At Nota Bene, we consider an excellent sommelier to be like gold dust—someone with passion and depth of knowledge who listens to you and enhances your wine experience with the insight of a true expert.
Many of our clients are wine enthusiasts, and we are constantly on the lookout for unique vineyards and wine estates that will delight and surprise even the most knowledgeable connoisseurs. Some of our more niche, specialist trips are based on fine wines alone.
From the Sicilian slopes of Mount Etna and high-altitude Greek grape varieties to the hills and clay-limestone soils of Provence and historic vineyards of the Iberian Peninsula, our highly personalised wine experiences include expert advice on investing, collecting, transportation, storage, and creating a home cellar.
Whether Europe, Chile, New Zealand, California or South Africa, tap into our team, and we’ll work alongside winemakers, winery owners, vintners, and leading wine asset managers to create something tailored entirely to your tastes, guaranteeing a range of exclusive, previously unthought-of suggestions.
Here are just a few of the areas we’ve focused on for wine-specific itineraries:
Spain
Perhaps best known for its red blends, including full-bodied Rioja variants like Tempranillo and richly-coloured, robust reds from Ribera del Duero, Rías Baixas produces some of the world’s leading white wines, famous for the saline Albariño grape variety that thrives in high altitude vineyards close to the sea. With advancements in wine-producing techniques, climatic variations, many indigenous grape varieties, and a long history of winemaking, the fine wine market is becoming increasingly exciting in Spain.
We curate exquisite wine-led journeys throughout the country, including a superb private estate in Castilla-La Mancha where guests can visit several impressive boutique wineries alongside sensational gastronomy, horse-riding, falconry and quad bike experiences. Combine with a few nights in the elegant and energetic capital city of Madrid for restaurants, upscale shopping, and some of the world’s finest museums and art galleries, including the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza.
Greece
More under the radar than its European counterparts, Greece is still one of the world’s oldest wine-producing countries with a splendid history that dates back thousands of years. In recent years, wines from the Peloponnese region have made a serious comeback, and there are some exceptional boutique wineries in its varied terrains. Near the town of Nafplio, the ancient site of Nemea grows the Greek Agiorgitiko grape, producing some of the finest red wines in Greece. Homer named this area Ampeloessa, meaning “full of vines”, a legacy that has continued to this day. Working with some of the finest private villas in Greece, we often combine the Peloponnese with the Cyclades islands, including Santorini, home to some of the oldest vineyards where grapes are grown in volcanic soil.
Northern Italy
Italy produces a seemingly endless variety of spectacular wines – the entire country is renowned for its sensational gastronomy and diverse viticulture. The exquisitely beautiful Tuscan landscape is a treasure trove of culinary delights and wine offerings, with some of Italy’s most magnificent countryside estates and world-renowned Sassicaia wines, highly sought-after by collectors and wine enthusiasts.
During the autumn months, with its amber and apricot hues, Piedmont’s hilly Langhe region unfolds with the Alba International White Truffle Fair, an opportunity to taste white truffles and beautiful red wine varieties such as Barolo and Barbaresco.
In the Florentine upper Arno valley, on the outskirts of Figline Valdarno, highlights include eleven hectares of biodynamic vineyards at the region’s most upscale private residence. Further north, in the eastern part of the hills of Verona, the Soave region produces some excellent white wines, particularly those made in the organic vineyards at the foothills of the Lessini Mountains. For a broader Veneto experience, travellers should consider a few days in Venice for contemporary art at the Biennale, excellent hotel offerings, and some world-class restaurant offerings within the city and its islands.
Next month, we’ll be in Porto, exploring the Douro Valley and uncovering some of its finest wines, boat experiences, and culinary offerings. For more on Nota Bene’s favourite wine journeys, CONTACT OUR TEAM.