European Wine Trip Summary
The 2013 Sonja's Boutique Group Trip was a wine immersion cruise that began in London and visited 2 ports in France, 2 ports in Spain and 1 in Portugal. The Boutique group arrived in London 2 days prior to boarding our cruise ship to be able to experience London sights and history. While in London we enjoyed:
After a busy two days, we left London and boarded our cruise ship to travel to our first port, Le Havre, France. Leaving the ship we traveled by train into Paris and spent 2 days seeing as much of this magnificent city as possible. Highlights of Paris included:
- Tours of West Minster Abbey and the Tower of London
- A professionally guided Royal London Walking Tour including a unique view of the daily procession of the Old Guard as they march to Buckingham Palace followed by the Changing of the Guard
- A sunset ride on the 443 foot high London Eye with spectacular views of the London landscape as the lights came on all over the city
- A cruise on the Thames River
- Lunch at Harrods tea room
- A professionally guided Rock-n-Roll/Beatles Walking Tour
After a busy two days, we left London and boarded our cruise ship to travel to our first port, Le Havre, France. Leaving the ship we traveled by train into Paris and spent 2 days seeing as much of this magnificent city as possible. Highlights of Paris included:
- Lodging at a glorious boutique hotel
- Lunch at a well known local creperie
- A guided walking tour of hidden gems in the Marais neighborhood
- Picnic at the Eiffel Tower with freshly prepared bread, butter, and brie topped off with fresh strawberries and, of course, a bottle of French wine
- Touring the Louvre and Arc de Triomphe
- The spectacular evening Eiffel Tower light show viewed from the top of the Tour Montparnasse
- Pere Lachaise Cemetery where Jim Morrison, Chopin, and Oscar Wilde are buried
- A walk through a neighborhood street market to see the various artisan wares including prepared food, art, clothing, fresh produce, bread, cheese and meats
- Stops at several side walk cafes for wine, coffee, and pastries, pastries, pastries!
Our Paris visit ended too soon but we were back on the ship and on to La Rochelle for a two-day excursion to the Bordeaux wine area. There we visited the quaint village of St. Emilion with its ancient cathedral and miles of underground caves, tunnels, and wine vaults that were carved out of limestone over a period of 300 years beginning in the 700's AD. We toured the region with a renowned Bordeaux wine expert and visited several chateau's learning their history and process of winemaking. One of them is owned by the Chanel family. We were lucky to visit during the fall harvest which allowed the added bonus of seeing the process of picking, sorting and pressing the grapes. Much of this is still done by hand using many of the same methods as hundreds of years ago. Another highlight was spending the night at a bed and breakfast in a French countryside chateau. We had the feeling we were approaching a small castle as we drove into the compound. The host and hostess greeted us the next morning with a very inviting table filled with freshly baked baguettes, croissants, cheese, meats, preserves, juice and coffee......quite a pleasant way to start our day!
From France we cruised on to Spain and docked in the port of Bilbao for a 2-day visit. Our local guide met us at the dock and we headed south for a full day of touring and tasting in the Rioja wine region. I chose 3 very different Bodegas for our tour to experience the diversity of Spanish winemaking--a small family owned business, an underground cellar in the ancient city of Laguardia, and a very large contemporary winery with very modern procedures and facilities. Each had its own special personality and of course we got to sample some of their best vintages. We were treated to a lunch of local specialties served in 6 courses including a different wine with each course!
We weren't done yet. We were on to Vigo, Spain for a day of walking through the local markets, shops, and sidewalk restaurants. We found a city full of wonderful fresh seafood......Lobster and Rice was my dish of choice for lunch. Others had the Paella and the Mussels and of course some Sangria to round out the meal!
From France we cruised on to Spain and docked in the port of Bilbao for a 2-day visit. Our local guide met us at the dock and we headed south for a full day of touring and tasting in the Rioja wine region. I chose 3 very different Bodegas for our tour to experience the diversity of Spanish winemaking--a small family owned business, an underground cellar in the ancient city of Laguardia, and a very large contemporary winery with very modern procedures and facilities. Each had its own special personality and of course we got to sample some of their best vintages. We were treated to a lunch of local specialties served in 6 courses including a different wine with each course!
We weren't done yet. We were on to Vigo, Spain for a day of walking through the local markets, shops, and sidewalk restaurants. We found a city full of wonderful fresh seafood......Lobster and Rice was my dish of choice for lunch. Others had the Paella and the Mussels and of course some Sangria to round out the meal!
After a full day, were back on the ship heading for our last port of call, Porto, Portugal the world-famous home to port wine. After a bus tour through the city we walked up the hills from the riverfront for a tour of a working port lodge (winery). Today many of the old lodges have been converted only to host tastings and aren't actually working lodges. I selected one for our group that was still a working operation for a very educational tour - and again, samples of various port wines. I had also arranged a special picnic just for my Boutique Group at the end of the tour. Each picnic basket was filled with fresh local food fare. We were escorted to a very pretty private courtyard that was part of the lodge where we thoroughly enjoyed our food and conversation.
Well, it had to come to an end. We cruised back to England, but before leaving London to return to the US I had arranged one last tour. We took a side trip to the village of Windsor and a tour of Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the official residence of the Queen. The village of Windsor is very quaint with plenty of shopping and sightseeing. It's not to be missed on your next trip to the UK.
As with each of our Boutique Group Trips, the Wine Immersion Cruise was a great time, with new friends made, fun and laughter, and a wealth of knowledge and cultural experiences for all! Below is a short video of our adventure!
I hope you will join me on one of my next Boutique Trips! Be sure to check our website for announcements and information.
Well, it had to come to an end. We cruised back to England, but before leaving London to return to the US I had arranged one last tour. We took a side trip to the village of Windsor and a tour of Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the official residence of the Queen. The village of Windsor is very quaint with plenty of shopping and sightseeing. It's not to be missed on your next trip to the UK.
As with each of our Boutique Group Trips, the Wine Immersion Cruise was a great time, with new friends made, fun and laughter, and a wealth of knowledge and cultural experiences for all! Below is a short video of our adventure!
I hope you will join me on one of my next Boutique Trips! Be sure to check our website for announcements and information.
