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Oenophile
/ˈiːnə(ʊ)fʌɪl/
– noun
A connoisseur of wines.

You’ll find them across the globe, with plenty in South Africa, because let’s face it, it’s tough not to love wine in a place that produces some of the best in the world.

For the average oenophile, (or anyone who enjoys a glass of fine wine), travelling from wine farm to wine farm, overseas and locally, is definitely up there on their bucket list.

To make sure that (once the world has this pandemic under control) you can plan the perfect getaway, Forbes rounded up a few of the best.

Bordeaux – France

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No wine-centred trip around the world would be complete without a visit to France.

For the perfect adventure, you’ll want to look into Untold Story Travel’s private, two-night Bordeaux =.

This includes an exclusive visit to the cellars of a private wine estate for a tasting with a master sommelier, as well as the opportunity to blend your own wine and design your own wine label.

You can arrange to have your personal wine shipped back to your home within six months.

Slovenia

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When one thinks wine, Slovenia isn’t the first place to come to mind.

But, according to Forbes, “Slovenia is the underrated country that should be on every oenophile’s radar for this year and beyond”.

If you like your wine with a first-class culinary experience you can book a Slovenia Culinary Holiday, complete with fine dining at Michelin-star restaurants and sommelier-hosted wine tastings in Maribor, the Slovenian city in the heart of wine country.

Cape Winelands – South Africa

Image: Anthonij Rupert Wyne

Forbes singles out wine tastings and tours in “the town of Franschhoek”.

If you’re looking for a range of experiences, we recommend booking an activity (or a few) at Anthonij Rupert Wyne, which offers an extensive list of things to do. There you’ll find something for everyone, from car lovers who will adore The Franschhoek Motor Museum, to the die-hard oenophile who will be in heaven while enjoying a L’Ormarins range of Cap Classique and nougat pairing (a particular favourite of mine), and a Cape of Good Hope white wine tasting.

Image: Anthonij Rupert Wyne

Other experiences include taking in the historic mid-nineteenth-century Cape Dutch Manor House while sipping on vintages, or sampling some of the wine farm’s Italian-inspired wines at the Terra del Capo Tasting Room.

Right now, with the current adjusted alert level 3 restrictions in place, they can’t sell alcohol to take away or drink onsite, but they have put together a list of wonderful alcohol-free experiences so that you can visit the farm, explore, and have a fantastic day out, regardless.

Douro – Portugal

Image: Scenic Cruises

Boasting one of the world’s oldest demarcated wine regions, Portugal’s Douro Valley is on the travel list of every oenophile worth their salt.

If you want to ramp up the luxury, you can explore via a luxury wine-themed cruise where you will sip Vino Verde at the nineteenth-century Quinta da Aveleda estate, drink rosé at the winery at Mateus Palace, and much more.

Catalonia – Spain

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If you’re keen to expand your social circle with like-minded wine lovers, you might enjoy Wild Frontiers’ new Walking and Wine in Catalonia group tour.

It’s all about showcasing the region’s range of wines produced by small and local winemakers, giving you a unique opportunity to try something that you wouldn’t be able to access otherwise.

While you wait for travel to become a little easier, why not brush up on a second language, or better yet, visit one of our local wine farms to get a lay of the land?

Because even during lockdown, you can take the oenophile out of the Winelands, but you’ll never take the love of the Winelands out of the oenophile.

[source:forbes]