For those who have traveled with Luxury Gold, you’ll appreciate the amount of personal care, attention to detail and professionalism that goes into delivering that dream vacation. One past guest who can personally testify to the exceptional quality of a Luxury Gold journey is Sandy, who has traveled with us twice, with a third journey coming up.

She kindly agreed to talk to us about her experience of a Luxury Gold vacation, including her favorite destination to visit, and why she and her husband plan on taking more vacations with us in the future.

Hi Sandy. How did you first hear about Luxury Gold?

“We first heard about Luxury Gold via some friends we made on a river cruise. They sang the praises of Luxury Gold’s five-star hotels, Michelin-rated restaurants, expert guides, and brilliant Travel Concierges and drivers. The one thing they kept reiterating was the small number of people on each tour. It sounded like a dream vacation.”

Which journey did you end up booking?

“Right after Covid, we took our first Luxury Gold holiday: Spain and Portugal in Style. There were 17 of us. We had the most glorious time together, visiting Valencia and the orange blossom coast, the Alhambra Palace, Andalucia, Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon.

“Our tour director and driver were fantastically knowledgeable, and fluent Spanish speakers. Our tour director made lots of beautiful dinner reservations for us and booked various events along the way. She led us to pasteis de nata in Lisbon, found us Flamenco lessons in Seville and organized a horse and carriage ride, too. I fondly remember a Michelin star restaurant in Lisbon overlooking the city, and a fabulous former Portuguese convent with a winery. It was truly a dream vacation, and we were hooked.”

Did you follow Spain & Portugal with Italy with another journey?

“Yes. Our next trip was the Ultimate Italy journey. I loved Rome so much, and the Grand Hotel Quisisana in Capri was incredibly special – a real jewel. We took a cooking class in the hunting lodge of the Medici family in Tuscany and an art historian introduced us to Renaissance Florence. We saw the grottos and coves of the Capri coastline on a private cruise. Over the course of the journey, we traveled by water taxi, gondola, funicular, train and ferry. It felt like such an adventure.”

Two guests recline on Luxury Gold’s private boat tour of Capri

What is it about a Luxury Gold journey that keeps you coming back?

“We love that the opulence begins the moment you leave your house, and lasts until you get home. There’s so much one-on-one care, and everything is tailored to your needs – meals, events, concerts, tours, transport. You feel special, looked after, relaxed, which is the most important thing. In between the big moments, your tour guide will regale you with treats and stories from the region as you travel on your comfortable bus. You really get to sit back and relish it all.”

And do you have anything else booked?

“Our next tour will be Ultimate Southern France, ending in Paris. We look forward to it. It’s our dose of elegance. I feel like royalty when I travel with Luxury Gold.”

Want to experience the glamor of a Luxury Gold vacation for yourself? Explore our full catalogue of journeys here, or browse our luxury holidays in Spain.

For wine lovers, tasting wine isn’t just about sipping and swallowing; it’s an art form that engages all your senses. Whether you’re a novice wine enthusiast or a seasoned connoisseur, understanding the fundamentals of how to taste wine can enrich your appreciation of this ancient libation. From holding the glass to swirling the wine, there’s something deeply engaging about the experience. So, if you’re ready to elevate your wine-tasting experience to the level of a sommelier, we’ve put together a guide to help you get started.

Discover more about Luxury Gold’s Exceptional Dining offering.

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into the intricacies of how to taste wine, it’s essential to grasp the basics. Wine tasting involves observing the wine’s appearance, assessing its aroma, savoring its flavor, and evaluating its finish. Each step provides valuable insights into the wine’s character and quality.

1. Visual Examination

Begin by pouring a small amount of wine into a clear glass. Take your glass by the stem and hold it against a white background. Observe the wine’s color, clarity and viscosity. White wines range from pale straw to golden yellow, while red wines can vary from light ruby to deep purple. Swirl the wine gently to release its aromas and observe any legs or tears that form on the glass.

2. Aromatic Assessment

Next, bring the wine in your glass to your nose and inhale deeply. Take note of the bouquet, the wine’s smell, which encompasses its various aromas. Swirl the wine again to intensify the aromas before smelling it once more. Pay attention to fruit, floral, herbal and spice notes, as well as any oak or earthy undertones. Wine aromoas can also provide clues about its grape varietal, age and winemaking techniques.

3. Palate Pleasure

Now it’s time to taste the wine. Take a small sip and let it coat your entire palate. Notice the wine’s texture, acidity, sweetness and tannins. Is it light-bodied or full-bodied? Crisp and refreshing or smooth and velvety? Identify the primary flavors and secondary characteristics, such as minerality or oak influence. Consider the wine’s balance, complexity and length on the palate

4. Evaluating the Finish

Finally, assess the wine’s finish, also known as its aftertaste. Paying attention to how long the flavor lingers on your palate, is it pleasant and lingering or abrupt and short-lived? A wine’s finish can reveal additional nuances and insights into its overall quality and aging potential.

In Chile, visit Kingston Family Winery, a small boutique winery located in Casablanca Valley for an introduction to and tasting of their exquisite wines. on Classic South America.

For the ultimate wine tasting experience in Italy, ready about our Founder’s Collection: An exclusive invitation from La Famiglia Mazzei, a Tuscan wine dynasty

Developing Your Wine Palate

Becoming proficient at wine tasting takes time and practice. Key to the tasting experience is development of the pallette. For most people, chances are you’ve never really considered your palate. Our tongues hold up to 4,000 taste buds in five regions, but that is not the only place we taste. Here are some tips to help you hone your palate and refine your sensory skills:

Taste Widely: Explore a diverse range of wines from different regions, grape varieties, and styles. Experiment with both red and white wines to exoercise your tatse buds, as well as sparkling and dessert wines, to expand your tastepalate. Older wines often taste smoother and richer.

Take Notes: Keep a wine journal to record tasting notes of your experiences, including the wines you’ve tried, your observations and your preferences. Documenting your impressions can help you identify patterns and enhance your abilities of how to taste wine over time.

Seek Guidance: Attend wine tastings, classes, and workshops led by knowledgeable sommeliers and wine professionals. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek guidance from experts who can offer valuable insights and recommendations.

Trust Your Senses: While tasting wine like a sommelier involves analyzing its various components, it’s also important to trust your instincts and enjoy the experience.

In Tuscany, take a private tour of the Guardastelle estate with a wine expert to learn about the various grape varieties and visit the ancient cellars on Ultimate Italy, 

Bookmark for later: What to look for in a top-quality Pinot Noir, by wine expert Courtney Kingston

What to expect from some popular wines

Chardonnay is known for its versatility, offering a range of flavors from crisp green apple and citrus to creamy vanilla and buttery notes. Depending on the winemaking style, you may encounter oak influences such as toastiness and caramel. Coming from a cool climate wine region, expect a medium to full-bodied wine with moderate acidity.

A Cabernet Sauvignon typically features bold flavors of blackcurrant, black cherry and plum, complemented by hints of cedar and tobacco. It often has firm tannins and a full-bodied structure, with a long, satisfying finish. Look for wines with good acidity and aging potential.

Pinot Noir is renowned for its elegant and delicate profile, offering aromas of red fruits along with earthy and floral undertones. On the palate, expect a medium-bodied wine with silky tannins, vibrant acidity, and a smooth, lingering finish.

Last but not least, Sauvignon Blanc is known for its bright and zesty character, featuring aromas of citrus, green apple and tropical fruits like passion fruit and pineapple. It often exhibits herbal notes of grass, green bell pepper and gooseberry, with refreshing acidity and a crisp, clean finish.

Enjoy wine tastings with Luxury Gold in some of the world’s most iconic wine producing countries, including Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Chile, South Africa and Australia, with our worldwide collection of small group journeys.

To whet the palate: Exceptional Dining with Luxury Gold

Where do truffles grow?

One reason truffles are so expensive is that they don’t grow in every part of the world. Historically speaking, truffles were largely only found naturally in European countries like Italy, France, Spain and Slovenia. In recent years, some other countries in North America, South America and Asia have successfully started growing their own.  

You may also enjoy reading: 7 ways you’ll celebrate Tuscan food when you travel with Luxury Gold

How do truffles grow?

Truffles grow beneath trees in a symbiotic relationship by attaching their spores to the tree roots. The transfer of nutrients enables them both to grow. Most truffles grow beneath specific tree species, including hazelnut and poplar, which influence their taste and scent. 

Why are truffles expensive?

Truffles are expensive because they’re so rare to harvest. Grown naturally only in a few European countries, truffle hunting is a centuries-old practice in which truffle hunters rarely share their hunting grounds with anyone else. The most expensive truffles are white truffles found in Italy’s Piedmont region. The International Alba White Truffle Fair is the preeminent truffle fair where you’ll find the largest, most expensive truffles for sale.

Bookmark for later: Where to find the most rare and expensive food in the world  

Where can I hunt for truffles with truffle hunters? 

Luxury Gold’s Croatia & the Dalmatian Coast tour is a two week itinerary filled with unforgettable activities, including hunting for truffles with a local farmer in Istria. You can also hunt for truffles on our Ultimate Italy tour in Florence. Keep in mind that the best time to harvest white truffles is typically between September and November, though peak season may alter based on the summer season’s temperatures, spring’s rainfall, and if the holes where the prior year’s truffles were found were filled properly. Black truffle harvest is between April and October in some areas like Slovenia, and their bounty is also impacted by seasonal climate fluctuations.

Read more about truffle hunting: A day in the life of one of Croatia’s top truffle hunters

Where can I taste a truffle?

Although only found in select countries, you can taste truffles at restaurants across the world. Casa di Langa, a hotel just outside of Alba, Italy, has a restaurant with a case of fresh truffles you can choose from. Restaurant Zigante in Livade, Croatia, is another fantastic dining destination where truffles are blended in delicious ways, including in truffle ice cream.

You may also enjoy: Indulge your inner gourmet with these luxury food experiences

Italy

Italy is the epicenter for truffles. When the most expensive truffles are up for auction, it’s likely that they were found in the Italian countryside. Truffle hunters stay silent about where they find these fungi in Le Marche, Tuscany, Piedmont, and Umbria, but the restaurants in these regions aren’t shy about featuring them in both fine and rustic dishes. 

Truffle hunting on the Ultimate Italy tour is the ultimate way to find and taste fresh Italian truffles.

Croatia

Italy may stay in the limelight for having the most expensive truffles, but Croatia’s Istria region has a bounty of its own worthy of your attention. The truffle capital of Croatia wasn’t lauded as such pre-1999, until a hunter and his dog dug up what became the largest white truffle in the world. Now, the Istrian Peninsula is regarded as a popular destination for truffle hunting and sampling.

Get off the beaten path and uncover gems like fresh truffles on the Croatia & the Dalmatian Coast tour.

Spain

The majority of Spain’s truffles are black truffles and its black winter truffles are especially popular, but that wasn’t always the case. In fact, it was until the mid-1900s that truffle hunters from France started seeking out the black diamond truffles they knew in the hills of Spain. When Spanish farmers realized how valuable these truffles were, they seized the opportunity and have since become the world’s largest producer of black winter truffles. 

Discover Iberia on: Spain & Portugal in Style

You may also enjoy: For Fine Dining in Spain, This City Sets the Gold Standard

France 

It should be no surprise that anything grown in French soil is delectable; that includes truffles. France produces nearly one-third of the world’s truffles. The “black diamond” is a popular truffle found in Provence and Southwest France. Also known as the Périgord truffle, black diamond truffles are known for their strong scent and distinctive taste.

Sample truffle-infused dishes as you explore the French countryside on our Ultimate Southern France tour.  

Bookmark for later: Sophisticated and Stylish: why Southern France is Unmissable

Slovenia

Slovenia shares a small piece of the Istrian Peninsula with Croatia. With Italy as its adjacent neighbor, one shouldn’t be shocked to learn that Slovenia is an underrated destination for truffle hunting and dining. One of the unique experiences you can have in Slovenia that you seldom can elsewhere is hunting for the rare spring white bianchetti truffle which is harvested around March each year. 

With Exceptional Dining a hallmark of every Luxury Gold journey, see how you can enjoy a truffle-infused vacation, or other gastronomical pleasures with our worldwide collection of luxury tours.