If you are a follower of our blogs, you will have realised by now that we are quite partial to a glass of fine wine.   A taste we acquired while living in Spain for almost 10 years, wine has become a passion of ours, and while we do our best to collect fine vintages wherever we travel, they rarely last long enough to gather dust in the wine cellar!

Old world Spanish wines are in a class of their own, and whether you enjoy the full-bodied richness of the red wines produced in Ribera Del Duero, or the smooth white varieties produced in Rias Baixas, you will find your perfect wine in Spain.

We first discovered New World Wines in Argentina, and are great fans of the rich Malbec produced in Mendoza and the sharp, crisp whites of Salta and Rio Negro. Fantastic wines that can easily compete with their ‘old world’ counterparts, Argentinean wines remain one of our firm favourites, and if you are interested in a new world wine tasting tour, Argentina is a great place to start.

South African wines are undoubtedly some of the best new world wines on earth, and after spending almost 2 years in the Western Cape, we visited many of the wineries based in the popular wine growing regions of Stellenbosch and Paarl – the perfect destination for wine connoisseurs!  Combining beautiful scenery with excellent hotels, fine dining opportunities and of course, delectable wines, the western cape of South Africa is a prime destination for those who wish to discover new world wines while on holiday.

New Zealand is another great wine producer and anyone with a passion for new world wines will appreciate the vast selection of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc produced in Marlborough, South Island and Hawkes Bay in the North Island.  A unique combination of soil, climate and water helps New Zealand produce these great wines, and one could easily spend 6 months travelling across the country tasting different wines along the way!

So if you are passionate about wine we can highly recommend you head below the equator – there is a whole new world just waiting to be discovered!

After all –  “Wine is the most civilized thing in the world.” Ernest Hemingway!