Our 2012 Programme

With other professional colleagues we have been arranging wine tours for over 20 years and always travel by coach which travels with us all the way. This gives us a great deal of flexability and total control over the tour and most importantly, it enables you the customer to bring back quite a large amount of quality local wines at very keen prices. Indeed most of the wines are often not available in the UK.

Most of our tours are for private groups such as Wine Cubs and Societies, Corporate bodies, Travel Clubs, Members of U3A or Rotary Clubs, Newspapers, Magazines and so on. It may also be possible, after consultaion for private clients to join arranged WineHolidays/groups,

Our policy is to have, usually, two tastings each day with provision for local sightseeing included. Staying at comfortable hotels, usually of at least 3* standard,which means all rooms have private facilities, a buffet breakfast and one meal per day is included, which can either be lunch or dinner, dependent upon the circumstances.

We are also more than happy to split the tours for some groups, creating our Heritage and Wine Tours 

All travel is by executive coach which will have air-conditioning, reclining seats and washroom/WC. Rooms at all the hotels and cabins on board ship have private facilities.

Please note Brittany Ferries now operate thier Spanish (Santander) route from both Plymouth and Portsmouth. Individual itineraries can be easily adjusted to suit the new times of journey.

Our aim is to enlighten the wine holidaymaker offering advice and knowledge throughout the tour. Wine Holidays are designed for both amateur and the experienced imbiber alike, who wish to learn more and accept excellent advice when purchasing low-cost tax-paid wines to bring home.

All tours hosted by Wine and Food Writer and Broadcaster, Stephen Barrett, see website stephenbarrett.com, whose experience spans over 30 years and who has been fully employed on the Wine Lecturing circuit for the past dozen or so years. In the unlikely event of Stephen not being able to host a tour an experienced colleague/Wine Educator will be seconded.

                                                               Loire Valley 2011

Places available for a 5-Day WineHoliday to Loire Valley start with an overnight on Brittany Ferries, Sunday 25th September from Plymouth's Millbay Docks. Only £565 each based on two persons sharing. Plenty of variation, Three Star Hotel in Saumur, Excellent lunches, suit members of Wine Clubs, U3A, Rotary etc. Full itinerary available. Contact at the first instant scb@stephenbarrett.com

Note - This was an excellent WineHoliday and can be customised for parties of 22 and upwards. Do contact Stephen for more information and discuss your club or group requirements. 

Pick - Up Points

We would be more than happy to pick -up and return your group at a pre-prescribed location. This might incure extra coach charges as drivers/driving regulations will have to be considered.  At Dover we can arrange parking for you; at Portsmouth, it is a turn up and park system just inside the Ferry terminal; at Plymouth car parking is turn up and pay at the Terminal.

Private Groups

We'll discuss a wine tour to any region of Europe and in these circumstances we bring the coach to your selected pick up point. You need to inform us the date of departure, where you'd like to go and how many participants you anticipate. Short (Three Day) tours also offered for businesses, study groups etc.

                        New for 2012 - Wine and Golf Tours to Rioja and Bordeaux

                                                   A new service for Golf and Non-Golf lovers.

Would you like to combine Wine and Golf? Moreover would non-playing golfers like to visit incredible Wine destinations such as Rioja and Bordeaux where outstanding Chateaux and Bodegas sit cheek by jowl with top-rated Golf Courses. Whilst the Golfers play Golf we are able to organise Wine and Heritage tours for this duration. Golf finished? simple - Meet for lunch or another Winery visit and finish the day together at a relaxing hotel (some with Spa for the non-players) over a sumptuous regional dinner. 

Or simply rally the Golfers in your Golf Club and come with us as a group to experience a customised Wine and Golf Tour as a solo body.

 Your first point of contact is Stephen Barrett via email or phone. We will liaise with our expert partners at the Brittany Ferries Golf Desk and combine a wonderful Wine and Golf Holiday for Golf Club Members and their non-playing partners. Our 49-seater air-conditioned coach will pick up and return the Wine and Golf groups from all UK destinations.

We have plenty of room on board the coach for golf clubs and wine from our chosen Chateaux and Bodegas.

                                         New for 2012 - Devon Wine Tours

With around eight wineries, mainly around the River Exe and Exeter,  now in full production we are happy to announce our new                                                                                  service for 2012, Devon Wine Tours.

We would be more then happy to arrange a One-Day tour with Lunch, Two-Day Tour with excellent overnight Devon Pub accommodation including a Tasting Supper or an excellent Devon Wine Weekend for small groups in a Country Hotel for Wine Clubs, business incentive programmes, Rotary, U3A or similar interested groups. For some of these events we may have to use Mini-Coaches or River Ferries as some of the wineries have inaccessible routes/entrances for our larger 49-seater coach. It's all part of the adventure! Also more than happy to include Camel Valley Wines and Polgoon Winery in Cornwall as alternative tours.

First stop - contact Stephen Barrett via email or phone to discuss ideas and requirements.

                      Wine Tasting or Tasting Wine! with Stephen Barrett

Wine Educator and Restaurateur Stephen Barrett would be very happy to arrange a customised Wine Tasting and Q and A session for interested parties. Wines that would be expected to be tasted on your chosen WineHoliday or destination can be easily arranged. Charges will vary depending on location and wines chosen. Contact Stephen at the first instant.

We look forward to your comments and questions.

You choose your favourite French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or Devon destination and we do the rest.