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The most delicious wine hotels of the moment
In its dazzling development, wine-related tourism satisfies a sybaritic public avid for gourmet and nature experiences. Spain is firmly advancing in this field and has now become a world-renowned standard in wine tourism.
Luxury wine tourism is localised principally in South Africa, in the Napa Valley (USA), Portugal, Spain, Italy, Argentina and France. The accommodation dedicated to learning about and tasting the wine as an integral experience blends in perfectly with the surroundings. The number of rooms is small, in order to offer the client a greater degree of privacy. Like a vast green sea, the vineyards configure a beautiful landscape and provide a haven of peace and calm. A perfect atmosphere in which to enjoy an exquisite wine tasting.
Guests have the possibility of enjoying the surroundings, visiting the vineyards, discovering the secrets of a winery and practising outdoor sports such as golf. Spas are a welcome feature among the public that takes up the offering of these wine retreats. Among the facilities of this kind of hotel it is commonplace to find a seductive swimming pool, with each room having a private one in some cases, as well as haute cuisine restaurants. The menus on offer make a perfect pairing with the local wines.
Coupled with the Architecture
The professionals of wine tourism are committed to avant-garde designer constructions; for example, the Hotel Marqués de Riscal is a project by Frank Gehry (Pritzker Prize 1991). Equally, old castles and abandoned Renaissance villas are refurbished and transformed into unique venues for enjoying the wine and the surroundings. The Italian region of Tuscany boasts several establishments of this type.
Spain is a latecomer to this type of wine tourism. The benchmark is still the Napa Valley (USA), with fabulous stately facilities for enjoying the wine and its context. Good examples of this are the two complexes included in our ‘Top 10’.
A different kind of traveller
There is no doubt that this type of wine tourism is an alternative for those who wish to do something more than look at and photograph monuments on their journey. The traveller profile is that of a gastronomy lover, a fan of good wines and someone who wishes to learn through wine tastings. They like nature and the open air. This is also an interesting activity for families, as the hotels are fitting out their facilities to accommodate the youngest members.
In turn, the sector that lives and works in the field of wine has increasingly found a financial route through which to augment and diversify its principal activity. Added to the tours of wineries are tasting courses, taking part in the harvest, wine museums and shops that sell products connected with the drink that once captivated Bacchus.
The Great Wine Capitals organisation has become an authority on wine tourism. Its annual prizes, Global Best Of Wine, recognise the sector's worldwide and national excellence in innovation, accommodation, fine dining, services, etc. This year's absolute winner is a Spanish hostelry: the Villa de Laguardia Hotel, included in our ‘Top 10’ worldwide.
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Published in Tourist and Adventure Travels by Mónica González y Galo Martín on 17/05/2011
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