Conditions.

Travel insurance

BKWine does not sell travel insurance. If you want travel insurance, check if your regular home insurance policy includes some kind of travel insurance, or contact your regular insurance company or a travel insurance specialist.

Custom Tours

We also offer custom wine and food tours if you want to travel on different dates, or if you want something different to what we currently offer on our scheduled tours. This tailor-made service can be offered for individuals, companies, professionals, wine tastings clubs etc.

Important information

Our groups are always small. The number of people in the group may vary. The maximum can range from 8 to around 20; check the details in each programme. But our groups are always modest in size. This is important because it guarantees a quality experience and a personal welcome at the wineries we visit.

Read the BKWine Booking Terms and Conditions here. They are important to you!

You are expected to organise your travel independently to the destination for most of our tours, but once you are at the location, we take care of everything.

For more inspiration

Read our wine travel blog. For more, read our online wine magazine the BKWine Magazine with articles from all over the wine world.

And also:

  • Recommend this trip to a friend using the share buttons below

Newsletter on wine

Subscribe to our free wine and travel newsletter, the BKWine Brief. Each month, it gives you news from the world of wine, restaurant recommendations, tips on our favourite wine producers and much more. It will also keep you updated on forthcoming wine and food tours.

Continue reading: South Africa, March 17 – 26, 2021


The post South Africa, March 17 – 26, 2021 was originally published on BKWine Tours and written by Britt Karlsson. Copyright BKWine and BKWine Tours. If you see it published elsewhere in full it has been republished without our permission.

BKWine Tours - Discover and Enjoy Wine with Us, the Real Wine Experience



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New Zealand, February 18 – March 5, 2021

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The magnificent discovery and exploration wine tour of New Zealand

Come to New Zealand with us and enjoy a truly memorable wine adventure in the southern hemisphere.

It’s a long flight to get to New Zealand, so we aim to show you as much of this amazing country as we possibly can. Naturally we’ll experience the wines, but there’s so much more included in this once-in-a-lifetime tour: stunning natural landscapes, fascinating local culture and mouth-watering cuisine.

Our tour starts in Auckland, on the North Island, and finishes in Queenstown, South Island. We’ll be travelling for 16 days and will visit most of the country’s wine regions. 

Tour Highlights

  • 16 days + travel days
  • Many wine visits and tastings
  • Stunning natural settings, geysers, glacier…
  • Price €7,200
  • Hawke’s Bay
  • Marlborough
  • Central Otago
  • Martinborough
  • Mount Cook
  • Auckland
  • and more

Book Now!

New Zealand has become a well-known and respected wine country in a comparatively short time. The wine industry here began with Sauvignon Blanc wines from Marlborough. The first Sauvignon Blanc wines were launched on the market in 1979 and no one could have imagined how successful they would be. Indeed, Sauvignon Blanc is by far the most planted grape in New Zealand today.

However, there are many different grapes grown in a variety of soil types and climates on the North and South Islands, meaning that New Zealand boasts a range of wine styles.

Originally known as a cool climate wine producer, New Zealand and its wine industry have evolved, and the differences between the North and South Islands have become clear. The climate between regions varies more than you might imagine, and there are many more wines to sample besides Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, although these grapes alone are well worth the trip.

New Zealand is a small country and hence a relatively modest wine producer, but its industry has continued to grow, year on year, with exports increasing roughly 17% each year. There are currently 38,000 hectares of vines here; Marlborough (25,000 hectares) is the largest wine region.

The tour is led and managed by Britt Karlsson, one of BKWine’s internationally-known wine experts. Voted Wine Personality of the Year 2011, she is also a columnist for Forbes.com and the author of several wine books including The Creation of a Wine (voted World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals).

A riesling vineyard under bird netting
A Riesling vineyard under bird netting, copyright BKWine Photography
A riesling vineyard under bird netting
A Riesling vineyard under bird netting, copyright BKWine Photography

The country spans 1,500 kilometres (932 miles) from north to south and its landscapes are jaw-dropping. The fact that New Zealand is narrow and surrounded by water affects the climate. Winters are mild and summers are warm but rarely hot, while autumn is often warm and dry, at least in the wine regions. The west coast gets rain but the vineyards on the warmer, drier east coast are sheltered.

As always on our tours, wine plays the leading role, but we have included a number of other activities. Nature will be a key feature of our trip: you will marvel at glaciers seen up close from a boat, and the geysers in Rotorua. Māori culture and cuisine will be included, and of course our group will discuss food and wine combinations and share many meals together, many of them at wine estates.

We have chosen to travel by bus all the way from Auckland to Queenstown, as this way we will see as much of the country and its marvellous landscape as possible. No trip to New Zealand would be complete without spotting kiwi birds (the country’s symbol) and sheep. Rest assured though, you will not be obliged to take part in the popular sports of sheep shearing or bungy jumping (they don’t spell it bungee here). 

All in all, this promises to be an unforgettable road trip.

The tour is led by BKWine co-founder Britt Karlsson, multiple award-winning wine book author and wine journalist.

Here’s a short video interview that we have made with Emma Jenkins MW, one of the very few New Zealand Masters of Wine, on what’s exciting with the country:

Approaching Picton on the Cook Strait
Approaching Picton on the Cook Strait, copyright BKWine Photography
Approaching Picton on the Cook Strait
Approaching Picton on the Cook Strait, copyright BKWine Photography

Programme — Wine tour to New Zealand

Preliminary programme.

Contact BKWine for more details.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Programme overview

  • Day – – — Departure from home for Auckland
  • Day 1 — Arrival in Auckland
  • Day 2 — Waiheke Island
  • Day 3 — Auckland to Rotorua, geyser, Māori culture
  • Day 4 — Taupo to Napier
  • Day 5 — Hawkes Bay
  • Day 6 — Napier to Martinborough
  • Day 7 — Martinborough
  • Day 8 — Wellington, ferry to South Island
  • Day 9 —Marlborough
  • Day 10 —Marlborough
  • Day 11 — The coastal road from Blenheim to Christchurch
  • Day 12 — Christchurch to Mount Cook National Park
  • Day 13 — Mount Cook to Queenstown
  • Day 14 — Central Otago
  • Day 15 — Central Otago
  • Day 16 — Departure home
  • Day – – — Arrival at home

Day – – — Departure from home for Auckland

There are many choices for a route to New Zealand, with or without a pause in another country on your way. If you decide to arrive a few days early we can help you arrange with hotel or other things.

Day – – , Thursday, February 18 — Arrival in Auckland

Arrive in Auckland, or you may decide to come a few days earlier, as this is a fascinating city.

Auckland is said to have more pleasure boats per capita than any other city in the world, hence its name The City of Sails. Given its spectacular location between the South Pacific Ocean and the Tasmanian Sea, it is easy to understand why many people here are into water sports.

With around 1.5 million inhabitants, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city. A cosmopolitan destination with an impressive harbour and beaches for swimming and surfing, it also boasts attractive parks, lively nightlife and good shopping, while the restaurants will satisfy even the most discerning gourmet traveller.

You check in at our hotel, Stamford Plaza Auckland, centrally located, close to the harbour. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and a fitness area on the 10th floor with a view of the harbour and the city. We will be staying here for two nights.

In the evening we will all meet for our welcome dinner.

Auckland skyline
Auckland skyline, copyright BKWine Photography
Auckland skyline
Auckland skyline, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 2, Friday, February 19 — Wine on Waiheke Island

We will have a relaxing day today on beautiful Waiheke Island, a 45-minute ferry ride from Auckland through the Hauraki Gulf. During the ferry ride you’ll be able to admire the view and the many islands of this small archipelago. The ferry docks at Matiatia Wharf. From there starts our discovery trip around Waiheke Island.

The island has around 7,000 permanent residents and a host of temporary visitors. The climate is mild, dry and ideal for wine-growing. The modern era of wine growing on the island started in 1978, although vines had been planted here earlier; today, there are about 20 vineyards. Most are quite small in size, but among them are some of New Zealand’s best. Grapes grown here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.

Waiheke Island is located east of Auckland and is partially protected from the cool and rainy winds from the west, making it both warmer and drier than Auckland. Vines flourish here, as do olive trees. We will visit one or two wine estates on the island, and have lunch at one of them.

We return to our hotel in Auckland and you have a free evening to explore the city.

A beach on the Waiheke Island in the Auckland Bay
A beach on the Waiheke Island in the Auckland Bay, copyright BKWine Photography
Harvest on the Waiheke Island in the Auckland Bay
Harvest on the Waiheke Island in the Auckland Bay, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 3, Saturday, February 20 — Auckland to Rotorua, geysers and Māori culture

We check out with our luggage, leaving the hotel after breakfast. We board our bus and start our tour towards the south, heading south-east towards the town of Rotorua.

We will be travelling in a volcanic area known for its geothermal activity, and you will see examples of this during the day. The population here is largely Māori, so this is an ideal opportunity to familiarise ourselves with the culture and history of New Zealand’s native population. We will travel through fertile farmland dotted with grazing dairy cows, passing small villages and farms of different sizes.

On arrival in Rotorua we will have a guided tour of the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley to explore some of the thermal phenomena including the famous geyser Pohutu, the largest active geyser in the southern hemisphere, which erupts twenty times a day.

With its hot springs, Rotorua has always been a sacred place for the Māori. Our local guide will give us an insight into Māori history and culture and we will learn about traditional crafts such as weaving and wood carving. This will also be our opportunity to see New Zealand’s’ iconic kiwi bird – maybe, because this bird is not easy to spot, even in captivity.

Geysers and sulphur springs in Rotorua
Geysers and sulphur springs in Rotorua, copyright BKWine Photography
Geysers and sulphur springs in Rotorua
Geysers and sulphur springs in Rotorua, copyright BKWine Photography

We will have a simple lunch in a café (not included) and after that we will leave Rotorua and travel via New Zealand’s largest pine tree forests to Taupo. We will stop en-route to view the mighty Huka Falls. Huka in Maori translates to “snow” as the water here has the appearance of snow falling as it is forced along from Lake Taupo through the falls on its journey along the Waikato River. It’s noisy and very impressive.

Upon arrival in Taupo we will check in at our hotel, Millennium Hotel & Resort beautifully set on the shores of Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake. The area is a popular holiday destination for New Zealanders.

In the evening we will visit a local family for a Māori cultural experience. The members of the family are affiliated to the local Māori tribe of Ngāti Tuwharetoa and we will be welcomed into “Te Ao Māori”, the world of Māori. We will experience a traditional powhiri (welcome ceremony) and also the essence of Maori culture through a powerful and vibrant haka and emotional songs of people, mountains, lakes and rivers.

We will be served an authentic buffet dinner with cuisine cooked in the hangi pit plus dishes that feature native New Zealand foods such as horopito and kamokamo.

At the conclusion of our evening, our driver will take us back to our hotel.

The incredible Huka Falls, 220.000 litres/second
The incredible Huka Falls, 220.000 litres/second, copyright BKWine Photography
The incredible Huka Falls, 220.000 litres/second
The incredible Huka Falls, 220.000 litres/second, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 4, Sunday, February 21 — Taupo to Napier, wine tasting in Hawke’s Bay

We check out after breakfast and continue our journey south Our tour continues down to the Hawke’s Bay wine district (located at Hawke Bay – note the small but important difference in name/spelling), arriving in time for lunch at one of the wine estates. The afternoon will continue with another wine visit.

Hawke’s Bay has a sheltered location between the mountains and the sea, and is one of the warmest and driest wine regions of New Zealand. Its rolling slopes covered with vines, olive groves, palms and cypress trees set against the blue ocean backdrop make it one of the country’s most picturesque wine regions. With more than 4,500 hectares of vineyards, Hawke’s Bay is also New Zealand’s second largest wine region. It is warmer than Marlborough, and grape varieties such as Merlot and Syrah thrive here; Chardonnay is also prominent.

Late in the afternoon we check in at Scenic Hotel Te Pania in Napier. It is centrally located and we recommend a walk in the city. Napier is considered unique in the world because of its art deco buildings, erected after an earthquake in 1931 which completely destroyed the city. The reconstruction was done in the art deco style which was fashionable at the time.

Free evening.

Napier, on the coast, has some classic art nouveau architecture
Napier, on the coast, has some classic art nouveau architecture, copyright BKWine Photography
Napier, on the coast, has some classic art nouveau architecture
Napier, on the coast, has some classic art nouveau architecture, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 5, Monday, February 22 — Winery visits at Hawke’s Bay

Today we have a full day in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand’s oldest wine region. We will travel south of Napier to the vineyards around the town of Hastings.

Red wines tend to dominate here and are often quite powerful, with good body and structure (some producers make comparisons with Bordeaux). This region is also known for its fruit and olive trees. In recent years, wine producers have discovered that the terroir here is extremely varied, adapting harvest dates and grape varieties accordingly.

There will be three visits today, one of which is combined with lunch. We will go to the beautiful Te Awanga coast south of Napier where there are a number of well-known producers, and to the famous Gimblett Gravels district, with its excellent stony soil.

By late afternoon we will be back at our hotel in Napier. Free evening.

Many vineyards are protected by nets from birds
Many vineyards are protected by nets from birds, copyright BKWine Photography
Enjoying the view from the vineyards in Hawke's Bay
Enjoying the view from the vineyards in Hawke's Bay, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 6, Tuesday, February 23 — Napier to Martinborough, wine visit in Wairarapa

Check out in the morning from our hotel with our luggage. Today we continue south, heading to a wine district called Wairarapa which includes the well-known Martinborough.

We will arrive in time for lunch at one of the wineries in Gladstone, one of Wairarapa’s subregions, the other two being Martinborough and Masterton. The first vines were planted in Wairarapa in the late 1970s. One of the pioneers was the now well-known estate, Ata Rangi. Wairarapa is a small region of just over 1000 hectares in total, but it features some very well-known producers.

Pinot Noir is the most important grape variety grown here, giving wines with texture and body. The Sauvignon Blanc wines are excellent, and the Riesling and Pinot Gris wines are becoming increasingly popular.

Late afternoon we check in to Peppers Parehua Martinborough, a charming hotel surrounded by vineyards where we will each have our own cottage/villa with plenty of space, a fireplace in the salon, garden terrace… The hotel has a cosy bar and a restaurant. If you feel like exercising there are bicycles and an outdoor swimming pool, and you can play pétanque or croquet.

Tonight we will have dinner together at the hotel. This is your chance to taste green lipped mussels, a local speciality known for its distinctive coloured shell.

Green-lipped mussels are a delicious speciality
Green-lipped mussels are a delicious speciality, copyright BKWine Photography
Green-lipped mussels are a delicious speciality
Green-lipped mussels are a delicious speciality, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 7, Wednesday, February 24 — Martinborough

Today we continue to explore Wairarapa. The first estate we will visit is nearby, so you’ll be able to enjoy a relaxing breakfast.

Martinborough is surrounded by small, family-owned vineyards. Our focus today will be Pinot Noir but also Syrah, a grape which does very well in this dry, temperate climate where the autumn is long and sunny, which gives the grapes plenty of time to develop their aromas.

After the morning visit, we will continue to the nearby Magrain Vineyard where we will have a relaxed barbecue lunch in the vineyards, accompanied by the Magrain Riesling and several different Pinot Noir wines.

Mid-afternoon we will head back to our hotel.

The evening is free.

Martinborough is a small town with traditional buildings
Martinborough is a small town with traditional buildings, copyright BKWine Photography
Martinborough is a small town with traditional buildings
Martinborough is a small town with traditional buildings, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 8, Thursday, February 25 — To Wellington and to Blenheim

Check-out in the morning. We will travel over Rimutaka Hill to the capital city of Wellington, which will take us about an hour.

Wellington is situated at the southernmost tip of the North Island, which is more or less the middle of the country. This well-organised city is the country’s political and administrative centre, and it is built around a large harbour. After a short sight-seeing tour with the bus, our driver will leave us at the Waterfront for a couple of hours of free time. The Te Papa Museum is certainly worth a visit. Lunch is not included in today’s programme so you are free to make your own plans.

In the early afternoon we will head down to the harbour to take a ferry across to Picton, on the South Island. This will be a wonderful cruise through Wellington Harbour, across the Cook Strait and through the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound. The journey takes about three hours which means plenty of time to maybe spot a dolphin or even an albatross, if we’re very lucky.

We dock at the small harbour of Picton where our bus awaits us. We now have about half an hour’s journey to get to Blenheim, the main town of the Marlborough wine region.

We check in at our hotel, five star Chateau Marlborough*****, in central Blenheim where we will stay for three nights, and the evening is free for you to explore this small town which has roughly 30,000 inhabitants.

The Cook Strait crossing taking us from North Island to South Island
The Cook Strait crossing taking us from North Island to South Island, copyright BKWine Photography
The Cook Strait crossing taking us from North Island to South Island
The Cook Strait crossing taking us from North Island to South Island, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 9, Friday, February 26 — Wine visits in Marlborough

Today we have a full day out and about in the vineyards of Marlborough. This is New Zealand’s largest and most famous wine region, and it is almost entirely associated with Sauvignon Blanc.

It was the intensely aromatic Sauvignon Blanc character of Marlborough wines that took the wine world by storm in the 1980s. Today it covers 18,400 ha of the region’s total of 25,000 ha. This style is still much sought after, but nowadays one can also find more nuanced wines here. Some producers use oak, others are looking for a crisper style; some harvest their grapes riper to get more body while others like to experiment with wild yeast and skin contact. Marlborough’s other grapes are also worthy of attention, as they show some interesting nuances; keep an eye out for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Syrah and others.

Marlborough has a huge variety of wine estates, from superstar Cloudy Bay, owned by French luxury group LVMH, to small boutique wineries. We will visit three wineries, and have lunch at one of them.

One of the wineries will be the superbly situated Clos Henri in Wairau Valley, an estate with an organic certification. Clos Henri was founded in 2000 by the Bourgeois family, who already had plenty of experience of making wine from Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir at Domaine Henri Bourgeois in France’s Sancerre region.

We return to our hotel in the late afternoon, and the evening is free.

When we came to the Clos Henri winery they wanted us to sign one of our wine books for them
When we came to the Clos Henri winery they wanted us to sign one of our wine books for them, copyright BKWine Photography
When we came to the Clos Henri winery they wanted us to sign one of our wine books for them
When we came to the Clos Henri winery they wanted us to sign one of our wine books for them, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 10, Saturday, February 27 — Wine visit in Marlborough

Once again, we have a full day of wine tastings in Marlborough, visiting two or three more wineries.

The original vines planted in 1970s were near Blenheim, but the vineyards have now spread east, south and north. However, Marlborough is still a fairly compact region with short distances between the wineries. The conditions here are good for wine growing. The vines get plenty of sunshine and just the right amount of rain. The three sub-regions of Awatere Valley, Wairau Valley and Southern Valleys offer some differences in character, and there are soil variations. Some Marlborough Sauvignon has sweeter fruit and perhaps more passion fruit flavours, while others have a crisper, greener tone. However, it is (usually) the winemaker who decides which style of wine he/she wants to make.

Today, one of our visits will be in the Awatere Valley located a short distance south of Blenheim. It is a fairly large farm where the whole family is involved. The vineyard is not that big but the family also has sheep and deer breeding and during our visit the family will show as those aspects of their life too. A very exciting visit. We will enjoy lunch with the winery’s wines in the village’s old train station house which the family recently bought and converted. We will do one more visit in the afternoon at a small producer that makes wine of high quality.

By late afternoon we will be back at our hotel; the evening is free.

Sauvignon blanc vineyards in Marlborough
Sauvignon blanc vineyards in Marlborough, copyright BKWine Photography
Winemaker working in the winery at Clos Henri, Marlborough
Winemaker working in the winery at Clos Henri, Marlborough, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 11, Sunday, February 28 — The coastal road from Blenheim to Christchurch

We check out and leave Blenheim after breakfast. Today, we will enjoy a magnificent coastal landscape and observe birds and seals, as well as having a superb sea food lunch.

An attractive road of about 50 kilometres takes us along the coast from Blenheim down to our first stop in Kaikoura. The road runs so close to the ocean that we can easily observe the local bird life and New Zealand’s fur seals. We will stop for lunch in Kaikoura, a place famous for its top-quality seafood and popular with those interested in whales and other marine life.

The famous New Zealand crayfish, also called lobster, will be on the menu. With some crisp white wine, of course. After lunch we stay on for a little while in Kaikoura. The location is magnificent and it is well worth it taking a walk along the water.

After lunch we continue south across the farmlands of the North Canterbury Plains. We will pass the Waipara wine district where the first vineyards were planted as late as the 1980s.

Early evening we will check in at our hotel in Christchurch, The Crowne Plaza Hotel. Christchurch is the biggest city on the South Island. Some of the buildings that were destroyed during the earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 are being rebuilt, including the cathedral that was built between 1864 and 1904.

Free evening to discover Christchurch.

The famous and classic shopping and café street in Christchurch
The famous and classic shopping and café street in Christchurch, copyright BKWine Photography
Riesling, almost ripe in Central Otago, New Zealand
Riesling, almost ripe in Central Otago, New Zealand, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 12, Monday, March 1 — Christchurch to Mount Cook, the Southern Alps and glaciers

Today we have a full day ahead of us and we will start quite early from the hotel to enjoy some breathtaking sceneries.

We continue to travel south, heading through the fertile Canterbury Plains, a significant agricultural community. We will then go west into Mackenzie County where we make a short stop at Lake Tekapo, renowned for its turquoise blue waters. After admiring the picturesque Church of the Good Shepherd at the southern tip of the lake we will continue along Lake Pukaki and soon we will have a glorious view of New Zealand’s highest mountain – Mount Cook – and the Southern Alps.

Our destination for the day is Mount Cook Village, located in Mount Cook National Park. The park comprises 70,000 hectares of ice and snow, five major glaciers and 15 mountain peaks, river beds, and an alpine vegetation of shrubs. Mount Cook (3,754 metres) towers above it all. The mountain is also known by its Māori name, Aoraki.

We will have a light lunch together before arriving at Mount Cook.

When we get to Mount Cook Village we will take a fascinating trip (2½ hours in total) to Tasman Glacier Lake. After walking for half an hour we take a boat on the lake to explore the icebergs (and walk on them, weather permitting; all of the boat excursion is dependent on suitable weather). The Tasman Glacier is New Zealand’s largest glacier.

Back in Mount Cook village, we check in at the Hermitage Hotel. Later we will enjoy a delicious dinner in the hotel’s beautiful panorama restaurant. After dinner, if the sky is clear, we may be able to admire the wonderful starry sky. The southern hemisphere has many more stars than the northern and is totally different.

A view of Mount Cook over Lake Pukaki
A view of Mount Cook over Lake Pukaki, copyright BKWine Photography 1920
A view of Mount Cook over Lake Pukaki
A view of Mount Cook over Lake Pukaki, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 13, Tuesday, March 2 — Mount Cook to Queenstown

Check out from the hotel after breakfast. Today will be our first visit in spectacular Central Otago, a wine region known primarily for its Pinot Noir.

Central Otago was gold rush territory in the 1800s, and the region still has a certain adventurous feel: it is also fast becoming a popular wine region. But first we will retrace our steps back along the shore of Lake Pukaki, passing the small town of Twizel and Omarama where many scenes were filmed for the film Lord of the Rings. The road climbs through bleak rugged hills to the summit of the Lindis Pass before descending into Central Otago.

We will make a stop before arriving in Queenstown, close to the small town of Cromwell, in one of Central Otago’s sub-regions. Several wineries are located here including the legendary Felton Road, and Mount Difficulty, another pioneer of the Central Otago wine scene. We will start with lunch at one of the wineries in Cromwell, and there will be a winery visit after lunch. 

Late afternoon we check in at the centrally located hotel, the four star Novotel Queenstown Lakeside****, where we will stay for 3 nights. Free evening.

The Lindis Pass, the mountain pass taking us into Central Otago
The Lindis Pass, the mountain pass taking us into Central Otago, copyright BKWine Photography
The Lindis Pass, the mountain pass taking us into Central Otago
The Lindis Pass, the mountain pass taking us into Central Otago, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 14, Wednesday, March 3 — Central Otago

The area of Central Otago features mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes, and is stunning. However, the climate and landscape are challenging for winemakers and it is important to find the right spots to plant vines in order for them to thrive.

The region sprawls across a vast area and is far more spread out than Marlborough, although the planted area is only 2,000 hectares. Today we will travel to the southern tip of Lake Wanaka, from where we can see snow-covered peaks. Some well-known estates are located here. Rippon Vineyards was one of the first to plant vines, and has since been joined by the excellent Kalex Wines and Prophet’s Rock.

We will visit two wineries today, including one which has an excellent restaurant with a very well-known chef, and our lunch will feature a tasting menu with carefully matched wines.

We will arrive back at our hotel in the afternoon, giving you some free time for relaxing and strolling in Queenstown. Free evening.

Vineyards and mountains in Central Otago
Vineyards and mountains in Central Otago, copyright BKWine Photography
Vineyards and mountains in Central Otago
Vineyards and mountains in Central Otago, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 15, torsdag 4 mars — Central Otago

Today we continue to explore Central Otago, not surprisingly the world’s most southerly wine region.

In the 1970s, few people in the New Zealand wine industry believed it possible to make wine here, doubting that the grapes could mature properly. But the long, warm, dry autumn season compensates for the somewhat unstable, cool spring, and Pinot Noir does well here (it represents almost 80% of all vines planted in Central Otago). Other important grapes include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.

We will visit wineries around Gibbston, stopping at one of them for lunch.

We will return to our hotel in Queenstown at the end of the afternoon, and in the evening the group will meet up for our farewell dinner.

A dramatic vineyard landscape in Central Otago
A dramatic vineyard landscape in Central Otago, copyright BKWine Photography
A dramatic vineyard landscape in Central Otago
A dramatic vineyard landscape in Central Otago, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 16, Friday, March 5 — End of the wine tour in Queenstown

Today it is time to leave New Zealand. The tour ends after breakfast at the hotel in Queenstown, but perhaps you’ll wish to stay on for a few extra days to explore more of this wonderful country. Let us know if we can help you with hotels or other arrangements.

The shimmering Lake Tekapo and the dramatic mountains
The shimmering Lake Tekapo and the dramatic mountains, copyright BKWine Photography
A barrel cellar in a winery in Central Otago
A barrel cellar in a winery in Central Otago, copyright BKWine Photography

Day – – — Arrival back home

If you are heading home directly you will probably arrive one day later, depending on the length of your flight.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Go For It!

We’d love to have you with us.

New Zealand has a lot of sheep but also a lot of cows
New Zealand has a lot of sheep but also a lot of cows, copyright BKWine Photography
Landscape in Central Otago, New Zealand
Landscape in Central Otago, New Zealand, copyright BKWine Photography

Wine books

We have written more than ten wine books. They have won both national and international wine writing awards.

No other wine tour organiser has a comparable knowledge, competence and experience.

A collection of wine books written by BKWine

Tour Details — Wine tour in New Zealand

Dates: February 18 – March 5, 2021

Price per person: 7,200 euro

Single room supplement: 1,700 euro

Included in the price:

  • Starting point: Auckland
  • End point: Queenstown
  • 15 nights in good quality hotels, double occupancy, including breakfast
    • Several different hotels as we move through New Zealand. See programme for details
  • Meals as described in the programme (*) :
    • 10 gourmet lunches at wine estates, all including wines
    • 2 light lunches at wine estate or restaurant, all including wines
    • 6 gourmet dinners, all including wines
  • Transportation in comfortable coach during all days of visits as described in the programme
  • Ferry or boat fees for sea crossings mentioned in the programme
  • All vineyard and winery visits, as per the programme (approx. 20 in total)
  • Private tastings at wineries
  • Day trips and other activities according to the programme, including entry fees when relevant
  • Wine guiding and wine tutoring by expert BKWine guides Britt Karlsson and Per Karlsson, BKWine founders

(*) See below for more important information about our meals.

Not included:

  • Return travel (flights etc) to/from the departure and end points.

You are responsible for organising your travel to New Zealand, arrival in Auckland and departure from Queenstown.

If you would like assistance organising your flight tickets etc, please contact us.

We recommend taking a few extra days to prolong your vacation in this wonderful destination. We can assist you with booking additional hotel nights if you want.

For this trip to take place we must have a minimum of 16 participants registered at the “book before” date. Maximum number of participants: 25.

Guide

Wine guide: Britt Karlsson, BKWine

Britt is co-founder of BKWine Tours, named World’s Top Wine Tours by Travel+Leisure Magazine. She is the author of The Creation of a Wine, which won the World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals award by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards as well as Best Wine Book of the Year in Sweden in 2010. In 2012 she published Wine and the Environment, voted Best Wine Book for Professionals in Sweden and taking second place in the World’s Best Educational Wine Book awards in 2013. In 2011 Britt was voted Wine Personality of the Year by Munskankarna; she has also been voted one of the five most influential wine writers in Sweden.

Flights

We have chosen not to include the cost of flights in this tour: here’s why. Our clients come from many different countries and continents. By booking your own flights, your have maximum flexibility when choosing how and when to travel.

In many cases it is cheaper to buy flight tickets as an individual than as a tour operator (and we are a small and very specialised tour operator). We have chosen to put all our effort into creating an exceptional tour programme while keeping the costs reasonable, rather than  including a flight booking service and then having to cut corners on the tour programme. We believe that this give you much better value for your money.

We will do everything possible to make it easy for you to arrange your travel, and we can put you in touch with one of our travel agent partners if you would like assistance. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding your flight arrangements.

Booking your flight to New Zealand

We suggest that you book a flight that arrives any time during the day of Day 1 (or earlier). In the evening of Day 1 we will all meet for a welcome dinner, and this is the start of the programme. If you choose to arrive earlier, we can help to arrange additional hotel nights at our hotel.

Special cancellation conditions

Please note that special cancellation conditions apply for this wine tour.

Cancellation of your booking can be made according to the following:

  • More than 60 days before the beginning of the trip: the Traveller pays a fee equivalent to the Booking Fee.
  • 46 to 60 days before the beginning of the trip: the Traveller pays a fee equivalent to 75% of the total price.
  • 45 days or less before the beginning of the trip: the Traveller pays the full fee.

Book This Tour

Book before: October 1, 2020

Booking is confirmed by paying the booking fee of 1050 euro. Full payment should be received at the latest 60 days before the departure date (see our terms and conditions). Details on how to pay will be sent to you when you register.

It is important that you read our travel booking terms and conditions.

We also invite you to read more on why you should travel with BKWine, about customer protection, and about what you can expect from our wine tours in the section below “More on our wine tours”.

You book by contacting Britt Karlsson, BKWine:

  • phone: +33 1 58 88 04 66 or +33 6 80 45 35 70 (+33 is the country code for France)
  • Skype: “bkwine”. Call us on skype.
  • email: info@bkwine.com, or use the contact form below

“I want to book this tour” or “I want more info.”

(*) = required

Important: We automatically send you a copy of this email when you submit it. If you have not received it within a few minutes: 1) check your spam folder, 2) consider resending it, you might have misspelled your email address. Or simply send us a normal email using our address noted just above.

Share this tour programme with your friends

Maybe your friends want to come with you on this wine tour? Let them know about the programme and ask if they’d like to join you. Share the info on social networks or send an email to your friends:

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More on our wine tours

Why travel with BKWine?

We are Britt and Per Karlsson. We are specialists in wine and food tours and wine tourism, but also experts in wine in general. We are internationally published wine writers and have written ten award-winning wine books.

No other tour operator has a comparable knowledge and experience of wine, wine regions, wine tourism and gourmet travel.

We have organised hundreds of wine and food tours, and this is what we love to do. We take it very seriously – it is not a sideline or a hobby – and what we want more than anything is to share all these wonderful experiences with you.

All our tours are led and managed by guides who have in-depth wine knowledge, and in many cases we lead the tours ourselves.

Read more on why you should choose BKWine for your wine and food tour.

Thousands of happy customers

Over the years, thousands of wine lovers have travelled with us. Many come back to tour again and again with BKWine to new wine regions. Our record-breaking client has been on more than ten BKWine tours. We are happy and proud to have such faithful customers.

Read more on what travellers have said about our tours.

Awards and Mentions

We’re pleased and proud to have received many accolades, including:

  • “World’s Top Wine Tours”, Travel+Leisure Magazine, the world’s biggest travel magazine
  • “Best wine tasting holidays”, AOL Travel’s list of top wine tours
  • “Recommended Wine Tours”, Munskänkarna, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • “World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals” as well as “Best Wine Book of the Year”, Gourmand International awards, and many other book prizes
  • Three OIV book awards, International Organisation of Vine and Wine
  • “Wine Personality of the Year”, an honour bestowed on Britt Karlsson by Munskänkarna in 2011, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • Inclusion on the Wine Media Power List, by Wine Business International magazine

About the wine producers and wineries we visit

Our aim is for you to experience some of the very best and most interesting aspects of the wine world, in terms of wine and food.

We put great effort into creating outstanding winery visits, and in this way we are quite different to many wine tour organisers. It is not always the most renowned, internationally known estates that offer the best experiences. Organising a wine tour featuring famous names of the wine world is relatively easy: it is merely a question of making lists and ticking boxes. On those kind of “bucket list” wine tours, you rarely meet the winemaker or the owner. You will simply be one of thousands of visitors they receive each year.

We do things differently. With BKWine Tours, you will meet the people behind the label, often the winemakers and/or the owners. Thanks to them, you will have a unique, truly personal experience and an insight into the wine world that no one else can offer. When you travel with BKWine, you are more like a special guest than a tourist.

We have personal connections and unparalleled knowledge thanks to more than 20 years as wine journalists, with 10 wine books published, and as wine tour organisers with more than 30 years’ experience. You can be sure of getting the best wine travel experiences with BKWine Tours.

Read more on the wine producers and wineries we visit.

A true gourmet experience: food and gastronomy

For us, wine and food are intimately linked, and this is a fundamental part of our wine travel philosophy. For this reason, a wine tour with BKWine is always an outstanding culinary experience both for the wine enthusiast and for the gourmet. A BKWine tour is a gastronomic voyage that explores the deep relationship between food and wine.

Read more On Meals: Food and Gastronomy on Our Tours.

Customer Protection,  Financial Travel Guarantee, and Terms and Conditions

You can always feel safe when you book your tour with BKWine. BKWine has a bonded bank guarantee that gives full protection according to EU and Swedish law. BKWine is a Swedish limited company and as such is regulated by strict rules.

Read more on Customer Protection, Financial Travel Guarantee. and our Terms and Conditions.

When you book a tour it is important that you read the terms and conditions. BKWine’s booking terms and conditions follow the guidelines developed by the Consumer Protection Agency.

Health, vaccination and allergies

Our tours have no particular health requirements although inevitably we will be walking a certain amount in wine cellars and vineyards. Sensible footwear is a must.

Most of our travel destinations have no particular health guidelines or requirements for vaccinations or medical certificates, but if in doubt, you should always consult a medical professional, vaccination centre or relevant embassy in your country of origin.

We can always accommodate food allergies. However, in order for us to manage such requests you must let us know about any allergies before the tour starts.

Read more in our FAQ and in our Terms and Conditions.

Travel insurance

BKWine does not sell travel insurance. If you want travel insurance, check if your regular home insurance policy includes some kind of travel insurance, or contact your regular insurance company or a travel insurance specialist.

Custom Tours

We also offer custom wine and food tours if you want to travel on different dates, or if you want something different to what we currently offer on our scheduled tours. This tailor-made service can be offered for individuals, companies, professionals, wine tastings clubs etc.

Important information

Our groups are always small. The number of people in the group may vary. The maximum can range from 8 to around 20; check the details in each programme. But our groups are always modest in size. This is important because it guarantees a quality experience and a personal welcome at the wineries we visit.

Read the BKWine Booking Terms and Conditions here. They are important to you!

You are expected to organise your travel independently to the destination for most of our tours, but once you are at the location, we take care of everything.

For more inspiration

Read our wine travel blog. For more, read our online wine magazine the BKWine Magazine with articles from all over the wine world.

And also:

  • Recommend this trip to a friend using the share buttons below

Newsletter on wine

Subscribe to our free wine and travel newsletter, the BKWine Brief. Each month, it gives you news from the world of wine, restaurant recommendations, tips on our favourite wine producers and much more. It will also keep you updated on forthcoming wine and food tours.

Continue reading: New Zealand, February 18 – March 5, 2021


The post New Zealand, February 18 – March 5, 2021 was originally published on BKWine Tours and written by Britt Karlsson. Copyright BKWine and BKWine Tours. If you see it published elsewhere in full it has been republished without our permission.

BKWine Tours - Discover and Enjoy Wine with Us, the Real Wine Experience



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Chile and Argentina, January 18 – 31, 2021

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South America: a unique wine tour of Chile and Argentina

— Join us on a fantastic voyage of discovery in the vineyards of Chile and Argentina, including a breath-taking trip over the Andes.

Set on either side of the Andes mountain range, Chile and Argentina both have grandiose scenery and make some of the very best New World wines. On this tour you will see the vast, verdant plains of the pampas, the snow-covered tops of the Andes Mountains, an impressive selection of wineries and vineyards, and buzzing Buenos Aires. We will visit some of the very best vineyards as well as some excellent rising star growers, and sample some outstanding wines matched with the local gastronomy.

All this, plus a host of tourist attractions and historic sites: in short, a wine and food tour that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tour Highlights

  • 14 days
  • Many wineries and tastings
  • The spectacular Andes Mountains
  • Gourmet meals
  • Price USD 7,150
  • Buenos Aires
  • Mendoza
  • Santiago
  • Valparaiso
  • Santa Cruz in Colchagua

Book Now!

Naturally, the focus of our two-week trip to South America is wines, vineyards and gastronomy, but you will have plenty of other experiences including time in Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Santiago de Chile and Valparaiso. There will be a top-quality tango evening in Buenos Aires, the chance to taste Chilean pisco sour, and many occasions to enjoy delicious Argentinian beef.

The tour is led and managed by Britt Karlsson, one of BKWine’s internationally-known wine experts. Voted Wine Personality of the Year 2011, she is also a columnist for Forbes.com and the author of several wine books including The Creation of a Wine (voted World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals). Britt has judged at many wine competitions in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and other countries. On this tour, she will be accompanied by a local South American guide.

Vineyards and mountains in Chile, South America
Vineyards and mountains in Chile, South America, copyright BKWine Photography
Walking in the vineyards in Chile
Walking in the vineyards in Chile, copyright BKWine Photography

Chile and Argentina are wine countries in transformation. Much has changed in recent years and rapid development continues as wine regions emerge, new grape varieties are discovered or introduced, and different ideas are tested and implemented. Increasingly, producers are focusing on the importance of the work in the vineyard, of harvesting perfectly ripe (but not over-ripe) grapes to achieve balance and elegance. Consumers are looking for wines with more freshness, and there is a move away from heavier styles with higher levels of alcohol. You will see and hear all about this in detail when we visit the vineyards.

Vineyards on a mountain slope in Colchagua, Chile
Vineyards on a mountain slope in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography
Vineyards on a mountain slope in Colchagua, Chile
Vineyards on a mountain slope in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography

There is an intense energy in South America right now, and the wines have never been so good. During our tour, you will have many wine tastings with some of the most interesting producers, some well-established stars and other ambitious challengers. We have visited South America’s wine regions extensively, including Chile and Argentina, so we have hand-picked a truly varied selection of producers, some of whom have yet to be discovered on international markets, and we’re really excited about sharing our insider tips with you.

Our voyage of discovery starts in Buenos Aires, where Europe and the Americas blend in a fascinating mix. At times you may feel as if you’re in Paris or Milan, but this is definitely South America. Stroll around the city and you’ll see world-class restaurants, cosy bistros and picturesque cafés. From Buenos Aires we take a flight to Mendoza, Argentina’s largest wine region (two-thirds of all the country’s wine is made here). With the snow-capped Andes in the background and its brilliant blue sky, memorable Mendoza has an impressive, cinematographic quality.

There are lots of antique shops in the San Telmo District in Buenos Aires
There are lots of antique shops in the San Telmo District in Buenos Aires, copyright BKWine Photography
There are lots of antique shops in the San Telmo District in Buenos Aires
There are lots of antique shops in the San Telmo District in Buenos Aires, copyright BKWine Photography

Argentina is a country with a long tradition of winemaking. Although considered a New World country, it is very much influenced by Old World production methods, due in part to the many families of Spanish and Italian origin here, and Argentina has always been the largest wine consumer in South America.

After a few days in the vineyards and wine cellars of Mendoza, we leave the region to take a bus ride across The Andes to Chile. It’s a long trip that takes a whole day but we will be travelling in comfort along the zig-zagging roads and past the mountain tops, marvelling at the spectacular views that make this the experience of a lifetime. And we will make frequent stops.

Once in Chile, we will drive right across the country to the Pacific Ocean and stay in beautiful Viña del Mar. We will visit the historic harbour city of Valparaíso, which is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, and explore the coastal wine regions of Casablanca and San Antonio. From here we will head south to the Colchagua and Cachapoal Valleys, finishing at Maipo Valley, the wine region closest to the country’s capital, spending our last night in the bustling, modern city of Santiago de Chile.

Walking down the slope in a vineyard in Colchagua, Chile
Walking down the slope in a vineyard in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography
Walking down the slope in a vineyard in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography
Walking down the slope in a vineyard in Colchagua, Chile

The trip is in January so the weather will be warm and summery. Harvest time is approaching and the grapes are nearly ready to be picked. The trip showcases much of the spectacular landscape of Chile and Argentina, as well as offering a fascinating insight into the social, political and economic life of two neighbouring countries, similar in some ways but yet so very different in others.

As always on our wine tours, food will feature prominently. You will enjoy many gourmet meals at the wineries we visit, so this is as much a food extravaganza as a wine tour. We will try the local specialities, including of course the outstanding meat for which this part of the world is famous, often grilled over an open fire. For more formal dining, Buenos Aires and Santiago both have many top-flight restaurants, so excellent food will be a major part of our itinerary.

The tour is led by BKWine co-founder Britt Karlsson, multiple award-winning wine book author and wine journalist.

Getting ready for a gourmet meal in Mendoza, Argentina
Getting ready for a gourmet meal in Mendoza, Argentina, copyright BKWine Photography
A beautiful modern barrel cellar in Colchagua, Chile
A beautiful modern barrel cellar in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography

Programme — wine tour to Chile and Argentina

Preliminary programme.

Contact BKWine for more details.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Programme overview

  • Day – – — Departure from home for Buenos Aires
  • Day 1 — Arrival in Buenos Aires and welcome dinner (Argentina)
  • Day 2 — Buenos Aires city tour, tango evening (Argentina)
  • Day 3 — Flight to Mendoza, then wine (Argentina)
  • Day 4 — Wine in Mendoza, Luján de Cuyo, Maipú (Argentina)
  • Day 5 — Wine in Mendoza, Uco Valley (Argentina)
  • Day 6 — Organic pioneers of Mendoza (Argentina)
  • Day 7 — A spectacular crossing of the Andes from Mendoza to Chile
  • Day 8 — Valparaíso and the wine region of Casablanca (Chile)
  • Day 9 — South through San Antonio to Santa Cruz (Chile)
  • Day 10 — Blend-your-own-wine workshop in Colchagua (Chile)
  • Day 11 — Colchagua wine region (Chile)
  • Day 12 — Colchagua wine region (Chile)
  • Day 13 — The Maipo wine region, farewell lunch, Santiago (Chile)
  • Day 14 — Departure from Santiago de Chile
  • Day – – — Arrive home

Day – – — Departure for South America

You leave from your home location. Departure and arrival dates will depend on your departure location. See more info below. Perhaps you’ll decide to come a few days early (we can help you with the arrangements), or of course you can simply arrive in time for the first day of the programme (Day 1).

Ripe grapes hanging in a pergola, Mendoza, Argentina
Ripe grapes hanging in a pergola, Mendoza, Argentina, copyright BKWine Photography
Ripe grapes hanging in a pergola, Mendoza, Argentina
Ripe grapes hanging in a pergola, Mendoza, Argentina, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 1, Monday, January 18 — Arrival in Buenos Aires and welcome dinner (Argentina)

Arrival in the morning at Buenos Aires International Airport. In most cases, you will arrive on an overnight flight. As tour participants arrive at different times during the day, you should take an airport shuttle or taxi to our Buenos Aires hotel. The transfer from the airport to the hotel takes around 45 minutes.

Our hotel in Buenos Aires is the Hotel Casa Sur Recoleta****.  It is very central, located in the Recoleta district, an elegant part of the city with many shops and restaurants. The hotel is also close to many sights, including the famous cemetery where Evita Peron is buried.

The rest of the day is free so you can relax and unwind after your long flight. We’d suggest that you take a walk to stretch your legs, and maybe try a first glass of wine in a bar in town. In the evening we will meet for a welcome dinner and some bottles of excellent Argentinian wine.

Buenos Aires is a large city and a mix of many cultures, with European and American influences. There are magnificent parks for walking or jogging, and some excellent museums. You can sip a refreshing drink at one of the many cafés and enjoy a spot of people watching, or visit a wine bar and sample some of the country’s many wines. Thanks to its Italian heritage, Buenos Aires is famous for its ice-cream; beer aficianados should look out for the micro-breweries serving the cerveza artisanal which is becoming increasingly popular across Argentina.

Read our city guide to Buenos Aires for more suggestions of what to do in this thrilling city.

The Casa Rosada, presidential palace, on Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires
The Casa Rosada, presidential palace, on Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, copyright BKWine Photography
The Casa Rosada, presidential palace, on Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires
The Casa Rosada, presidential palace, on Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 2, Tuesday, January 19 — Buenos Aires, city tour and tango evening (Argentina)

This morning our local guide will take us on a sight-seeing tour of the city. The afternoon is free so you can relax before we meet up again in the evening for a colourful tango show.

In the morning we will hop off the city tour bus and take a closer look at some places on foot, including Recoleta cemetery where Evita Peron is buried. Our tour will include some of the most famous sites such as the Plaza de Mayo with its pink presidential palace (the Casa Rosada), the impressive congress building, and colonial churches such as Santo Domingo. We will also explore the vibrant harbour district of La Boca.

The tour takes a few hours with a stop along the way for lunch in Puerto Madero, a part of the city that has recently renovated from top to bottom. Old warehouses along the Rio de la Plata river have been transformed into fashionable shops, charming cafés and welcoming restaurants overlooking the water. Lunch includes some typical Argentinian wines made from lesser-known (but no less interesting) grape varieties like Torrontés and Bonarda. The rest of the afternoon is free.

In the evening we will meet for dinner and an Argentinian tango show in San Telmo, one of the oldest parts of the city. This district has a pleasantly bohemian air, and is dotted with small shops, cafés and theatres like the one we’ll go to for our tango show.

After a three-course dinner, you will watch a magical show that is a combination of skilful dance, music and song. Tango is a genuine Argentinian creation and the performance illustrates how authentic tango has evolved from the early 1920s to modern times. Nowadays tango has an elegant, glamorous image but originally it was firmly part of working class culture and pioneered in brothels, with its daring moves considered to be quite shocking…

The colourful La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina
The colourful La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina, copyright BKWine Photography
The colourful La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina
The colourful La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 3, Wednesday, January 22 — Flight to Mendoza, then wine (Argentina)

Today we take an early morning flight to Mendoza, some 1000 kilometres (620 miles) west of Buenos Aires.

We will arrive in Mendoza just before lunch. Our bus and local guide will be waiting for us and we will go straight to the vineyards, about 40 minutes away. The day will be spent in Luján de Cuyo, an important area within the Mendoza region where some of the best-known Argentinian wine producers are found.

We will have a late lunch at a vineyard in Luján de Cuyo, with stunning views of the Andes mountains. Our host is famous for his top-quality Malbec, and you’ll be able to try different styles of Malbec with your meal. After lunch, there will be time to visit the wine cellar and vineyard.

Late afternoon we will check in at our hotel, the luxurious five-star Mendoza Park Hyatt, complete with spa, outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre.

Your evening is free to explore the fascinating city of Mendoza. This could be the perfect opportunity to take a stroll on the Plaza Independencia and visit the late-night arts and crafts market held here.

Read our Mendoza city guide for more recommendations of what to see and where to eat in the capital of the wine region.

A view from a Mendoza winery over vineyards and the Andes
A view from a Mendoza winery over vineyards and the Andes, copyright BKWine Photography
A view from a Mendoza winery over vineyards and the Andes
A view from a Mendoza winery over vineyards and the Andes, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 4, Thursday, January 21 — Wine in Mendoza, Luján de Cuyo and Maipú (Argentina)

Today we continue to explore Luján de Cuyo, and we will also visit Maipú, another Mendoza  sub-region.

There are two estates on today’s itinerary. First is the impressive Bodega y Cavas de Weinert, one of Mendoza’s historic wineries, where you will see the vast underground cellars where the wines mature in large old oak vats. After visiting and tasting we will have a magnificent lunch in the garden. Our host is Weinert winemaker Hubert Weber; he has worked here since 1996, so he will no doubt be able to answer all your questions about the wines.

Later in the day we will go to a small, family-owned winery that is currently run by the fourth generation. We firmly believe in the importance of inspecting the vines and tasting the grapes, and this will be a great opportunity for you to get some first-hand experience in the vineyards.

We’ll return to our hotel in Mendoza late in the afternoon, and the evening is free. If you feel like a light snack, the city has some charming wine bars offering cheese platters and similar.

A vineyard being irrigated in Mendoza, Argentina
A vineyard being irrigated in Mendoza, Argentina, copyright BKWine Photography
A vineyard being irrigated in Mendoza, Argentina
A vineyard being irrigated in Mendoza, Argentina, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 5, Friday, January 22 — Wine in Mendoza, the Uco Valley (Argentina)

Today we head a little further south to the emblematic Uco Valley, driving roughly 90 minutes along country roads before arriving at the vineyards.

In recent years Valle de Uco has become increasingly attractive to growers in Mendoza, and many have bought land here and built spectacular wineries. The valley is closer to the Andes than other parts of Mendoza, and the vines are grown at very high altitudes.

The grapes mature slowly due to cool nights, giving the wines their flavour profile and refreshing acidity. Towering above the vineyards you will see Mount Tupungato, an active volcano which is one of the highest mountains in South America.

We will visit two or three wineries in the Uco Valley, one of which will be Finca Suarez. Located in the southern Uco Valley, in an area called Paraje Altamira, this estate has a unique terroir which is nurtured by Juanfa Suarez, the young, dedicated winemaker. Lunch at the winery will be a traditional south American asado cooked outside on an open fire, in the midst of the vineyards.

We will return to Mendoza in the early evening, and the rest of the evening is free. 

Asado, barbecue, is one of the favourite meals in Argentina and Chile
Asado, barbecue, is one of the favourite meals in Argentina and Chile, copyright BKWine Photography
Asado, barbecue, is one of the favourite meals in Argentina and Chile
Asado, barbecue, is one of the favourite meals in Argentina and Chile, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 6, Saturday, January 23 — Organic pioneers of Mendoza (Argentina)

Today  you will learn a lot about organic and sustainable wine growing. There is great interest in  sustainability in South America, and many producers do their best to minimise environmental impact.

Our morning visit will be to the superb Pulenta Estate in the very south of Lujan de Cuyo. The estate is run by the 4th generation of the Pulenta family, and some excellent red and white wines are made in the state-of-the-art winery.

We head north again for our lunch at Kaiken, a winery owned by Chilean wine visionary Aurelio Montes. The lunch today will be a typical Argentinean asado criollo, with different kinds of meat and vegetables grilled over an open fire. We will, of course, start with some empanadas and this promises to be a particularly tasty meal, accompanied by some of Kaiken’s world-famous Malbec.

Late afternoon we  head back to Mendoza.

Free evening.

Mendoza city has several green squares
Mendoza city has several green squares, copyright BKWine Photography
Mendoza city has several green squares
Mendoza city has several green squares, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 7, Sunday, January 24 — Spectacular crossing of the Andes, from Mendoza to Chile

Today we say goodbye to Mendoza and board our bus, heading over The Andes to Chile. The trip takes most of the day but rest assured, not all of it is spent on the bus, as the border crossing itself can take some time.

The trip takes approximately 6 – 8 hours in total but the views are truly spectacular, and the landscape is magnificent. The border crossing point is at 3,500 metres (almost 12,000 feet). In the distance you will see Aconcagua, the highest peak of the Andes and indeed of the Americas, standing proud at 6,959 metres (22,831 feet).

The road across the Andes is winding (27 bends on one mountainside is the record) but happily it is also very well built. We will pass ski resorts, mountain ranges of varying shapes and hues, deserts, small villages, rivers, and of course, spectacular views and an ever-changing landscape.

On our way, in the mountains, we will stop for lunch before continuing west, crossing the country to arrive at the Pacific Ocean and the attractive coastal town of Viña del Mar. We’ll be staying for two nights at the Pullman Vina del Mar San Martín Hotel.  It has an ideal location right on the ocean front, just a stone’s throw from the beach. The sea views are stunning, but the water is quite chilly…

The evening is free for you to discover Viña del Mar. There are many restaurants close to the hotel, and we’ll be happy to give you some recommendations.

The winding road down from the Andes pass into Chile
The winding road down from the Andes pass into Chile, copyright BKWine Photography
The winding road down from the Andes pass into Chile
The winding road down from the Andes pass into Chile, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 8, Monday, January 25 — Valparaíso and Casablanca (Chile)

Today we will visit the historic harbour and city of Valparaiso, just a short drive along the coast from Viña del Mar.

Fascinating Valparaiso is the largest port in Chile and, oddly enough, home to the country’s parliament. This characterful destination is built on 42 hills, and colourful houses line the incredibly steep streets. Trams criss-cross the city but we’ll explore it on foot, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes for our walking tour through the historic quarters.

Our bus will pick us up again just before lunch to take us to the wine region of Casablanca,  between Santiago and Valparaíso.

Casablanca has recently become famous for its excellent white wines. There are claims that proximity to the coast and the area’s micro-climate is perfect for growing grapes, in particular those used for white wine. Besides the vineyards you will also see lemon groves, avocado plants (this fruit is known as palta in Chile) and flower nurseries.

Our lunch today will be hosted by one of Casablanca’s top-quality producers who will serve us a magnificent asado campestre (a country-style barbecue) with a selection of excellent wines to match the various grilled dishes.

Late afternoon we will return to Viña del Mar, and the rest of the day and evening is free. Maybe you’d like to try some tapas at a wine bar, or maybe even a completo (a Chilean hot dog that is something of a local speciality).

Colourful Valparaiso overlooking the sea
Colourful Valparaiso overlooking the sea, copyright BKWine Photography
Colourful Valparaiso overlooking the sea
Colourful Valparaiso overlooking the sea, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 9, Tuesday, January 26 — South through San Antonio to Santa Cruz (Chile)

We check out from the hotel in the morning and head for the coastal wine region of San Antonio, just south of Casablanca.

This area is known for its top-quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Like Casablanca, San Antonio is cooler than many of the other wine regions in Chile; the vineyards are often bathed in cool morning mist, and there can be frost in springtime.

We’ll make a stop in San Antonio valley for a winery visit to meet one of the pioneers and for lunch before heading further south to Colchagua, another famous Chilean wine region, and the small country town of Santa Cruz, about 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Santiago.

Our next four nights will be spent in comfort at the Hotel Santa Cruz Plaza****, a distinctive hacienda-style hotel with a swimming pool, spa, bars and two restaurants. It also boasts one of Chile’s most highly regarded history and craft museums.

The evening is free for you to explore the town, where you can find a variety of restaurants ranging from the traditional to the more sophisticated.

Read our ”city” guide on Santa Cruz for more suggestions on where to eat and what to do in this charming country-side town.

An intruder in the vineyard in Colchagua, Chile
An intruder in the vineyard in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography
An intruder in the vineyard in Colchagua, Chile
An intruder in the vineyard in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 10, Wednesday, January 27 — Blend-your-own-wine workshop in Colchagua (Chile)

Today is the chance for you to experience the art of wine making for yourself, thanks to some hands-on activity at Colchagua’s Montgras winery. This is a modern estate that has a fascinating collection of different grape varieties.

Our day starts with a vineyard visit and a look at the Montgras grape conservatory, before moving on to learn about one of the more practical aspect of wine making, namely wine blending. You’ll start with some raw material in the shape of tank samples of different grape varieties, and your task is to make the best possible blend, just as the winemaker does every year. As you will see, blending is not as easy as it looks, but there will be plenty of guidance and by the end of the workshop, you’ll have your very own blend, bottled and labelled, to take away.

Next, we hop back on the bus to go up to the hilly region of Ninquén, where one of the Montgras vineyards is situated. Here, we’ll enjoy an al fresco barbecue with salmon ceviche and empanadas, grilled meat, fresh fish en papillote, fresh fruit and some delicious salads, accompanied by a selection of Montgras wines.

There will be time for one more winery visit after lunch. We return to our hotel in the late afternoon, and the rest of the day is free: you may like to spend some time around the swimming pool.

Blending your own wine at a winery in Colchagua, Chile
Blending your own wine at a winery in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography
Blending your own wine at a winery in Colchagua, Chile
Blending your own wine at a winery in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 11, Thursday, January 28 — Colchagua (Chile)

We will spend one more day in beautiful Colchagua, and today we’re going to show you a couple of hidden gems that only insiders will have heard about.

First we visit Viña Las Niñas in Apalta, probably the most famous quality district of Colchagua. The estate spans 160 hectares (approx. 395 acres), with a tastefully-designed winery that blends in well with its natural surroundings.

The next estate on the programme today is Viña Maquis, one of the oldest wineries in the Colchagua Valley, where the micro-climate is influenced by two rivers. The owners and the winemaker are very focused on quality and have a distinctly eco-friendly approach. Viña Maquis was one of first producers in Chile to gain its sustainability certification. The landscape surrounding the vineyards is superb, as is their Cabernet Franc.

We will enjoy our lunch outdoors in the shade of an avocado tree, surrounded by vineyards, taking our time to appreciate a number of the estate’s wine paired with local specialities.

By late afternoon we’ll be back in Santa Cruz, and the evening is free. If you fancy something a little different, there’s a sushi restaurant just around the corner from our hotel.

Soon time for lunch in the garden in Chile
Soon time for lunch in the garden in Chile, copyright BKWine Photography
Soon time for lunch in the garden in Chile
Soon time for lunch in the garden in Chile, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 12, Friday, January 29 — Colchagua (Chile)

We continue to explore the beautiful valley of Colchagua. One of today’s visits will be to a French-owned winery with strong ties to the Old World.

First is a visit to the westernmost part of Colchagua, where the winemaker is a Syrah specialist. Around the village of Marchihue he has found the perfect soil for his grapes, and some of his vines are grown without irrigation. The focus of this rather interesting winery is terroir, undoubtedly.

Next we’ll go to Hacienda Araucano. Situated outside the small town of Lolol, and owned by François Lurton of the famous Bordeaux family, this estate is both organic and biodynamic, and the winemaking team is experimenting with wines with no added sulphur. Syrah and Pinot Noir do particularly well here.

Lunch will be at Hacienda Araucano (the surroundings are magnificent) and during your meal, you’re sure to enjoy both the food and some great views of the valley and vineyards.

We’ll return to our hotel in the afternoon, and the rest of the day/evening is free. This could be a great opportunity for an early evening pisco sour by the pool, perhaps. 

Vineyards in Casablanca in Chile
Vineyards in Casablanca in Chile, copyright BKWine Photography
Vineyards on a mountain slope in Colchagua, Chile
Vineyards on a mountain slope in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 13, Saturday, January 30 — Maipo wine region, farewell lunch, Santiago (Chile)

We check-out and leave our hotel in Santa Cruz in the morning and head for Santiago, stopping at a winery for lunch.

Just before we reach the capital we will call in to see an ambitious wine producer in Maipo who works with amphorae (you’ll see them during our tour of the estate). There will, as ever, be a guided tasting of the wines before we head into the peaceful gardens for an aperitif and a traditional asado lunch with several different types of meat on the grill, accompanied by salads and potatoes. Did you know that this vegetable originated in the Andes?

After lunch we head on to Santiago and check in at the Hotel Pullman Santiago El Bosque**** where we will spend our final night. The hotel is very central and conveniently located in an attractive part of the city with many shops and restaurants.

The afternoon is dedicated to discovering Santiago. Our bus will take us around the city to the various sights, including the historic districts around the presidential palace, and the lively Plaza de Armas with its baroque cathedral and historic post office that is now a National Monument. You’ll be able to take some wonderful photographs from the top of Cerro San Cristóbal hill, where a gigantic statue of the Virgin Mary keeps watch over the city and tourists come for the best views of Santiago and the Andes.

In the evening we’ll all meet for one last pisco sour, after which you are free to spend your last evening as you please: there are plenty of restaurants, cafés and wine bars in the city, many just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel.

Santiago de Chile has a modern skyline and a view over the Andes
Santiago de Chile has a modern skyline and a view over the Andes, copyright BKWine Photography
Santiago de Chile has a modern skyline and a view over the Andes
Santiago de Chile has a modern skyline and a view over the Andes, copyright BKWine Photography

Day 14, Sunday, January 31 — Leave Santiago de Chile for home

Sadly it is time to leave Chile and South America. The tour ends after breakfast at the hotel.

We will be glad to help you organise your travel to the airport to fit with your flight plans home, or perhaps onward, as part of another journey. Or maybe you’ll decide to stay on for a few extra days, so you can explore another part of South America? Whatever you decide, we can help you with the arrangements if needed.

Almost ripe grapes in Mendoza, Argentina
Almost ripe grapes in Mendoza, Argentina, copyright BKWine Photography
Almost ripe grapes in Mendoza, Argentina
Almost ripe grapes in Mendoza, Argentina, copyright BKWine Photography

Day – – — Arrival back home

If you return home directly you will arrive on the same day or one day later, depending on the length of your flight.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Go For It!

We’d love to have you with us.

An old wine cellar with oak barrels in Colchagua, Chile
An old wine cellar with oak barrels in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography
An old wine cellar with oak barrels in Colchagua, Chile
An old wine cellar with oak barrels in Colchagua, Chile, copyright BKWine Photography

Even more info

We have written a lot about Chile and Argentina and about wine touring in the region, including what to do and what to expect.

If you’d like to see even more pictures and videos from this tour, take a look at our Facebook groups from some previous tours:

Wine books

We have written more than ten wine books. They have won both national and international wine writing awards.

No other wine tour organiser has a comparable knowledge, competence and experience.

A collection of wine books written by BKWine

Tour Details — Wine tour of Chile and Argentina

Dates: January 18 – 31, 2021

Price per person: USD 7,150

Single room supplement: USD 1,850

(Subject to changes in airport and flight taxes. See our terms and conditions.)

Included in the price:

  • Starting point: Buenos Aires.
  • Endpoint: Santiago de Chile
  • 13 nights in hotels (4-star and 5-star), double occupancy, including breakfast
  • Meals as described in the programme above (*):
    • 12 top-quality gastronomic lunches with local specialities, including wines and tastings, in most cases as guests at wineries, or at local restaurants
    • One welcome dinner in Buenos Aires, including wine
    • One dinner with tango show in Buenos Aires, including wine
  • Transport
    • Domestic flight from Buenos Aires to Mendoza
    • Bus from Mendoza (Argentina) to Santiago de Chile, across the Andes
    • Bus during all days of visits as described in the programme
    • Bus transport in comfortable private tourism coach
  • Day excursion as per the above programme, including entry fees when relevant
  • All vineyard and winery visits, as per the programme
  • Private, top-quality tastings at wineries (approx 15 in total)
  • Local English speaking guide
  • Wine guiding and wine tutoring by BKWine’s expert guides and founders, Britt Karlsson and Per Karlsson (see more below)

(*) See below for more important information on our meals.

Not included:

  • Travel (flights etc) to the destination and back to your home location.
  • If relevant, excess baggage fee on the domestic flight. (Baggage allowance is generally lower on the domestic flights than on international so excess fees may apply, but is modest.)

You are responsible for arranging your own travel to Buenos Aires (Argentina) and back home from Santiago de Chile.

If you would like assistance organising your flight tickets etc, please contact us.

We recommend taking a few extra days to prolong your vacation in this wonderful destination. We can assist you with booking additional hotel nights if you want.

For this trip to take place we must have a minimum of 16 participants registered by the “book before” date. Maximum number of travel guests: 22.

Flights

We have chosen not to include the cost of flights in this tour. Our clients come from many different countries and continents. By booking your own flights, your have maximum flexibility when choosing how and when to travel.

In many cases it is cheaper to buy flight tickets as an individual than as a tour operator (and we are a small and very specialised tour operator). We have chosen to put all our effort into creating an exceptional tour programme while keeping the costs reasonable, rather than including a flight booking service and then having to cut corners on the tour programme. We believe that this give you much better value for your money.

We will do everything possible to make it easy for you to arrange your travel, and we can put you in touch with one of our travel agent partners if you would like assistance. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding your flight arrangements.

We can also help you with booking extra hotel nights as necessary.

Special cancellation conditions

Please note that special cancellation conditions apply for this wine tour.

Cancellation of your booking can be made according to the following:

  • More than 60 days before the beginning of the trip: the Traveller pays a fee equivalent to the Booking Fee.
  • 46 to 60 days before the beginning of the trip: the Traveller pays a fee equivalent to 75% of the total price.
  • 45 days or less before the beginning of the trip: the Traveller pays the full fee.

Book This Tour

Book before: September 15, 2020

Booking is confirmed by paying the booking fee of US$ 1,300. Full payment should be received at the latest 60 days before the departure date (see our terms and conditions). Details on how to pay will be sent to you when you register.

It is important that you read our travel booking terms and conditions.

We also invite you to read more on why you should travel with BKWine, about customer protection, and about what you can expect from our wine tours in the section below “More on our wine tours”.

You book by contacting Britt Karlsson, BKWine:

  • phone: +33 1 58 88 04 66 or +33 6 80 45 35 70 (+33 is the country code for France)
  • Skype: “bkwine”. Call us on skype.
  • email: info@bkwine.com, or use the contact form below

“I want to book this tour” or “I want more info.”

(*) = required

Important: We automatically send you a copy of this email when you submit it. If you have not received it within a few minutes: 1) check your spam folder, 2) consider resending it, you might have misspelled your email address. Or simply send us a normal email using our address noted just above.

Share this tour programme with your friends

Maybe your friends want to come with you on this wine tour? Let them know about the programme and ask if they’d like to join you. Share the info on social networks or send an email to your friends:

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More on our wine tours

Why travel with BKWine?

We are Britt and Per Karlsson. We are specialists in wine and food tours and wine tourism, but also experts in wine in general. We are internationally published wine writers and have written ten award-winning wine books.

No other tour operator has a comparable knowledge and experience of wine, wine regions, wine tourism and gourmet travel.

We have organised hundreds of wine and food tours, and this is what we love to do. We take it very seriously – it is not a sideline or a hobby – and what we want more than anything is to share all these wonderful experiences with you.

All our tours are led and managed by guides who have in-depth wine knowledge, and in many cases we lead the tours ourselves.

Read more on why you should choose BKWine for your wine and food tour.

Thousands of happy customers

Over the years, thousands of wine lovers have travelled with us. Many come back to tour again and again with BKWine to new wine regions. Our record-breaking client has been on more than ten BKWine tours. We are happy and proud to have such faithful customers.

Read more on what travellers have said about our tours.

Awards and Mentions

We’re pleased and proud to have received many accolades, including:

  • “World’s Top Wine Tours”, Travel+Leisure Magazine, the world’s biggest travel magazine
  • “Best wine tasting holidays”, AOL Travel’s list of top wine tours
  • “Recommended Wine Tours”, Munskänkarna, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • “World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals” as well as “Best Wine Book of the Year”, Gourmand International awards, and many other book prizes
  • Three OIV book awards, International Organisation of Vine and Wine
  • “Wine Personality of the Year”, an honour bestowed on Britt Karlsson by Munskänkarna in 2011, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • Inclusion on the Wine Media Power List, by Wine Business International magazine

About the wine producers and wineries we visit

Our aim is for you to experience some of the very best and most interesting aspects of the wine world, in terms of wine and food.

We put great effort into creating outstanding winery visits, and in this way we are quite different to many wine tour organisers. It is not always the most renowned, internationally known estates that offer the best experiences. Organising a wine tour featuring famous names of the wine world is relatively easy: it is merely a question of making lists and ticking boxes. On those kind of “bucket list” wine tours, you rarely meet the winemaker or the owner. You will simply be one of thousands of visitors they receive each year.

We do things differently. With BKWine Tours, you will meet the people behind the label, often the winemakers and/or the owners. Thanks to them, you will have a unique, truly personal experience and an insight into the wine world that no one else can offer. When you travel with BKWine, you are more like a special guest than a tourist.

We have personal connections and unparalleled knowledge thanks to more than 20 years as wine journalists, with 10 wine books published, and as wine tour organisers with more than 30 years’ experience. You can be sure of getting the best wine travel experiences with BKWine Tours.

Read more on the wine producers and wineries we visit.

A true gourmet experience: food and gastronomy

For us, wine and food are intimately linked, and this is a fundamental part of our wine travel philosophy. For this reason, a wine tour with BKWine is always an outstanding culinary experience both for the wine enthusiast and for the gourmet. A BKWine tour is a gastronomic voyage that explores the deep relationship between food and wine.

Read more On Meals: Food and Gastronomy on Our Tours.

Customer Protection,  Financial Travel Guarantee, and Terms and Conditions

You can always feel safe when you book your tour with BKWine. BKWine has a bonded bank guarantee that gives full protection according to EU and Swedish law. BKWine is a Swedish limited company and as such is regulated by strict rules.

Read more on Customer Protection, Financial Travel Guarantee. and our Terms and Conditions.

When you book a tour it is important that you read the terms and conditions. BKWine’s booking terms and conditions follow the guidelines developed by the Consumer Protection Agency.

Health, vaccination and allergies

Our tours have no particular health requirements although inevitably we will be walking a certain amount in wine cellars and vineyards. Sensible footwear is a must.

Most of our travel destinations have no particular health guidelines or requirements for vaccinations or medical certificates, but if in doubt, you should always consult a medical professional, vaccination centre or relevant embassy in your country of origin.

We can always accommodate food allergies. However, in order for us to manage such requests you must let us know about any allergies before the tour starts.

Read more in our FAQ and in our Terms and Conditions.

Travel insurance

BKWine does not sell travel insurance. If you want travel insurance, check if your regular home insurance policy includes some kind of travel insurance, or contact your regular insurance company or a travel insurance specialist.

Custom Tours

We also offer custom wine and food tours if you want to travel on different dates, or if you want something different to what we currently offer on our scheduled tours. This tailor-made service can be offered for individuals, companies, professionals, wine tastings clubs etc.

Important information

Our groups are always small. The number of people in the group may vary. The maximum can range from 8 to around 20; check the details in each programme. But our groups are always modest in size. This is important because it guarantees a quality experience and a personal welcome at the wineries we visit.

Read the BKWine Booking Terms and Conditions here. They are important to you!

You are expected to organise your travel independently to the destination for most of our tours, but once you are at the location, we take care of everything.

For more inspiration

Read our wine travel blog. For more, read our online wine magazine the BKWine Magazine with articles from all over the wine world.

And also:

  • Recommend this trip to a friend using the share buttons below

Newsletter on wine

Subscribe to our free wine and travel newsletter, the BKWine Brief. Each month, it gives you news from the world of wine, restaurant recommendations, tips on our favourite wine producers and much more. It will also keep you updated on forthcoming wine and food tours.

Continue reading: Chile and Argentina, January 18 – 31, 2021


The post Chile and Argentina, January 18 – 31, 2021 was originally published on BKWine Tours and written by Britt Karlsson. Copyright BKWine and BKWine Tours. If you see it published elsewhere in full it has been republished without our permission.

BKWine Tours - Discover and Enjoy Wine with Us, the Real Wine Experience



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Bordeaux, September 27 – October 1, 2021

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Bordeaux: a classic wine tour destination with luxurious châteaux and ambitious winemakers

— Bordeaux is home to world-famous châteaux and world-class wines, but it’s also home to some exciting new initiatives, important for the future of this outstanding wine region, and some younger, highly motivated winemakers. On this trip we will visit grand cru classé estates, as well as others that are less well-known but equally quality-conscious, taking in the renowned regions of Médoc, Saint-Émilion, Graves and Sauternes. By the end of the tour we will have discussed viticulture, vinification and vintages, and you’ll be well briefed on the Bordeaux wine scene.

Tour Highlights

  • 4 nights
  • Private tastings, ca 10
  • 3 gourmet lunches
  • Expert wine guide
  • 2,600 euro
  • Médoc
  • Saint-Émilion
  • Graves
  • Sauternes

Book Now!

Over three full days we will travel around the Bordeaux wine region, visiting prestigious châteaux but also some smaller, family-owned estates.

We will enjoy private tastings at all the châteaux, welcomed by hosts who are delighted to share their passion for fine wine with us.

We will stay four nights in the city of Bordeaux, an elegant, truly beautiful city of just over half a million inhabitants. In the evenings you will have the possibility to explore the many landmarks, sights and restaurants of Bordeaux at your leisure.

The amazing Miroir d'Eau in Bordeaux city
The amazing Miroir d'Eau in Bordeaux city, copyright BKWine Photography
The amazing Miroir d'Eau in Bordeaux city
The amazing Miroir d'Eau in Bordeaux city, copyright BKWine Photography

The city of Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage site; read more about it in our City Guide to Bordeaux.

We will meet in Bordeaux, which is easy to reach (the city has an international airport and is only 2 hours away from Paris by TGV (high speed) train.

This exclusive tour is led by one of BKWine’s wine and travel expert guides. It has a maximum of 8 participants, so you will undoubtedly feel like privileged guests.

Also worth noting is that we at BKWine have written an award-winning book about Bordeaux, a concise guide to the wines and regions of Bordeaux.

So you will have a hard time finding a more insightful guide to this exciting wine region. More on this below.

A grand chateau in the Medoc
A grand château in the Médoc, copyright BKWine Photography
A grand chateau in the Medoc
A grand château in the Médoc, copyright BKWine Photography

Programme — Bordeaux wine tour

Preliminary programme.

Contact BKWine for more details.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Programme overview

  • Day 1, Monday — Arrival in Bordeaux
  • Day 2, Tuesday — Médoc, la Route des Châteaux
  • Day 3, Wednesday — Saint-Émilion
  • Day 4, Thursday — Graves and Sauternes
  • Day 5, Friday — Departure for home

Monday, September 27 — Arrival in Bordeaux

Arrival in Bordeaux. Check in at our 4-star hotel in the city centre.

The city of Bordeaux is the centre of the Bordeaux wine trade. But today you’ll see more beautifully renovated Renaissance or baroque mansions, luxury boutiques and university students than wine warehouses.

Situated on the banks of the Garonne river, Bordeaux is without a doubt one of France’s most elegant cities. What used to be warehouses and car parks have been transformed into a multitude of cafés, wine bars and restaurants. Here you can find everything from Michelin-starred dining destinations to simple neighbourhood bistrots.

When in Bordeaux, there are two “must-do” items for your list. One is to explore the Old Town on foot, soaking up the atmosphere and admiring the many characterful streets and squares. The other is to take a stroll at dusk along the river banks and admire the magnificent Place de la Bourse with the Miroir d’Eau as the light falls. 

Maybe a call in at a bar and try a Lillet, a fragrant, wine-based apéritif created by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet in 1872? It found fame thanks to an appearance in the James Bond film Casino Royale, and it is still made in the original location today.

We will all meet for a Bordeaux welcome dinner in the evening.

Cafés and restaurants, Quai des Chartrons, in Bordeaux city
Cafés and restaurants, Quai des Chartrons, in Bordeaux city, copyright BKWine Photography
Cafés and restaurants in Bordeaux city
Cafés and restaurants on the Quai des Chartrons in Bordeaux city, copyright BKWine Photography

Tuesday, September 28 — The Médoc

Our bus will pick us up at our hotel after breakfast. We will spend the day in Médoc, home to many of the major châteaux and famous for its wines made primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Here in the Médoc the vines grow on a narrow strip of land along the Gironde estuary, sheltered from the rain and Atlantic Ocean winds by the pine forest area of Les Landes.

We will drive along the route des châteaux heading north on a spectacular journey, passing magnificent fairytale châteaux dotted along the road like a string of pearls as our bus takes us through the villages of Margaux, Saint-Julien and Pauillac, and up to Saint-Estèphe.

You will see many world-famous wine estates and gently rolling hills with vineyards planted predominantly with Cabernet Sauvignon. The best have a view over the river, or so it is said.

We will visit three different châteaux, including impressive grand cru classé names and smaller, family-owned domaines.

At lunch time we will visit a magnificent, family-owned château and start with a private tour of the cellar.

If our visit falls during harvest time, we will see the meticulous sorting of the grapes, a key element in producing top quality wine, carried out when the fruit arrives at the winery.

This is followed by a wine tasting and lunch. This is an exceptional gastronomic experience on a par with a luxury restaurant meal, the only difference being that you will enjoy it in the calm setting of the dining room of the château, or in the garden, weather permitting. Naturally, a selection of wines will be matched with the various courses.

By early evening we will be back in Bordeaux. A riverside walk is a must. The famous water mirror feature in front of the Place de la Bourse is at its most spectacular at dusk. There are also many excellent restaurants along the newly renovated and redesigned river banks.

A barrel cellar in a chateau in Bordeaux
A barrel cellar in a chateau in Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography
A barrel cellar in a chateau in Bordeaux
A barrel cellar in a chateau in Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography

Wednesday, September 29 — Saint Emilion

Today we cross both rivers, the Garonne and the Dordogne, visiting the rive droite (Right Bank) of Bordeaux: Saint-Émilion, Fronsac and Pomerol.

The landscape is hillier here than in the Médoc and the châteaux are smaller. This is also where the most expensive wines of Bordeaux are to be found.

Here we will visit small family estates with high ambitions. We will have the opportunity to walk in the vineyards, and the winemakers will explain how they work to get the very best grapes, which is of course of utmost importance to the final quality of the wines. One of the châteaux we will visit is certified organic.

Lunch will be at a renowned grand cru classé property with an impressive, state-of-the-art winery and a spectacular limestone cellar, the same stone which over the years has been painstakingly hewn and used to build houses in the area. After the visit, a delicious lunch will be served in the dining room of this smaller château.

There will be time for a stroll in picturesque Saint-Émilion before our afternoon visit. This charming, small medieval town features on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is not to be missed.

We arrive back at our hotel in Bordeaux in the early evening. The rest of the evening is free for you to enjoy discovering the city centre. If you haven’t already done so, take a walk  and admire the magnificent architecture of the Old Town.

The Medieval town of Saint Emilion
The medieval town of Saint Emilion, copyright BKWine Photography
The Medieval town of Saint Emilion
The medieval town of Saint Emilion, copyright BKWine Photography

Thursday, September 30 — Graves and Sauternes

Today we head south to the regions of Pessac-Léognan, Graves and Sauternes. Pessac-Léognan and Graves are known for red wines as well as dry white wines, while Sauternes makes some of the world’s most delicious sweet wines.

In Sauternes our group will visit one of the area’s grand châteaux. Here we will learn about the painstaking process by which these exclusive wines are made (each parcel of vines is carefully harvested several times to make sure that only the best grapes are picked), and the noble rot which brings not only sugar but also the rich honey and spice notes for which Sauternes is recognised.

During our visit we will taste several different vintages to see how a Sauternes wine evolves.

Lunch will be served in the elegant dining room of a grand château in the Pessac-Léognan area. An enclave in the Graves region, the Pessac-Léognan appellation was created in 1987. It is close to the city centre and today some of the châteaux are totally surrounded by suburban housing.

We will visit the vineyard and the cellar before enjoying a lunch prepared by an extremely talented chef and paired with a selection of excellent wines, creating a gastronomic experience worthy of a Michelin-starred restaurant.

In the afternoon we will have our last visit of the day at a château in the Graves appellation where our group will taste both red and white wines.

The white wines of Bordeaux are truly magnificent and well worth trying, particularly as today, less than 10% of wines made in Bordeaux are white. Compare this with 50 years ago, when white wine accounted for half of this region’s production, and you will understand that this is an excellent opportunity to taste some of the best examples of what is a shrinking category.

We will be back in Bordeaux in the afternoon and you will have some time to rest before we meet again for our great farewell dinner.

Grapes ready for harvest in Bordeaux
Grapes ready for harvest in Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography
Grapes ready for harvest in Bordeaux
Grapes ready for harvest in Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography

Friday, October 1 — Heading back home

The tour ends after breakfast. Departure.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Go For It!

We’d love to have you with us.

Decanting wine and preparing the tasting, Bordeaux
Decanting wine and preparing the tasting, Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography
Decanting wine and preparing the tasting
Decanting wine and preparing the tasting, Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography

More travel information

Here are some useful pages and guides about this travel destination:

Even more info

We have written a lot about Bordeaux and about wine touring in the region, what to do and what to expect.

Here are a few videos from winery visits in Bordeaux:

The Bordeaux Wine Book

One of the many internationally award winning wine books we, the BKWine Tours founders, have written is on Bordeaux, but unfortunately it is not currently available in English.

As far as we know, no other wine tour operator has a track record of authoring ten or more wine books, so you can feel confident that you will get the most competent and high-quality wine tour with BKWine.

Bordeaux-vinerna-distrikten-producenterna-Book cover

More wine books

We have written more than ten wine books. They have won both national and international wine writing awards.

No other wine tour organiser has a comparable knowledge, competence and experience.

A collection of wine books written by BKWine

Tour Details — Bordeaux Wine Tour

Dates: September 27 – October 1, 2021

Price per person: 2,600 euro

Single room supplement: 240 euro

Included in the price:

  • 4 nights hotel accommodation, double occupancy, including breakfast in 4-star Hotel Majestic in central Bordeaux
  • Meals as described in the programme above (*):
    • 3 gastronomic multi-course lunches including prestigious wines; at least 2 of the lunches at a wine château
    • 2 gastronomic multi-course dinners: welcome dinner in Bordeaux (incl. wines), farewell dinner in Bordeaux (incl. wines)
  • Start and end point: Bordeaux
  • Bus transport during the whole trip
  • All vineyard and winery visits
  • Private, top quality tastings at wineries, approx. 3 per day
  • Translation from French as needed (some visits may be in English)
  • Wine guiding and wine tutoring by an expert BKWine guide

(*) See below for more important information on our meals.

Not included:

  • Travel (flights etc) to the destination and back to your home location.

You are responsible for organising your travel to and from Bordeaux.

If you would like assistance organising your flight tickets etc, please contact us.

We warmly recommend that you plan a few extra days here if you have the time. It is a very interesting place and well worth some regular, non-wine related tourism too. We can assist you with booking additional hotel nights as needed.

Bordeaux-Mérignac is an international airport, but if you want to spend a few extra days in (for example) Paris, it is quick and easy to take the train from Bordeaux to Paris. It takes about 2 hours from Paris-Montparnasse station, or around 3 hours from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. Train tickets are normally released for sale three months before the travel date. It is easy to book train tickets on the internet; book train tickets in France here.

For this tour to take place we must have a minimum of 6 participants registered by the “book before” date. Maximum number of tour participants: 12.

Book This Tour

Book before: June 15, 2021

Booking is confirmed by paying the booking fee of 300 euro. Full payment should be received at the latest one month before the departure date (see our terms and conditions). Details on how to pay will be sent to you when you register.

It is important that you read our travel booking terms and conditions.

We also invite you to read more on why you should travel with BKWine, about customer protection, and about what you can expect from our wine tours in the section below “More on our wine tours”.

You book by contacting Britt Karlsson, BKWine:

  • phone: +33 1 58 88 04 66 or +33 6 80 45 35 70 (+33 is the country code for France)
  • Skype: “bkwine”. Call us on skype.
  • email: info@bkwine.com, or use the contact form below

“I want to book this tour” or “I want more info”

* = required

Important: We automatically send you a copy of this email when you submit it. If you have not received it within a few minutes: 1) check your spam folder, 2) consider resending it, you might have misspelled your email address. Or simply send us a normal email using our address noted just above.

Share this tour programme with your friends

Maybe your friends want to come with you on this wine tour? Let them know about the programme and ask if they’d like to join you. Share the info on social networks or send an email to your friends:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
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Share on email

More on our wine tours

Why travel with BKWine?

We are Britt and Per Karlsson. We are specialists in wine and food tours and wine tourism, but also experts in wine in general. We are internationally published wine writers and have written ten award-winning wine books.

No other tour operator has a comparable knowledge and experience of wine, wine regions, wine tourism and gourmet travel.

We have organised hundreds of wine and food tours, and this is what we love to do. We take it very seriously – it is not a sideline or a hobby – and what we want more than anything is to share all these wonderful experiences with you.

All our tours are led and managed by guides who have in-depth wine knowledge, and in many cases we lead the tours ourselves.

Read more on why you should choose BKWine for your wine and food tour.

Thousands of happy customers

Over the years, thousands of wine lovers have travelled with us. Many come back to tour again and again with BKWine to new wine regions. Our record-breaking client has been on more than ten BKWine tours. We are happy and proud to have such faithful customers.

Read more on what travellers have said about our tours.

Awards and Mentions

We’re pleased and proud to have received many accolades, including:

  • “World’s Top Wine Tours”, Travel+Leisure Magazine, the world’s biggest travel magazine
  • “Best wine tasting holidays”, AOL Travel’s list of top wine tours
  • “Recommended Wine Tours”, Munskänkarna, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • “World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals” as well as “Best Wine Book of the Year”, Gourmand International awards, and many other book prizes
  • Three OIV book awards, International Organisation of Vine and Wine
  • “Wine Personality of the Year”, an honour bestowed on Britt Karlsson by Munskänkarna in 2011, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • Inclusion on the Wine Media Power List, by Wine Business International magazine

About the wine producers and wineries we visit

Our aim is for you to experience some of the very best and most interesting aspects of the wine world, in terms of wine and food.

We put great effort into creating outstanding winery visits, and in this way we are quite different to many wine tour organisers. It is not always the most renowned, internationally known estates that offer the best experiences. Organising a wine tour featuring famous names of the wine world is relatively easy: it is merely a question of making lists and ticking boxes. On those kind of “bucket list” wine tours, you rarely meet the winemaker or the owner. You will simply be one of thousands of visitors they receive each year.

We do things differently. With BKWine Tours, you will meet the people behind the label, often the winemakers and/or the owners. Thanks to them, you will have a unique, truly personal experience and an insight into the wine world that no one else can offer. When you travel with BKWine, you are more like a special guest than a tourist.

We have personal connections and unparalleled knowledge thanks to more than 20 years as wine journalists, with 10 wine books published, and as wine tour organisers with more than 30 years’ experience. You can be sure of getting the best wine travel experiences with BKWine Tours.

Read more on the wine producers and wineries we visit.

A true gourmet experience: food and gastronomy

For us, wine and food are intimately linked, and this is a fundamental part of our wine travel philosophy. For this reason, a wine tour with BKWine is always an outstanding culinary experience both for the wine enthusiast and for the gourmet. A BKWine tour is a gastronomic voyage that explores the deep relationship between food and wine.

Read more On Meals: Food and Gastronomy on Our Tours.

Customer Protection,  Financial Travel Guarantee, and Terms and Conditions

You can always feel safe when you book your tour with BKWine. BKWine has a bonded bank guarantee that gives full protection according to EU and Swedish law. BKWine is a Swedish limited company and as such is regulated by strict rules.

Read more on Customer Protection, Financial Travel Guarantee. and our Terms and Conditions.

When you book a tour it is important that you read the terms and conditions. BKWine’s booking terms and conditions follow the guidelines developed by the Consumer Protection Agency.

Health, vaccination and allergies

Our tours have no particular health requirements although inevitably we will be walking a certain amount in wine cellars and vineyards. Sensible footwear is a must.

Most of our travel destinations have no particular health guidelines or requirements for vaccinations or medical certificates, but if in doubt, you should always consult a medical professional, vaccination centre or relevant embassy in your country of origin.

We can always accommodate food allergies. However, in order for us to manage such requests you must let us know about any allergies before the tour starts.

Read more in our FAQ and in our Terms and Conditions.

Travel insurance

BKWine does not sell travel insurance. If you want travel insurance, check if your regular home insurance policy includes some kind of travel insurance, or contact your regular insurance company or a travel insurance specialist.

Custom Tours

We also offer custom wine and food tours if you want to travel on different dates, or if you want something different to what we currently offer on our scheduled tours. This tailor-made service can be offered for individuals, companies, professionals, wine tastings clubs etc.

Important information

Our groups are always small. The number of people in the group may vary. The maximum can range from 8 to around 20; check the details in each programme. But our groups are always modest in size. This is important because it guarantees a quality experience and a personal welcome at the wineries we visit.

Read the BKWine Booking Terms and Conditions here. They are important to you!

You are expected to organise your travel independently to the destination for most of our tours, but once you are at the location, we take care of everything.

For more inspiration

Read our wine travel blog. For more, read our online wine magazine the BKWine Magazine with articles from all over the wine world.

And also:

  • Recommend this trip to a friend using the share buttons below

Newsletter on wine

Subscribe to our free wine and travel newsletter, the BKWine Brief. Each month, it gives you news from the world of wine, restaurant recommendations, tips on our favourite wine producers and much more. It will also keep you updated on forthcoming wine and food tours.

Continue reading: Bordeaux, September 27 – October 1, 2021


The post Bordeaux, September 27 – October 1, 2021 was originally published on BKWine Tours and written by Britt Karlsson. Copyright BKWine and BKWine Tours. If you see it published elsewhere in full it has been republished without our permission.

BKWine Tours - Discover and Enjoy Wine with Us, the Real Wine Experience



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Champagne, September 23-27, 2021

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Champagne wine tour: luxury and gastronomy at the very highest level

In the world of wine, champagne is synonymous with celebration. However, on this tour we will show you that champagne is so much more than just a wine for special occasions. Come with us and discover this unique region, its wonderfully elegant wines and culinary traditions.   

Tour Highlights

  • 4 nights
  • Private prestigious champagne tastings
  • Magnificent lunches
  • Independent growers & famous houses
  • €2,300
  • Beautiful landscapes
  • Classics and innovation
  • Organics vineyards
  • Reims
  • Vallée de la Marne, Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs

Book Now!

The world boasts many sparkling wines but there is only one region roughly 75 miles east of Paris which can call its wines “champagne.”

After our days together in the Champagne region you will understand what makes this sparkling wine so unique, and indeed different to any other. Let us explain the terroir, the secrets of the area’s soil and climate, viticultural and oenological challenges (how do those bubbles get into the bottle?), and how to disgorge a champagne bottle, an impressive skill if ever there was one, although mostly done by machine today.

Our tour has a mix of visits, from the larger, more famous champagne houses that buy grapes and wines from different suppliers, to smaller, independent growers who only make wine from their own grapes.

Most of the better-known champagne brands come from a handful of very large wineries or houses, but on this trip we will focus primarily on smaller, more exclusive, quality-oriented producers, so called “growers champagnes“. Some may be familiar to you already as boutique wineries, others perhaps you have will not have heard of, although they make outstanding wines. All are worthy of our attention and make bottles you’d be proud to bring home and share with friends and family.

A village, vineyards and the Marne river in Champagne
A village, vineyards and the Marne river in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
A village, vineyards and the Marne river in Champagne
A village, vineyards and the Marne river in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

Our lavish lunches will give you plenty of opportunity to decide how best to pair champagne with delicious dishes, and to discover how a “champagne all the way” dining experience works. There will be several of these.

The most famous champagnes come from the three districts surrounding Epernay and Reims, namely Vallée de la Marne, Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs: you will get to know them all as part of our tour.

Pinot noir harvested in a vineyard in Champagne
Pinot Noir harvested in a vineyard in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
Pinot noir harvested in a vineyard in Champagne
Pinot Noir harvested in a vineyard in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

We will be based in Reims, roughly 95 miles (150 km) directly east of Paris. The city is home to several famous houses including Pommery with its Tudor-style mansion-winery, Taittinger, Veuve-Clicquot, Ruinart, Krug, Roederer and Mumm.

Reims’ cathedral is one of the most beautiful and impressive in France, and it features on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Built in the 13th century, it has survived through many troubled times, not least the bombings of the First World War. Its stained glass windows are magnificent; compare and contrast the original panels with those created by artist Marc Chagall in the mid-1970s. 

Clients must arrange their own travel to Reims (it is only a 45-minute trip by TGV high-speed train from Paris with some direct trains from the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport) and arrive at the latest in the evening of the start day.

The tour is led by one of BKWine’s expert wine and travel guides.

Also worth noting is that we at BKWine have written an internationally award-winning book about Champagne, one of the few books with complete and up to date information about Champagne.

So you will have a hard time finding a more insightful guide to this exciting wine region. More on this below.

The magnificent cathedral in Reims in Champagne
The magnificent cathedral in Reims in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
The magnificent cathedral in Reims in Champagne
The magnificent cathedral in Reims in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

Programme — Champagne wine tour

Preliminary programme.

Contact BKWine for more details.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Programme overview

  • Day 1, Thursday — Arrival in Champagne
  • Day 2, Friday — Southern Montagne de Reims
  • Day 3, Saturday — Côte des Blancs
  • Day 4, Sunday — The major champagne houses, and organic champagne
  • Day 5, Monday — Heading back home

Thursday, September 23 — Arrival in Champagne

You arrive in Reims and check in at our centrally located hotel.

It is easy to get from Paris (Gare de l’Est) to Reims. The trip takes about 45 minutes and there is a train almost every hour. You can also take a train to Reims from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.

Reims is a lively, pleasant town with around 200,000 inhabitants, some good restaurants and of course, plenty of wine and champagne bars. The Cathédrale Notre Dame de Reims is one of the most beautiful in France. Although it was damaged in the First World War much of it was miraculously saved.

Many champagne houses are based in Reims including Pommery, Krug and Veuve Clicquot. There are many miles of underground cellars running beneath the city, dug out of the chalk rock, with the most ancient said to date back to Roman times. The houses, hillsides and cellars of the Champagne region are included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Champagne has long been considered a luxury wine associated with glamour and prestige, and you can see from the palatial-looking wineries that image is all-important here.

We will meet in the evening for a welcome dinner, with champagnes of course, in Reims.

Chardonnay in a traditional press in Champagne
Chardonnay in a traditional press in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
Taking a barrel sample of champagne vin clair to taste
Taking a barrel sample of champagne vin clair to taste

Friday, September 24 — Southern Montagne de Reims

After breakfast our driver will collect us from the hotel. We drive south through the magnificent Montagne de Reims area with its sloping hills, famous for the excellent Pinot Noir grapes that grow here.

In the morning we will visit a small grower for a detailed explanation of the unique vinification and production of champagne, why the harvest is always done by hand, the special way the grapes are pressed, the second fermentation process, and so on. We will taste through his range of champagnes, including vintage, rosé and brut zéro.

We continue south and stop near Épernay to have lunch at one of the best gastronomic restaurants in the Champagne region, where a highly creative chef will prepare dishes that are not just delightful but also artfully presented.

In the afternoon we will stop at a small, exclusive champagne house to visit their modern wine making facilities and historic cellar.

Blending is a unique aspect of making champagne that exists in almost no other wine region, and we will discuss the importance of this process before a tasting of their top flight, elegant wines. Our visit will end with a short walk in the vineyards to understand more about the terroir and micro-climate at this five-hectare vineyard, and to admire the attractive location and views of the river Marne.

We return to Reims in the late afternoon, and your evening is free to spend as you choose. The city offers many dining options.

A village and vineyards in Champagne
A village and vineyards in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
A village and vineyards in Champagne
A village and vineyards in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

Saturday, September 25 — Côte des Blancs

After breakfast we board the bus and head south to the Côte des Blancs district just south of Epernay.

The Côte des Blancs is known for its vineyards planted with Chardonnay. Here you will find famous, picturesque grand cru villages like Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cramant and Avize. Many of the growers make blanc de blanc, a wine made exclusively from Chardonnay.

We will visit a small grower in Mesnil-sur-Oger. It is a family winery with 18 hectares of vineyards, mainly in Mesnil and in the neighbouring villages. They only use their own grapes, and make wines with great finesse and concentration.

Lunch will be in Avize at the attractive restaurant “Les Avisés”. This restaurant and boutique luxury hotel is owned by producer Champagne Jacques Selosse (the winery is next door). We will enjoy a three-course menu matched with different styles of champagne, including from Selosse.

The day ends with a visit to the Vallée de la Marne and the opportunity to take a deep dive into champagne by tasting vin clair, i.e. the still wine from which champagne is made, before it has undergone the second fermentation which gives it its bubbles. There will be more champagne to taste as well…

We return to Reims in the early evening. You are free to relax, take a stroll in the town and muse on what you have seen and tasted during the day.

Tasting and lunch in Champagne
Tasting and lunch in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
Tasting and lunch in Champagne
Tasting and lunch in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

Sunday, September 26 — The major houses, and organic champagne

Today we will visit one of the major champagne houses in Reims or Epernay, where many big names have their offices and cellars. These are the brands whose savoir-faire (and considerable marketing budgets) have made champagne famous around the world.

Our day starts with one of the “must-see” sights, namely the impressive underground cellars (the oldest dating back to Roman times) where millions of bottles of champagne are aged.  After walking through some of the tunnels, it will be time to taste the champagnes of this famous house.

Next stop will be the famous grand cru villages of Verzy and Verzenay in the Montagne de Reims area where we will admire the breathtaking vineyard views. 

Our lunch will feature some of the classic cuisine champenoise, elegantly presented and made from the very finest local produce and accompanied by a selection of champagnes, this time in the fuller-bodied Montagne de Reims style.

After lunch we will visit a small organic grower in Verzy, who will explain how it is possible to make great wines in this cool climate region without having to spray the vines with traditional systemic pesticides. Naturally, he will also present his wines for us to taste and enjoy.

We return to Reims at the end of the day, and the evening is free for you to spend as your choose.

Bottles in pupitres in a carved-out cellar in Champagne
Bottles in pupitres in a carved-out cellar in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
Bottles in pupitres in a carved-out cellar in Champagne
Bottles in pupitres in a carved-out cellar in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

Monday, September 27 — Heading back home

The tour ends after breakfast. Departure.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Go For It!

We’d love to have you with us.

Many thousands of bottles resting in a cellar in Champagne
Many thousands of bottles resting in a cellar in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
Many thousands of bottles resting in a cellar in Champagne
Many thousands of bottles resting in a cellar in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

More travel information

Here are some useful pages and guides about this travel destination:

Even more info

We have written a lot about Champagne and about wine touring in the region, what to do and what to expect.

The Champagne Wine Book

One of the many internationally award winning wine books we, the BKWine Tours founders, have written is on Champagne, but unfortunately it is not currently available in English. It is called “Champagne, the Wine and the Growers“, winner of “best book on French wine” in the Gourmand Awards.

Champagne, the Wine and the Growers is our ninth book (we’ve done more than ten now). It gives you everything you could need to know about champagne. Having written this book and many others, we feel confident that you will enjoy an extremely competent, top quality tour experience with us. 

As far as we know, no other wine tour operator has a track record of authoring ten or more wine books, so you can feel confident that you will get the most competent and high-quality wine tour with BKWine.

Champagne Book, Britt Karlsson, Per Karlsson
The Champagne Book, by Britt Karlsson & Per Karlsson

More wine books

We have written more than ten wine books. They have won both national and international wine writing awards.

No other wine tour organiser has a comparable knowledge, competence and experience.

A collection of wine books written by BKWine

Tour Details — Champagne Wine Tour

Dates: September 23-27, 2021

Price per person: €2,300

Single room supplement: €290 euro

Included in the price:

  • 4 hotel nights, good quality, mid-range European-style hotel in Reims, double occupancy, including breakfast
  • Meals as described in the programme above (*):
    • 3 gastronomic “champagne all the way” lunches
    • 1 gastronomic multi-course dinner: welcome dinner in Reims (incl. champagnes)
  • Start and end point: Reims
  • Bus transport throughout the whole trip
  • All vineyard and winery visits
  • Private, high-quality tastings at wineries, approx. 3 per day
  • Interpretation from French as needed (some visits may be in English)
  • Wine guiding and wine tutoring by an expert BKWine guide

(*) See below for more important information on our meals.

Not included:

  • Travel (flights etc) to the destination and back to your home location.

You are responsible for organising your travel to and from Reims yourself.

If you would like assistance organising your flight tickets etc, please contact us.

We warmly recommend that you plan a few extra days here if you have the time. It is a very interesting place and well worth some regular, non-wine related tourism too. We can assist you with booking additional hotel nights as needed.

For this tour to take place we must have a minimum of 6 participants registered by the “book before” date. Maximum number of tour participants: 12.

Book This Tour

Book before: June 15, 2021

Booking is confirmed by paying the booking fee of 300 euro. Full payment should be received at the latest one month before the departure date (see our terms and conditions). Details on how to pay will be sent to you when you register.

It is important that you read our travel booking terms and conditions.

We also invite you to read more on why you should travel with BKWine, about customer protection, and about what you can expect from our wine tours in the section below “More on our wine tours”.

You book by contacting Britt Karlsson, BKWine:

  • phone: +33 1 58 88 04 66 or +33 6 80 45 35 70 (+33 is the country code for France)
  • Skype: “bkwine”. Call us on skype.
  • email: info@bkwine.com, or use the contact form below

“I want to book this tour” or “I want more info”

* = required

Important: We automatically send you a copy of this email when you submit it. If you have not received it within a few minutes: 1) check your spam folder, 2) consider resending it, you might have misspelled your email address. Or simply send us a normal email using our address noted just above.

Share this tour programme with your friends

Maybe your friends want to come with you on this wine tour? Let them know about the programme and ask if they’d like to join you. Share the info on social networks or send an email to your friends:

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on reddit
Share on email

More on our wine tours

Why travel with BKWine?

We are Britt and Per Karlsson. We are specialists in wine and food tours and wine tourism, but also experts in wine in general. We are internationally published wine writers and have written ten award-winning wine books.

No other tour operator has a comparable knowledge and experience of wine, wine regions, wine tourism and gourmet travel.

We have organised hundreds of wine and food tours, and this is what we love to do. We take it very seriously – it is not a sideline or a hobby – and what we want more than anything is to share all these wonderful experiences with you.

All our tours are led and managed by guides who have in-depth wine knowledge, and in many cases we lead the tours ourselves.

Read more on why you should choose BKWine for your wine and food tour.

Thousands of happy customers

Over the years, thousands of wine lovers have travelled with us. Many come back to tour again and again with BKWine to new wine regions. Our record-breaking client has been on more than ten BKWine tours. We are happy and proud to have such faithful customers.

Read more on what travellers have said about our tours.

Awards and Mentions

We’re pleased and proud to have received many accolades, including:

  • “World’s Top Wine Tours”, Travel+Leisure Magazine, the world’s biggest travel magazine
  • “Best wine tasting holidays”, AOL Travel’s list of top wine tours
  • “Recommended Wine Tours”, Munskänkarna, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • “World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals” as well as “Best Wine Book of the Year”, Gourmand International awards, and many other book prizes
  • Three OIV book awards, International Organisation of Vine and Wine
  • “Wine Personality of the Year”, an honour bestowed on Britt Karlsson by Munskänkarna in 2011, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • Inclusion on the Wine Media Power List, by Wine Business International magazine

About the wine producers and wineries we visit

Our aim is for you to experience some of the very best and most interesting aspects of the wine world, in terms of wine and food.

We put great effort into creating outstanding winery visits, and in this way we are quite different to many wine tour organisers. It is not always the most renowned, internationally known estates that offer the best experiences. Organising a wine tour featuring famous names of the wine world is relatively easy: it is merely a question of making lists and ticking boxes. On those kind of “bucket list” wine tours, you rarely meet the winemaker or the owner. You will simply be one of thousands of visitors they receive each year.

We do things differently. With BKWine Tours, you will meet the people behind the label, often the winemakers and/or the owners. Thanks to them, you will have a unique, truly personal experience and an insight into the wine world that no one else can offer. When you travel with BKWine, you are more like a special guest than a tourist.

We have personal connections and unparalleled knowledge thanks to more than 20 years as wine journalists, with 10 wine books published, and as wine tour organisers with more than 30 years’ experience. You can be sure of getting the best wine travel experiences with BKWine Tours.

Read more on the wine producers and wineries we visit.

A true gourmet experience: food and gastronomy

For us, wine and food are intimately linked, and this is a fundamental part of our wine travel philosophy. For this reason, a wine tour with BKWine is always an outstanding culinary experience both for the wine enthusiast and for the gourmet. A BKWine tour is a gastronomic voyage that explores the deep relationship between food and wine.

Read more On Meals: Food and Gastronomy on Our Tours.

Customer Protection,  Financial Travel Guarantee, and Terms and Conditions

You can always feel safe when you book your tour with BKWine. BKWine has a bonded bank guarantee that gives full protection according to EU and Swedish law. BKWine is a Swedish limited company and as such is regulated by strict rules.

Read more on Customer Protection, Financial Travel Guarantee. and our Terms and Conditions.

When you book a tour it is important that you read the terms and conditions. BKWine’s booking terms and conditions follow the guidelines developed by the Consumer Protection Agency.

Health, vaccination and allergies

Our tours have no particular health requirements although inevitably we will be walking a certain amount in wine cellars and vineyards. Sensible footwear is a must.

Most of our travel destinations have no particular health guidelines or requirements for vaccinations or medical certificates, but if in doubt, you should always consult a medical professional, vaccination centre or relevant embassy in your country of origin.

We can always accommodate food allergies. However, in order for us to manage such requests you must let us know about any allergies before the tour starts.

Read more in our FAQ and in our Terms and Conditions.

Travel insurance

BKWine does not sell travel insurance. If you want travel insurance, check if your regular home insurance policy includes some kind of travel insurance, or contact your regular insurance company or a travel insurance specialist.

Custom Tours

We also offer custom wine and food tours if you want to travel on different dates, or if you want something different to what we currently offer on our scheduled tours. This tailor-made service can be offered for individuals, companies, professionals, wine tastings clubs etc.

Important information

Our groups are always small. The number of people in the group may vary. The maximum can range from 8 to around 20; check the details in each programme. But our groups are always modest in size. This is important because it guarantees a quality experience and a personal welcome at the wineries we visit.

Read the BKWine Booking Terms and Conditions here. They are important to you!

You are expected to organise your travel independently to the destination for most of our tours, but once you are at the location, we take care of everything.

For more inspiration

Read our wine travel blog. For more, read our online wine magazine the BKWine Magazine with articles from all over the wine world.

And also:

  • Recommend this trip to a friend using the share buttons below

Newsletter on wine

Subscribe to our free wine and travel newsletter, the BKWine Brief. Each month, it gives you news from the world of wine, restaurant recommendations, tips on our favourite wine producers and much more. It will also keep you updated on forthcoming wine and food tours.

Continue reading: Champagne, September 23-27, 2021


The post Champagne, September 23-27, 2021 was originally published on BKWine Tours and written by Britt Karlsson. Copyright BKWine and BKWine Tours. If you see it published elsewhere in full it has been republished without our permission.

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Champagne and Bordeaux, September 27 – October 5, 2023

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Champagne and Bordeaux wine tour, luxury and gastronomy at the very highest level

Experience two of France’s most prestigious wine regions on the same tour

— On this 9-day tour you will enter into the magical world of outstanding wines and gastronomy of Champagne and Bordeaux. You start with 4 nights in Champagne and continue with 4 nights in the beautiful city of Bordeaux. Join us and discover two unique and classic French wine regions.   

Tour Highlights

  • 8 nights
  • Private prestigious Champagne and Bordeaux tastings
  • Magnificent lunches at Bordeaux châteaux
  • Luxurious Champagne lunches
  • 4,900 euro
  • Beautiful landscapes
  • Classics and innovation
  • Organic vineyards
  • Stay in Reims and in Bordeaux
  • Independent growers & famous houses and châteaux

Book Now!

This tour will take you to the two most well-known and prestigious wine regions of France, Champagne and Bordeaux, both with centuries of history and glamour.

The tour will start in Champagne. The world boasts many sparkling wines but there is only one region roughly 75 miles east of Paris which can call its wines “champagne.”

We will explain the terroir, the secrets of the soil and the climate, and the viticultural and oenological challenges of making this high-quality wine. By the end of the tour, you will know almost all the secrets of champagne and why it is different from other sparkling wines.

We will visit both larger, famous champagne houses and smaller, independent growers who only make wine from their own grapes. We will focus primarily on these smaller, more exclusive, quality-oriented producers, so called “growers’ champagnes”.

A village, vineyards and the Marne river in Champagne
A village, vineyards and the Marne river in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
A village, vineyards and the Marne river in Champagne
A village, vineyards and the Marne river in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

Our lavish lunches will give you plenty of opportunity to decide how best to pair champagne with delicious dishes, and to discover how a “champagne all the way” dining experience works. There will be several of these.

We will stay in Reims, roughly 95 miles (150 km) directly east of Paris. The city is home to several famous houses and its cathedral is one of the most beautiful and impressive in France, and it features on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

After having bubbles for several days, you will enjoy getting to know the (mostly) red wines of Bordeaux. The fast train will take us from Reims to Bordeaux, with change of trains in Paris.

Bordeaux is home to world-famous châteaux and world-class wines, but it’s also home to some exciting new initiatives, important for the future of this outstanding wine region, and some younger, highly motivated winemakers. On this trip we will visit grand cru classé estates, as well as others that are less well-known but equally quality-conscious, taking in the renowned regions of Médoc, Saint-Émilion, Graves and Sauternes.

A grand chateau in the Medoc
A grand château in the Médoc, copyright BKWine Photography
A grand chateau in the Medoc
A grand château in the Médoc, copyright BKWine Photography

We will enjoy private tastings at all the châteaux, welcomed by hosts who are delighted to share their passion for fine wine with us.

We will stay four nights in the city of Bordeaux, an elegant, truly beautiful city of just over half a million inhabitants. In the evenings you will have the possibility to explore the many landmarks, sights and restaurants of Bordeaux.

The city of Bordeaux is a UNESCO World Heritage site; read more about it in our City Guide to Bordeaux.

This exclusive tour is led by one of BKWine’s wine and travel expert guides. It has a maximum of 12 participants, so you will undoubtedly feel like privileged guests.

Also worth noting is that we at BKWine have written an internationally award-winning book about Champagne, one of the few books with complete and up to date information about Champagne, as well as an award-winning book about Bordeaux, a concise guide to the wines and regions of Bordeaux.

So you will have a hard time finding a more insightful guide to this exciting wine region. More on this below.

The magnificent cathedral in Reims in Champagne
The magnificent cathedral in Reims in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
The magnificent cathedral in Reims in Champagne
The magnificent cathedral in Reims in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

Programme — Champagne and Bordeaux wine tour

Preliminary programme.

Contact BKWine for more details.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Programme overview

  • Day 1, Wednesday — Arrival in Champagne
  • Day 2, Thursday — Southern Montagne de Reims
  • Day 3, Friday — Côte des Blancs
  • Day 4, Saturday — The major champagne houses, and organic champagne
  • Day 5, Sunday — Fast train to Bordeaux (over Paris)
  • Day 6, Monday — Médoc
  • Day 7, Tuesday — Saint Emilion
  • Day 8, Wednesday — Graves, Sauternes
  • Day 9, Thursday — Tour ends, heading back home

Wednesday, September 27 — Arrival in Champagne

You arrive in Reims and check in at our centrally located hotel.

It is easy to get from Paris (Gare de l’Est) to Reims. The trip takes about 45 minutes and there is a train almost every hour. You can also take a train to Reims from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.

Reims is a lively, pleasant town with around 200,000 inhabitants, some good restaurants and of course, plenty of wine and champagne bars. The Cathédrale Notre Dame de Reims is one of the most beautiful in France. Although it was damaged in the First World War much of it was miraculously saved.

Many champagne houses are based in Reims including Pommery, Krug and Veuve Clicquot. There are many miles of underground cellars running beneath the city, dug out of the chalk rock, with the most ancient said to date back to Roman times. The houses, hillsides and cellars of the Champagne region are included on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Champagne has long been considered a luxury wine associated with glamour and prestige, and you can see from the palatial-looking wineries that image is all-important here.

We will meet in the evening for a welcome dinner, with champagnes of course, in Reims.

Chardonnay in a traditional press in Champagne
Chardonnay in a traditional press in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
Taking a barrel sample of champagne vin clair to taste
Taking a barrel sample of champagne vin clair to taste

Thursday, September 28 — Southern Montagne de Reims

After breakfast our driver will collect us from the hotel. We drive south through the magnificent Montagne de Reims area with its sloping hills, famous for the excellent Pinot Noir grapes that grow here.

In the morning we will visit a small grower for a detailed explanation of the unique vinification and production of champagne, why the harvest is always done by hand, the special way the grapes are pressed, the second fermentation process, and so on. We will taste through his range of champagnes, including vintage, rosé and brut zéro.

We continue south and stop near Épernay to have lunch at one of the best gastronomic restaurants in the Champagne region, where a highly creative chef will prepare dishes that are not just delightful but also artfully presented.

In the afternoon we will stop at a small, exclusive champagne house to visit their modern wine making facilities and historic cellar.

Blending is a unique aspect of making champagne that exists in almost no other wine region, and we will discuss the importance of this process before a tasting of their top flight, elegant wines. Our visit will end with a short walk in the vineyards to understand more about the terroir and micro-climate at this five-hectare vineyard, and to admire the attractive location and views of the river Marne.

We return to Reims in the late afternoon, and your evening is free to spend as you choose. The city offers many dining options.

A village and vineyards in Champagne
A village and vineyards in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
A village and vineyards in Champagne
A village and vineyards in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

Friday, September 29 — Côte des Blancs

After breakfast we board the bus and head south to the Côte des Blancs district just south of Epernay.

The Côte des Blancs is known for its vineyards planted with Chardonnay. Here you will find famous, picturesque grand cru villages like Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cramant and Avize. Many of the growers make blanc de blanc, a wine made exclusively from Chardonnay.

We will visit a small grower in Mesnil-sur-Oger. It is a family winery with 18 hectares of vineyards, mainly in Mesnil and in the neighbouring villages. They only use their own grapes, and make wines with great finesse and concentration.

Lunch will be in Avize at the attractive restaurant “Les Avisés”. This restaurant and boutique luxury hotel is owned by producer Champagne Jacques Selosse (the winery is next door). We will enjoy a three-course menu matched with different styles of champagne, including from Selosse.

The day ends with a visit to the Vallée de la Marne and the opportunity to take a deep dive into champagne by tasting vin clair, i.e. the still wine from which champagne is made, before it has undergone the second fermentation which gives it its bubbles. There will be more champagne to taste as well…

We return to Reims in the early evening. You are free to relax, take a stroll in the town and muse on what you have seen and tasted during the day.

Tasting and lunch in Champagne
Tasting and lunch in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
Tasting and lunch in Champagne
Tasting and lunch in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

Saturday, September 30 — The major houses, and organic champagne

Today we will visit one of the major champagne houses in Reims or Epernay, where many big names have their offices and cellars. These are the brands whose savoir-faire (and considerable marketing budgets) have made champagne famous around the world.

Our day starts with one of the “must-see” sights, namely the impressive underground cellars (the oldest dating back to Roman times) where millions of bottles of champagne are aged.  After walking through some of the tunnels, it will be time to taste the champagnes of this famous house.

Next stop will be the famous grand cru villages of Verzy and Verzenay in the Montagne de Reims area where we will admire the breathtaking vineyard views. 

Our lunch will feature some of the classic cuisine champenoise, elegantly presented and made from the very finest local produce and accompanied by a selection of champagnes, this time in the fuller-bodied Montagne de Reims style.

After lunch we will visit a small organic grower in Verzy, who will explain how it is possible to make great wines in this cool climate region without having to spray the vines with traditional systemic pesticides. Naturally, he will also present his wines for us to taste and enjoy.

We return to Reims at the end of the day, and the evening is free for you to spend as your choose.

Bottles in pupitres in a carved-out cellar in Champagne
Bottles in pupitres in a carved-out cellar in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography
Bottles in pupitres in a carved-out cellar in Champagne
Bottles in pupitres in a carved-out cellar in Champagne, copyright BKWine Photography

Sunday, October 1 — Fast train to Bordeaux

Time to go south. After breakfast we will take a short stroll to the train station. We board the TGV train to Paris. It will take us 45 minutes. In Paris we change train stations and continue to Bordeaux. The fast train ride will be 2 hours.

When we arrive we check in at our 4-star hotel in the city centre.

The city of Bordeaux is the centre of the Bordeaux wine trade. But today you’ll see more beautifully renovated Renaissance or baroque mansions, luxury boutiques and university students than wine warehouses.

Situated on the banks of the Garonne river, Bordeaux is without a doubt one of France’s most elegant cities. What used to be warehouses and car parks have been transformed into a multitude of cafés, wine bars and restaurants. Here you can find everything from Michelin-starred dining destinations to simple neighbourhood bistrots.

When in Bordeaux, there are two “must-do” items for your list. One is to explore the Old Town on foot, soaking up the atmosphere and admiring the many characterful streets and squares. The other is to take a stroll at dusk along the river banks and admire the magnificent Place de la Bourse with the Miroir d’Eau as the light falls. 

Maybe a call in at a bar and try a Lillet, a fragrant, wine-based apéritif created by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet in 1872? It found fame thanks to an appearance in the James Bond film Casino Royale, and it is still made in the original location today.

Free evening in Bordeaux to explore the city, its many town squares, cafés and restaurants.

Cafés and restaurants, Quai des Chartrons, in Bordeaux city
Cafés and restaurants, Quai des Chartrons, in Bordeaux city, copyright BKWine Photography
Cafés and restaurants in Bordeaux city
Cafés and restaurants on the Quai des Chartrons in Bordeaux city, copyright BKWine Photography

Monday, October 2 — The Médoc

Our bus will pick us up at our hotel after breakfast. We will spend the day in Médoc, home to many of the major châteaux and famous for its wines made primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Here in the Médoc the vines grow on a narrow strip of land along the Gironde estuary, sheltered from the rain and Atlantic Ocean winds by the pine forest area of Les Landes.

We will drive along the route des châteaux heading north on a spectacular journey, passing magnificent fairytale châteaux dotted along the road like a string of pearls as our bus takes us through the villages of Margaux, Saint-Julien and Pauillac, and up to Saint-Estèphe.

You will see many world-famous wine estates and gently rolling hills with vineyards planted predominantly with Cabernet Sauvignon. The best have a view over the river, or so it is said.

We will visit three different châteaux, including impressive grand cru classé names and smaller, family-owned domaines.

At lunch time we will visit a magnificent, family-owned château and start with a private tour of the cellar.

If our visit falls during harvest time, we will see the meticulous sorting of the grapes, a key element in producing top quality wine, carried out when the fruit arrives at the winery.

This is followed by a wine tasting and lunch. This is an exceptional gastronomic experience on a par with a luxury restaurant meal, the only difference being that you will enjoy it in the calm setting of the dining room of the château, or in the garden, weather permitting. Naturally, a selection of wines will be matched with the various courses.

By early evening we will be back in Bordeaux. A riverside walk is a must. The famous water mirror feature in front of the Place de la Bourse is at its most spectacular at dusk. There are also many excellent restaurants along the newly renovated and redesigned river banks.

A barrel cellar in a chateau in Bordeaux
A barrel cellar in a chateau in Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography
A barrel cellar in a chateau in Bordeaux
A barrel cellar in a chateau in Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography

Tuesday, October 3 — Saint Emilion

Today we cross both rivers, the Garonne and the Dordogne, visiting the rive droite (Right Bank) of Bordeaux: Saint-Émilion, Fronsac and Pomerol.

The landscape is hillier here than in the Médoc and the châteaux are smaller. This is also where the most expensive wines of Bordeaux are to be found.

Here we will visit small family estates with high ambitions. We will have the opportunity to walk in the vineyards, and the winemakers will explain how they work to get the very best grapes, which is of course of utmost importance to the final quality of the wines. One of the châteaux we will visit is certified organic.

Lunch will be at a renowned grand cru classé property with an impressive, state-of-the-art winery and a spectacular limestone cellar, the same stone which over the years has been painstakingly hewn and used to build houses in the area. After the visit, a delicious lunch will be served in the dining room of this smaller château.

There will be time for a stroll in picturesque Saint-Émilion before our afternoon visit. This charming, small medieval town features on the UNESCO World Heritage list and is not to be missed.

We arrive back at our hotel in Bordeaux in the early evening. The rest of the evening is free for you to enjoy discovering the city centre. If you haven’t already done so, take a walk  and admire the magnificent architecture of the Old Town.

The Medieval town of Saint Emilion
The medieval town of Saint Emilion, copyright BKWine Photography
The Medieval town of Saint Emilion
The medieval town of Saint Emilion, copyright BKWine Photography

Wednesday, October 4 — Graves and Sauternes

Today we head south to the regions of Pessac-Léognan, Graves and Sauternes. Pessac-Léognan and Graves are known for red wines as well as dry white wines, while Sauternes makes some of the world’s most delicious sweet wines.

In the morning we will either visit a sauternes chateaux and learn about the “noble rotten grapes” that are the raw-material to the deliciously sweet sauternes wines. Or we will visit one of the most progressive and innovative wineries in the region, one that today does not have a famous name but that will be on tomorrow’s list of leading quality producers of red, white and rosé wines.

Lunch will be served in the elegant dining room of a grand château in the Pessac-Léognan area. An enclave in the Graves region, the Pessac-Léognan appellation was created in 1987. It is close to the city centre and today some of the châteaux are totally surrounded by suburban housing.

We will visit the vineyard and the cellar before enjoying a lunch prepared by an extremely talented chef and paired with a selection of excellent wines, creating a gastronomic experience worthy of a Michelin-starred restaurant.

In the afternoon we will have our last visit of the day at a château in the Graves appellation where our group will taste both red and white wines.

The white wines of Bordeaux are truly magnificent and well worth trying, particularly as today, less than 10% of wines made in Bordeaux are white. Compare this with 50 years ago, when white wine accounted for half of this region’s production, and you will understand that this is an excellent opportunity to taste some of the best examples of what is a shrinking category.

We will be back in Bordeaux in the afternoon and you will have some time to rest before we meet again for our great farewell dinner.

Grapes ready for harvest in Bordeaux
Grapes ready for harvest in Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography
Grapes ready for harvest in Bordeaux
Grapes ready for harvest in Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography

Thursday, October 5 — Heading back home

The tour ends after breakfast. Departure.

There may be changes to some details of the programme, e.g. which wineries we visit. We put great effort into making your visits both exceptional and memorable. For this reason we often visit other than the most obvious, big-name producers (where there are often a number of guides employed). Instead we chose to give you a more unique, personal experience at our carefully selected estates, often (but not always) meeting the owner or the winemaker.

Go For It!

We’d love to have you with us.

Decanting wine and preparing the tasting, Bordeaux
Decanting wine and preparing the tasting, Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography
Decanting wine and preparing the tasting
Decanting wine and preparing the tasting, Bordeaux, copyright BKWine Photography

Even more info

We have written a lot about Champagne and about wine touring in the region, what to do and what to expect.

We have also written a lot about Bordeaux and about wine touring in the region, what to do and what to expect.

The Champagne Wine Book

One of the many internationally award winning wine books we, the BKWine Tours founders, have written is on Champagne, but unfortunately it is not currently available in English. It is called “Champagne, the Wine and the Growers“, winner of “best book on French wine” in the Gourmand Awards.

Champagne, the Wine and the Growers is our ninth book (we’ve done more than ten now). It gives you everything you could need to know about champagne. Having written this book and many others, we feel confident that you will enjoy an extremely competent, top quality tour experience with us. 

As far as we know, no other wine tour operator has a track record of authoring ten or more wine books, so you can feel confident that you will get the most competent and high-quality wine tour with BKWine.

Champagne Book, Britt Karlsson, Per Karlsson
The Champagne Book, by Britt Karlsson & Per Karlsson

The Bordeaux Wine Book

One of the many internationally award winning wine books we, the BKWine Tours founders, have written is on Bordeaux, but unfortunately it is not currently available in English.

As far as we know, no other wine tour operator has a track record of authoring ten or more wine books, so you can feel confident that you will get the most competent and high-quality wine tour with BKWine.

Bordeaux-vinerna-distrikten-producenterna-Book cover

More wine books

We have written more than ten wine books. They have won both national and international wine writing awards.

No other wine tour organiser has a comparable knowledge, competence and experience.

A collection of wine books written by BKWine

Tour Details — Champagne and Bordeaux Wine Tour

Dates: September 27 – October 5, 2023

Price per person: 4,900 euro

Single room supplement: 660 euro

Included in the price:

  • 8 hotel nights, good quality, mid-range European-style hotel, double occupancy, including breakfast
    • 4 nights in 4-star hotel Hôtel Continental, centrally located in Reims
    • 4 nights in 4-star hotel Hôtel Normandie, centrally located in Bordeaux
  • Meals as described in the programme above (*):
    • 3 gastronomic “champagne all the way” lunches
    • 3 gastronomic multi-course lunches including prestigious wines; at least 2 of the lunches at a wine château
    • 2 multi-course dinners: welcome dinner in Reims (incl. champagnes), and farewell dinner in Bordeaux (incl. wines)
  • Start point: Reims
  • End point: Bordeaux
  • Bus transport throughout the whole trip
  • Train tickets, first class, for transfer from Reims to Bordeaux (over Paris)
  • All vineyard and winery visits
  • Private, high-quality tastings at wineries, approx. 3 per day
  • Interpretation from French as needed (many visits will be in English)
  • Wine guiding and wine tutoring by an expert BKWine guide

(*) See below for more important information on our meals.

Not included:

  • Travel (flights etc) to the destination and back to your home location.
  • Taxi transfer between railway stations in Paris
  • Taxi transfer from railway station in Bordeaux to hotel

You are responsible for organising your travel to Reims and from Bordeaux yourself.

If you would like assistance organising your flight tickets etc, please contact us.

We warmly recommend that you plan a few extra days here if you have the time. It is a very interesting place and well worth some regular, non-wine related tourism too. We can assist you with booking additional hotel nights as needed.

For this tour to take place we must have a minimum of 6 participants registered by the “book before” date. Maximum number of tour participants: 12.

Book This Tour

Book before: June 15, 2023 Only a few places left. Book now!

Booking is confirmed by paying the booking fee of 900 euro. Full payment should be received at the latest one month before the departure date (see our terms and conditions). Details on how to pay will be sent to you when you register.

It is important that your read our travel booking terms and conditions.

We also invite you to read more on why you should travel with BKWine, about customer protection, and about what you can expect from our wine tours in the section below “More on our wine tours”.

You book by contacting Britt Karlsson, BKWine:

  • phone: +33 1 58 88 04 66 or +33 6 80 45 35 70 (+33 is the country code for France)
  • Skype: “bkwine”. Call us on skype.
  • email: info@bkwine.com, or use the contact form below

“I want to book this tour” or “I want more info”

* = required

Important: We automatically send you a copy of this email when you submit it. If you have not received it within a few minutes: 1) check your spam folder, 2) consider resending it, you might have misspelled your email address. Or simply send us a normal email using our address noted just above.

Share this tour programme with your friends

Maybe your friends want to come with you on this wine tour? Let them know about the programme and ask if they’d like to join you. Share the info on social networks or send an email to your friends:

More on our wine tours

Why travel with BKWine?

We are Britt and Per Karlsson. We are specialists in wine and food tours and wine tourism, but also experts in wine in general. We are internationally published wine writers and have written ten award-winning wine books.

No other tour operator has a comparable knowledge and experience of wine, wine regions, wine tourism and gourmet travel.

We have organised hundreds of wine and food tours, and this is what we love to do. We take it very seriously – it is not a sideline or a hobby – and what we want more than anything is to share all these wonderful experiences with you.

All our tours are led and managed by guides who have in-depth wine knowledge, and in many cases we lead the tours ourselves.

Read more on why you should choose BKWine for your wine and food tour.

Thousands of happy customers

Over the years, thousands of wine lovers have travelled with us. Many come back to tour again and again with BKWine to new wine regions. Our record-breaking client has been on more than ten BKWine tours. We are happy and proud to have such faithful customers.

Read more on what travellers have said about our tours.

Awards and Mentions

We’re pleased and proud to have received many accolades, including:

  • “World’s Top Wine Tours”, Travel+Leisure Magazine, the world’s biggest travel magazine
  • “Best wine tasting holidays”, AOL Travel’s list of top wine tours
  • “Recommended Wine Tours”, Munskänkarna, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • “World’s Best Wine Book for Professionals” as well as “Best Wine Book of the Year”, Gourmand International awards, and many other book prizes
  • Three OIV book awards, International Organisation of Vine and Wine
  • “Wine Personality of the Year”, an honour bestowed on Britt Karlsson by Munskänkarna in 2011, the world’s biggest wine appreciation association
  • Inclusion on the Wine Media Power List, by Wine Business International magazine

About the wine producers and wineries we visit

Our aim is for you to experience some of the very best and most interesting aspects of the wine world, in terms of wine and food.

We put great effort into creating outstanding winery visits, and in this way we are quite different to many wine tour organisers. It is not always the most renowned, internationally known estates that offer the best experiences. Organising a wine tour featuring famous names of the wine world is relatively easy: it is merely a question of making lists and ticking boxes. On those kind of “bucket list” wine tours, you rarely meet the winemaker or the owner. You will simply be one of thousands of visitors they receive each year.

We do things differently. With BKWine Tours, you will meet the people behind the label, often the winemakers and/or the owners. Thanks to them, you will have a unique, truly personal experience and an insight into the wine world that no one else can offer. When you travel with BKWine, you are more like a special guest than a tourist.

We have personal connections and unparalleled knowledge thanks to more than 20 years as wine journalists, with 10 wine books published, and as wine tour organisers with more than 30 years’ experience. You can be sure of getting the best wine travel experiences with BKWine Tours.

Read more on the wine producers and wineries we visit.

A true gourmet experience: food and gastronomy

For us, wine and food are intimately linked, and this is a fundamental part of our wine travel philosophy. For this reason, a wine tour with BKWine is always an outstanding culinary experience both for the wine enthusiast and for the gourmet. A BKWine tour is a gastronomic voyage that explores the deep relationship between food and wine.

Read more On Meals: Food and Gastronomy on Our Tours.

Customer Protection,  Financial Travel Guarantee, and Terms and Conditions

You can always feel safe when you book your tour with BKWine. BKWine has a bonded bank guarantee that gives full protection according to EU and Swedish law. BKWine is a Swedish limited company and as such is regulated by strict rules.

Read more on Customer Protection, Financial Travel Guarantee. and our Terms and Conditions.

When you book a tour it is important that you read the terms and conditions. BKWine’s booking terms and conditions follow the guidelines developed by the Consumer Protection Agency.

Health, vaccination and allergies

Our tours have no particular health requirements although inevitably we will be walking a certain amount in wine cellars and vineyards. Sensible footwear is a must.

Most of our travel destinations have no particular health guidelines or requirements for vaccinations or medical certificates, but if in doubt, you should always consult a medical professional, vaccination centre or relevant embassy in your country of origin.

We can always accommodate food allergies. However, in order for us to manage such requests you must let us know about any allergies before the tour starts.

Read more in our FAQ and in our Terms and Conditions.

Travel insurance

BKWine does not sell travel insurance. If you want travel insurance, check if your regular home insurance policy includes some kind of travel insurance, or contact your regular insurance company or a travel insurance specialist.

Custom Tours

We also offer custom wine and food tours if you want to travel on different dates, or if you want something different to what we currently offer on our scheduled tours. This tailor-made service can be offered for individuals, companies, professionals, wine tastings clubs etc.

Important information

Our groups are always small. The number of people in the group may vary. The maximum can range from 8 to around 20; check the details in each programme. But our groups are always modest in size. This is important because it guarantees a quality experience and a personal welcome at the wineries we visit.

Read the BKWine Booking Terms and Conditions here. They are important to you!

You are expected to organise your travel independently to the destination for most of our tours, but once you are at the location, we take care of everything.

For more inspiration

Read our wine travel blog. For more, read our online wine magazine the BKWine Magazine with articles from all over the wine world.

And also:

  • Recommend this trip to a friend using the share buttons below

Newsletter on wine

Subscribe to our free wine and travel newsletter, the BKWine Brief. Each month, it gives you news from the world of wine, restaurant recommendations, tips on our favourite wine producers and much more. It will also keep you updated on forthcoming wine and food tours.

Continue reading: Champagne and Bordeaux, September 27 – October 5, 2023


The post Champagne and Bordeaux, September 27 – October 5, 2023 was originally published on BKWine Tours and written by Britt Karlsson. Copyright BKWine and BKWine Tours. If you see it published elsewhere in full it has been republished without our permission.

BKWine Tours - Discover and Enjoy Wine with Us, the Real Wine Experience



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