Since she’s originally from Central America and we are blessed to travel to South America on a regular basis, we wanted to try something new to both of us.  Additionally, my family fled parts of Eastern Europe before World War II, so we decided to forgo the normal beach and sun spots, for a city with much more history: Prague.

Old town square, Prague, Czech Republic by Claire for Europe Explored

The capital of the Czech Republic (America’s of a certain age are likely still calling it Czechoslovakia) Prague is a historic city, largely spared destruction during both world war’s because Czechoslovakia was among the first conquered countries during both wars. That leaves the country will an interesting and still developing culture, as well as one of the most picturesque cities in the world.

My memories of Prague are still vivid despite being there close to a decade ago.  My first memory is that of my wife being in essence trapped at the airport, behind two huge metal doors which shut, as they allow only one person at a time to pass through customs.  Eventually they figured out a quirk or two with her passport and we were in a cab going toward the city center.  It’s an interesting and thought provoking drive.  You leave the airport and see row, after row, after row of Soviet era housing projects.  Then, almost majestically you see the spire of the Castle looming over the river in the distance.

Vltava river and Prague Castle, Czech Republic by Claire for Europe Explored

As you get closer to central Prague, the streets turn to cobblestones, traffic slows and you are instantly entered into a city which looks like something of a fairy tale.

Since we there on our honeymoon and had close to a week to explore, we decided to rent a small hotel room with a winter garden across the street from the Castle.  The area is more residential than the area by the historic city center, where most tourists spend their time.  But, it’s cheaper (we paid about $60 for around 250sq feet) and feels a lot more authentic.

Of course, getting down to the square and the city center is pretty easy and it involved about the prettiest part of a walk I’ve ever been on, being able to wander across the Charles Bridge, which was built in the 14th century.  It’s gorgeous and is a good reminder of something that the locals told us often: Paris is the other European city built around a river.

Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic by Claire for Europe Explored

Lastly, I have to mention the one thing that sticks out in my mind more than anything else.  I own and operate a wine business, so I’m not exactly afraid of alcohol.  That being said, it was incredible to see the amount of beer that the locals go through.  In fact, they go through so much, my wife learned rather quickly that the universal sign for I’m Done! Is putting your coaster on top of your mug. I won’t admit to ever having done that myself, but the beer was memorable for a number of reasons.  After all, the Czech Republic is home to the original Budweiser and Pilsner seems to be being made on virtually every street corner.  The quality of course, would make even the best microbrew here in America, blush!

Mark Aselstine is the owner of Uncorked Ventures.  He loves to travel and is insane enough to bring his toddler on international flights, thereby amazing his fellow passengers when they realize the toddler knows exactly how to behave.

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A wine tasting trip is a great way to give an interesting focus to a holiday. It’s fun, sociable and, contrary to popular opinion, is just as enjoyable for those who know very little about wine!

Wine shop by Claire (Europe Explored)

Where to Go

In order for wine to be produced, there needs to be lots of sun. Luckily for you, that means that any wine region that you choose to visit is likely to have very good weather while you are there.

If you are relatively new to wine tasting then it doesn’t really matter which wine region you visit to start with. Most regions will use a variety of different grapes to produce their wine so you will get to taste a variety of different wines. If you choose to go on an organised wine holiday, you may even be able to taste wines from neighbouring regions.

One of the primary considerations when you are planning a wine tasting holiday is what you will do when you aren’t tasting the local wines. For example, if you are into gardens or architecture you might choose to visit the Loire Valley wine region in France rather than some of the regions that are further south.

Vineyard in the Loire Valley near Chinon, France by La Chiquita

Who to Go With

Wine tasting is an incredibly sociable activity.  Who you choose to accompany you on your trip can be a very important decision. Though wine tasting has always appealed to older people, it’s not a rule. If you have children who are now in their 20s, maybe a wine tasting holiday would be something you would both enjoy? This is especially true if you are new to wine tasting yourself. You can learn the ropes together. This can be great fun and add a completely new dimension to a holiday.

Booking Your Holiday

There are a number of ways to book a wine tasting holiday. The most obvious, but not always the best, option is to book the whole holiday from a tour operator. There are a number of operators who specialise in wine tasting trips; just be careful you don’t pay over the odds. The second option is to book your flights and accommodation separately and then sign up for a locally organised wine tasting programme.  This can be preferable because you are able to benefit from local knowledge (very important when it comes to wine). Lastly, you might choose to book your accommodation and then simply make it up as you go along! This can be a little hit and miss, but it’s certainly the most fun!

Victoria Wills is the owner of Chateau de Milly which is set right in the heard of the Loire Valley. Chateau de Milly is available for rental throughout the year and is a perfect base for a wine tasting trip.

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The oldest monument in Orvieto from the Etruscan period are remnants of the temple Tempio del Belvedere. Impressive is also the Etruscan Necropolis located under the Orvieto rock. The most representative medieval sight is Duomo from the late 13 century. From modern monuments there is a well Pozzo di San Patrizio.

In Orvieto local residents still maintain their traditions. Almost in every part of the year, there are held various cultural events and celebrations. Every year in mid-May, there is for example the Festa della Palombella – celebrations established by noble family already in the 15th century. There is also Palio dell’Oca – competition established by noble families. At the beginning of October you can attend celebrations Orvieto con gusto, where you can taste their typical products.

The famous products are olive oil and excellent wines, red, white or rose.

View Orvieto – the city of artistic and architectural treasures and wine traditions in Italy in a larger map

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When you see on a bottle of wine, a reference to Sienese Chianti then you know that the wine comes from province of Siena. At the same time Florentine Chianti comes from the province of Florence. However, all of them belong to the Chianti wine region.

Chianti, Italy by H. Hoffmeister

The entire region features gently rolling hills that are covered in large vineyards, small olive groves and many countryside villages. The homes and villages throughout the countryside are all made of stone and bring to mind the many pictures that one sees of the wine regions of Italy. The region is so beautiful, that they have inspired postcards, photographs and calendars which are distributed throughout the world today.

Every year, the many vineyards throughout the Chianti region annual produce more than eight million cases of some of the finest wines in Italy. The region is known to produce the largest volume of wines that are available throughout Italy.

There are several popular destinations throughout the Chianti region to stay. From these you can join any number of guided tours throughout the countryside. You will be able to stop and visit some of the finest wineries in Italy and even be able to taste a glass or too as you go. While it is great to visit Rome, the crowds can just be too much. For a more restful Italian get-away, millions of people over the years have opted to visit the Chianti region instead.

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It is good to conclude a travel insurance. Citizens of EU have the right to use necessary and urgent treatment. For visiting a doctor you have to pay 20 euros.

France is since 2002 the part of eurozone. Money in cash and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, airports, post offices and nearly all hotels. Also credit cards are widely accepted almost everywhere, operates a dense network of ATMs. The amount that can be imported into France is unlimited.

If you travel with your pet, it is necessary to have a European passport issued and completed by the veterinarian. In addition, the animal must be vaccinated against rabies and identified either with a chip or tattoo. Animals younger than 3 months cannot be imported into France.

France is stretched in Western Europe at the Atlantic coast. The republic also includes the island of Corsica and 4 overseas departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Reunion, as well as St Pierre and Miquelon, Mayotte, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna Islands. In France, there is a very diverse landscape and there are large differences between regions. The country has few large cities such as Paris, Lyon or Marseille, otherwise it is primarily a country of villages, which are gathered together in the smallest administrative units – communes.

France offers a huge number of monuments, we would need several years to visit all of them. There is a huge number of ways how to spend your spare time. Water sports certainly can not be forgotten. The level of pollution over the years has been steadily improved and is regularly measured and monitored. If you rather prefer more privacy, we recommend the beach to the north, in Brittany and Normandy. You can rent windsurfing or even larger ship with crew, which will certainly get you the experience of a lifetime. If you prefer to remain in the country, you can canoeing on the French rivers. Canoeing in the middle of beautiful forests certainly has its charm. France may be called the land of festivals. You will always have a chance to experience the atmosphere of some of the traditional and less traditional celebrations. Whether it is a carnival in Nice in February, international film festival in Cannes in May, bullfighting on the summer solstice in the Roman amphitheater in Nimes and wine festival in Burgundy in November.

France has a well-developed road network. There are highways on which you have to pay fees – “péage” and which are the fastest road routes. There is no problem to rent a car here, but it’s quite expensive. Better you do if you rent a car before you leave by your travel agent, but only if you are over 21 years, and if you have a valid driving license for at least 3 years. In July and August, when children have summer holidays the roads are often overcrowded and busy.

You have to be lucky when you need to park a car. In some cities, however, you can use blue zones where parking is free in one hour. The use of radar detectors is prohibited in France and punished by high fine.

Train services between Paris and other larger cities are provided by the SNCF – French National Railways. If you purchase a ticket, it is worth to buy a seat reservation, which is sold separately. All major cities can be reached by high-speed train TGV. There are also Motorail links, which also carry passengers with their cars or motorbikes. Train ticket is valid for 24 hours and must be marked in a special razor at the entrance to the platform.

French cuisine is unique in the world. It is extremely varied and suitable for every gourmet. Dining has always been a pleasure for the French. Their lunch often takes 2 hours. It consists of a starter, main course, vegetables, dessert, fruit, cheese or sweet dessert. Vegetables cannot miss in any dish, either in raw or modified form. The most common vegetables are artichokes, spinach or eggplant. French favorite meat is from sheep, poultry and venison. The menu also offers various steaks known as Chateaubriand, tournedos or Rumsteak, or with entrecote, which can be compared with roast beef. French national dish is rabbit, in all ways. As the France is the maritime country, it is obvious that they love seafood dishes. Among the real delights are crawfish, lobster, shrimp and sea urchins. The greatest speciality of French cuisine are snails and frogs’ legs. France is also a leading producer of cheese and you can choose here from up to 400 kinds of cheese. The table must also never miss a typical French Bread and the Baguette bread.

France is also a country of very good wines, which are served with every meal. No other country in the world can compete with France in diversity, tradition and prestige of wine art. The finest wines are considered Burgundy wines.

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