Singapore Flag
Singapore Sling.
Driving around Bulgaria recently we found entire villages where every garden grew grapes on pergolas visible along the high street (which Americans call main street).
Every wine producing country has its grapes, vineyards, wine producers, spirits and cocktails.
Vineyards Versus Wineries
First, some poeple would like to know the difference between a vineyard and a winery. You could grow grapes in a vineyard, and sell them to somebody else because you cannot afford to spend a thousand pounds on a new giant oak wood barrel, and to wait three or more years for the wine to mature in the barrel and then the bottle.
It can take three or four years to get a vine to produce grapes. Then, if you get great grapes and mature in in the barrel and the bottle, more years to produce a vintage. Some growers say they are planting vines and laying down wines for their grandchildren.
You could use your own grapes to make wine, having both an outdoor vineyard and an indoor winery (factory), which makes for a great visitor attraction. Especially if you add on a shop and a restaurant serving local food and wines.
Some people buy in grapes from several vineyards and blend them to make a wine which is consistent in taste over the years. They don't grow their own grapes, but buy locally, or import from other countries.
Europe: France, Italy, Spain, Greece
France is famous for Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais nouveau and Alsace.
Italy is popular for Prosecco and Asti. Asti.
Spain is known for Sangria and Rioja.
Portugal produces Port - and Mateus Rose.
Holidaymakers will remember ouzo from Greece.
Spirits and Cocktails
Spirits are high in alcohol, burn your throat and get you drunk quickly. So they are mixed with juices to make a longer drink.
Singapore Sling
Singapore's special symbolic drink is the Singapore Sling. Amusingly alliterative. A pink drink. Yes, Singapore Sling, the drink of Singapore.The place to have it is in the Raffles Bar in the Raffles hotel. Singapore Airlines serves it on request but in Economy it is not as exciting as in the hotel.
UK's Union Jack.
Britain produced Gin. Whisky is from Scotland and Ireland. Guinness from Ireland.
England has many vineyards and award-winning wines. Name one. Nyetimber, which means new timber.
Russian and Eastern Europe
Hungary, once known for Bull's blood is now known for its sweet wine, Tokaji. (Prounounced toe - kai.)
Russia and Eastern Europe are known for vodka.
America wins with bourbon.
Chile, South Africa, and New Zealand are also important wine producers.
Best vineyards to visit on a family holiday? In North America I would say California, for a theme park and supermarket atmosphere, best place to buy corkscrews, aprons, books.
UK
In Europe I rate the UK's Denbies, supermarket and indoor and outdoor tours. See both the grapes growing on the hills, one hillside in the shade and another in the sun, so you can instantly understand why two adjacent plots of land produce different wines.
In London you can take courses in wine at WSET and Berry Brothers & Rudd. You can also enjoy wine dinners at assorted clubs and wine bars.
Drive south to Denbies. Or drive North. Climate change has put the UK on the world's wineries maps.
I look for a place with a restaurant, a shop and a nearby restaurant and hotel. For me and the driver. Some UK hotels contain wine shops, such as The Old Bridge Hotel, Huntingdon, England has a revolving menu with matching wines and a wine shop.
Cellar Door has made a map of 200 wineries.
My husband Trevor Sharot is writing a book on wines. He has found 700 vineyards in the UK, 120 wineries. Around Britain, there are more in Wales, 22 vineyards. Drive north for the causeway to the mead producing area. On to Scotland to find whisky. On the ferry over to Ireland, and you can find Guinness; what's more numerous shop, selling nothing to do with wine, often have a bottle or two or more for sale in the shop or displayed in the window.
Southern UK is also known for cider, which you will find on the supermarket shelves in London.
France
From the UK we would drive to Paris. Through Normandy to the apple and pear region for wines and spirits. But the destination in mind is bound to be Champagne in France. Champagne is Champagne.
However, having done Champagne region and Rheims many times, my next must visit vineyard region area is Alsace because I just love sweet wines, white, rose and sparkling wines.
Flag of Spain
Then Rioja in north Spain which has a wine museum or two. Shops stock everything from silk scarves to table napkins with grape patterns. If you find red wines full of tannins give you a headache, you can probably cope with Sangria, red wine, white wine, fruit, refreshing.
New Zealand flag
New Zealand's BYO
If you happen to be in South Africa or New Zealand and like wine, try their wineries. In New Zealand once you have fastened on a wine style or brand you like you can take your own bottle of wine to Bring Your Own (BYO) restaurants.
All over the world you can book wine tours at wineries or take a morning or full day or whole week wine tour.
Useful Websites
Worldwide
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-7227995/The-worlds-50-best-vineyards-2019-named-producer-Argentina-ranked-first.html?ito=link_share_article-factbox
UK
https://www.winecellardoor.co.uk/directory/map/
RUSSIA
https://www.mircorp.com/visit-cristall-vodka-museum-moscow-russia/
See my other posts on Alsace wines, vineyards, the Old Bridge Hotel.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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